Probably England, 1780-1810. Mahogany, mirrored glass; pine; 31 ½" h. x 18" w. < Back Looking Glass Second Floor - SW Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Probably England, 1780-1810. Mahogany, mirrored glass; pine; 31 ½" h. x 18" w. An ornately scalloped mahogany-veneered crest with gilded phoenix bird in the pierced center; and ornately scalloped base. Molded cross-banding surrounds the glass. Backboards are replaced. Previous Next

Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” < Back American Hooked Rug with Cat and Two Kittens Second Floor - SE Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” From E.S. Frost* pattern, number 39. A yellow tiger cat and her two kittens within a center oval reserve, surrounded by border of red oak leaves, checkerboard and gray ground. *Edward Sands Frost of Biddeford, Maine pattern. Frost’s hook rug designs were produced and sold hook rug designs in the late 19th /early 20th century. This pattern is included in the Greenfield Village Henry Ford Museum 1970 publication, “Descriptive Catalogue of E.S. Frost & Co’s Hooked Rug Patterns.” Condition is good. Previous Next

Probably Massachusetts, 1760-1790. Birch, maple, rush slip-seat; 31 ¼” h. x 27” w. x 25” d. < Back Corner Chair First Floor - Keeping Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Probably Massachusetts, 1760-1790. Birch, maple, rush slip-seat; 31 ¼” h. x 27” w. x 25” d. An arm bow with shaped arms and circular handholds has a molded crestrail in back over a woven rush slip seat, two ‘owl’s eye’ splats, double ogee-shaped front seat rails; carved Spanish front foot, others baluster-turned ending in turned ball feet, joined by box stretchers; Left foot (facing chair) is a replacement, otherwise good condition. Previous Next

Artists drew, painted and photographed during Plein Air Weeks 2022 -- images to follow! < Back Plein Air Weeks 2022 Artists drew, painted and photographed during Plein Air Weeks 2022 -- images to follow! Previous Next

