The Words that Made Us < Back Akhil Reed Amar - November 10, 2021 The Words that Made Us Previous Next

Twentynine Palms, CA < Back Joshua Tree Twentynine Palms, CA 1994 Established: Size: 795,156 acres Visitors: 3,058,294 in 2022 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next

Tavern Food + Tavern Drink + Tavern History + Tavern Games = Tavern Fun! < Back An Evening at the Mather Tavern - Feb 16, 2023 Tavern Food + Tavern Drink + Tavern History + Tavern Games = Tavern Fun! Previous Next

Holbrook, AZ < Back Petrified Forest Holbrook, AZ 1962 Established: Size: 221,391 acres Visitors: 644,922 in 2018 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next

The Mather Homestead offers many opportunities for sponsorship. We are appreciative of your support and look forward to promoting your business! Sponsor payment may be made via check payable to "The Mather Homestead Foundation" or by credit card (link right). Please send checks to: The Mather Homestead Foundation, 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien, CT, 06820 SUPPORT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD BY SPONSORING ONE OF OUR EVENTS! The Mather Homestead Foundation offers numerous sponsorship opportunities and gratefully acknowledges the support of businesses that contribute through financial and in-kind donations. We recognize our donors through various channels including events, social media, publicity, and on-site signage at the Homestead. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SUMMER SOIRÉE 2025 The MH Summer Soirée on May 31, 2025 raised over $22,000 for Mather Homestead preservation projects thanks to Junior Board Chair Sally Houlihan, Event Chair Jessica Merrill, and the entire junior board! Plus, our generous sponsors! GARDEN TEA 2025 Our fifth annual Garden Tea featured Fred Landman, visionary for the remarkable Sleepy Cat Farm. Despite rain and cold, the event was a remarkable success and raised over $30,000 for beautification projects at the Homestead! Thank you to our sponsors and raffle donors, plus all that attended, for your generous support WOMEN + ARCHITECTURE SERIES 2025 Thank you to the many donors who supported our Women + Architecture series in honor of Bertha Mather McPherson, one of Connecticut's earliest female architects and a visionary preservationist. The series included lectures, book discussions, field trips, and an exhibit featuring the life and legacy of Bertha Mather McPherson. JUNIOR BOARD SUMMER SOLSTICE 2024 The Junior Board welcomed 140 guests for cocktails on the patio followed by dinner in the field prepared by Ardens. A magical night! FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL 2024 Our sixth annual Fall Harvest Festival welcomed families (~500 people) from Darien, New Canaan and surrounding towns to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun including a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, face painting, crafts, hay rides and more! GARDEN TEA 2024 The May 30, 2024 Garden Tea welcomed 150 women for tea, lunch and a conversation with Pieter Estersohn, author of Back to the Land , and local book PR guru Nancy Sheed. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL 2023 Our fifth annual Fall Harvest Festival welcomed families (~500 people) from Darien, New Canaan and surrounding towns to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun including a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, face painting, crafts, fire truck rides and more! GARDEN TEA 2023 The June 1, 2023 Garden Tea welcomed over 130 women for tea, lunch and a presentation by Calvert Crary of NY/LA Flower School. APRÈS SKI 2023 Our second annual Après Ski event welcomed nearly 150 people for fun and fundraising. PLAYHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT 2023 Our historic playhouse was enjoyed by generations of Mathers but was sadly in disrepair. Thanks to Dan Lamontagne of Creative Builders, Rings End and many other donors, the playhouse has been restored future generations of children who will come to learn and play. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 22, 2022 We appreciate the financial support of Harbor Point Dental Group at our fourth Fall Harvest Festival. We also appreciate our in kind sponsors including Palmers Market , Stop & Shop , Stew Leonards and Cabana . Over 600 people from Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and other surrounding towns joined us for hay rides, a petting zoo, crafts, face painting, games, tours of the Homestead, pumpkin decorating, live music and more! To inquire about 2023, please email info@matherhomestead.org or call 203-202-7602. Thank you! STEPHEN MATHER AND THE NATIONAL PARKS EXHIBIT Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Our first exhibit welcomed hundreds of people to learn more about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service and owner of the Mather Homestead from 1906 to 1930. BUILDINGS & GROUNDS! Many thanks to the businesses who provide services pro bono in order to maintain the beautiful Mather Homestead buildings & grounds: Bartlett T ree Davis Tree & Logging .

Young and Restless < Back Mattie Kahn & Reena Ninan - October 3, 2023 Young and Restless Previous Next

Objects described date from mid-18th to mid-19th centuries (not including 20th century reproductions). Condition of all is good considering age and use. < Back Fireplace Cooking and Hearth Utensils and Tools First Floor - Keeping Room Other Decorative Arts Objects described date from mid-18th to mid-19th centuries (not including 20th century reproductions). Condition of all is good considering age and use.  Pair of wrought iron andirons, penny feet with spit hooks, 14”h. (Provenance: Florene Maine; purchase price: $120.00)  3 pewter plates; unmarked, 8 ¼” d. – 16 ½” d.  Wrought iron 3-tine fork with twist handle (reproduction), 48” l.  Wrought iron ram’s horn handle peel, 45 ½” l.  Wrought iron crane, 40” h. x 55” l.  Trammel and two (9”) S-hooks, trammel: 37” l.  Small saw-tooth trammel (15” l.) with copper Betty lamp (5 ¼” l.) (Provenance: Morris House, Nov. 1977; purchase price: $110.00)  Copper and wrought iron frying pan with long handle, 19” l. (Provenance: Frank & Mildred Schulka, November 1967; price: $30.00)  Copper (and alloys) ‘gooseneck’ tea kettle, dovetailed construction; 12 ¼” h.  Wrought iron 3-legged kettle stand (reproduction) (Provenance: Florene Maine; purchase price: $120.00)  Brass and copper ladle and skimmer, each 20 ¼” l. (reproductions)  Bed warmer with turned maple handle, sunburst engraving on lid, 41” l.  Wrought iron tongs, 20 ½” l.  Ansonia Brass Co. brass bucket with wrought iron handle, 10 ½” d.; Ansonia, CT, patent 1951 Previous Next

The National Parks: America's Best Idea < Back Dayton Duncan - September 11, 2022 The National Parks: America's Best Idea Previous Next

Front Royal, VA < Back Shenandoah Front Royal, VA 1935 Established: Size: 199,173 acres Visitors: 1,666,265 in 2020 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next

50 mi E of Fresno, CA < Back Sequoia 50 mi E of Fresno, CA 1890 Established: Size: 404,064 acres Visitors: 1,153,198 in 2022 Summary Sequoia National Park, located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and iconic giant sequoia trees. Home to some of the largest trees on Earth, including the famous General Sherman Tree, the park offers visitors a chance to marvel at the sheer size and beauty of these ancient giants. In addition to the towering sequoias, the park features rugged mountain terrain, deep canyons, and picturesque alpine meadows. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, with opportunities to spot black bears, mule deer, and diverse bird species. With its breathtaking scenery and abundant natural wonders, Sequoia National Park offers a memorable experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Wildlife Sequoia National Park is not only famous for its majestic giant sequoia trees but also for its diverse wildlife. The park's varied ecosystems support a wide range of animal species, including black bears, mule deer, mountain lions, and bobcats. Birdwatchers can spot a variety of birds, from colorful songbirds to majestic raptors like bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Additionally, the park's rivers and streams are home to trout and other aquatic species. Wildlife enthusiasts can explore the park's trails and meadows, offering ample opportunities to observe and appreciate the natural beauty and biodiversity of Sequoia National Park. Sounds of the Park Things to Do In the warmer months, visitors can go day hiking, overnight backpacking, camping, or driving through the famous Tunnel Log. In the winter, visitors to Sequoia National Park can go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Hiking Snowshoeing Camping When to Visit Sequoia National Park's climate varies significantly by elevation, as temperatures decrease with increasing altitude. Summers are generally warm and dry, while winters are cold and snowy. Like most parks, crowds are highest during the summer. Therefore, the spring (May) and fall (September-October) would be the best time to visit. Ties to Stephen Mather Sequoia National Park has a Stephen Mather plaque located in the Giant Forest. Furthermore, visitors can take Mather Drive, a road on the park's Ash Mountain. Fun Fact Sequoia National Park's General Sherman tree is the largest-known single tree on Earth by volume. Previous Next

Oil on canvas; 33 ¾” h. x 26 ¾” w. (sight size). < Back American School, Portrait of Michael Floy, Sr. (1775-1854) First Floor - Keeping Room Fine Art Oil on canvas; 33 ¾” h. x 26 ¾” w. (sight size). In three quarter pose, against a dark ground, a dark haired gentleman in white cravat and black waistcoat, with hands folded, sitting in a Sheraton armchair. Framed in gold-painted frame; unsigned; circa 1815-1820. Condition is good in spite of old relining; a conservation report is attached verso, dated, October 23, 1964 from Margaret Watherston, NY, NY Previous Next

Fresno County, CA < Back Kings Canyon Fresno County, CA 1890 Established: Size: 461,901 acres Visitors: 640,986 in 2022 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next