Our family fun events bring kids and caregivers to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun. Past events have included a our fall harvest festival, traditional Easter egg roll, a Visit with St. Nicholas, Mather Games celebrating Stephen Mather's birthday, and outdoor smores. A list of all Mather Homestead family events, past and future, can be found here. FAMILY FUN! Our family fun events bring kids and caregivers to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun. Past events have included our Fall Harvest Festival, traditional Easter egg roll, a Visit with St. Nicholas, Mather Games celebrating Stephen Mather's birthday, and Family Game night (focused on the National Parks). Please check out our "Kids at Mather " page for kids only events. UPCOMING EVENTS Fall Harvest Festival, Presented by BMW of Darien Oct 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Fun for the whole family! Join us for pony rides, hay rides, face painting, crafts, treats, live music, lots of pumpkins, and - new this year - ride-on farm equipment. This annual celebration is a beloved tradition and great way to support The Homestead! Kids under one year old free. Buy Tickets CHECK OUT KIDS-AT-MATHER FOR KIDS-ONLY EVENTS! PAST FAMILY FUN Here's what you missed! :-) DAR's American Revolution Experience: Kids' Bingo & Ice Cream Party Aug 06, 2026, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Hey, kids! Come explore the DAR's nationally touring exhibition on your own terms. Discover exciting new Revolutionary War heroes and stories, then show off your knowledge with Revolutionary War BINGO. Win prizes, eat ICE CREAM, and celebrate America's 250th. Fun for the whole family! Details Middlesex Parish Road Trip and CT Open House Day Jun 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Celebrate America 250 with Middlesex Parish. Local historic museums and Revolutionary War sites will be open for tours and fun on Connecticut's "Open House" Day. Middlesex Parish invites you on a Road Trip! (scroll down). And The Mather Homestead will be open for tours from 1:00PM to 3:00 PM. Details The British are Coming! Revolutionary War Reenactment at The Mather Homestead May 02, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Soldiers and Storytellers LIVE! Be there as the 5th CT Regiment confronts the 38th Regiment of Foot and Sarah Mather defends the Homestead against British raiders. Alongside CT's first state Troubadour, she'll serve up Revolutionary War stories and treats. Fun and FREE for the whole family! Details Colonial Christmas with a Visit from St. Nicholas Dec 20, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Family Fun presented by the Junior Board. Crafts, cookie decorating, live music and a visit from St. Nick! Plus festive bevs & sweet treats. Details Fall Harvest Festival - sponsored by BMW of Darien Oct 25, 2025, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Join us for pony rides, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crafts, games, cider & donuts, and live bluegrass music! Tickets - members: $15 adult/$10 child, non-members: $20 adult/$15 child. Details Multiple Dates Tory Hole Community Book Discussion: Kids & Families Sep 07, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Join MH literary guru Samantha for a fun and interactive discussion of Tory Hole, written by Darien resident Louise Hall Tharp about the Revolutionary Tory raids. Great read for kids and adults alike! Book available at the Darien Library, Mather Homestead, Museum of Darien, DCA, Barrett Bookstore. Details Stephen Mather's Birthday -- fun in the National Parks! Jun 29, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Kids, parents and people of all ages! Join us for ICE CREAM and National Parks family fun! Upon arriving, you'll get your Mather passport book. Then, head to the various National Park stations where you'll learn about the national parks while playing games and having fun! FREE for members! Details Meet the Falcons! A Visit from Christine's Critters + My Side of the Mountain book discussion May 04, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Join us for fun and learning at the homestead featuring Christine's Critters plus resident literary guru Samantha Gault. First up, a discussion of "My Side of the Mountain" with interactive fun! Then, a one hour program by Christine Peyreigne featuring live hawks, falcons, owls and reptiles. Details Holly Jolly Christmas! 4:30 to 5:30 Dec 21, 2024, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Family Fun presented by the Junior Board. Crafts, cookie decorating, live music and a visit from St. Nick! Plus festive bevs & sweet treats. Details Holly Jolly Christmas! Dec 21, 2024, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Family Fun presented by the Junior Board. Crafts, cookie decorating, live music and a visit from St. Nick! Plus festive bevs & sweet treats. Details Fall Harvest Festival - sponsored by BMW of Darien Oct 26, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Join us for pony rides, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crafts, games, cider & donuts, live music plus a visit from George Washington and his horse! Tickets - members: $15 adult/$10 child, non-members: $20 adult/$15 child. Details Connecticut Open House - join us for a tour! Jun 08, 2024, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM The Mather Homestead will participate in Connecticut's 20th Open House Day. Come visit for a (free!) tour of our newly restored 1778 home, Darien's only Registered National Historic Landmark! Details Memorial Day Parade - March with Mather! May 27, 2024, 10:00 AM Join Mather high school interns and the teen board as they march! Dress up encouraged! Theme: Stephen Mather and the National Parks! Details A Revolutionary Day featuring Sheldon’s Horse: the Second Regiment Light Dragoons Apr 27, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sheldon's Horse, Second Continental Light Dragoons, will visit the Homestead for a day of education and fun. Drills, demonstrations, lectures, crafts and more. Fun for the whole family. Bring a carrot for the horses! Details A Revolution of Her Own! Deborah Sampson - performance for families Feb 10, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, fight, and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an hour-long program chronicling her life. Played by actress Judith Kalalora. Family event with audience participation! Details Holiday Songs, Sing-a-Long and SANTA! Dec 03, 2023, 4:30 PM Join us for song & cheer! Plus a visit from Santa! Acoustic Family-Friendly Holiday Concert & Sing-Along featuring Dan Zlotnick & Al Hemberger "The Americana Voice of Westchester [County], NY" -The Capitol Theatre Details Family bulbs & beautification! Nov 04, 2023, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Help us beautify our property by lending your green thumb! Bring your trowels, gloves and a can-do attitude! Suggested $25 to help defray costs of bulbs. Additional donations welcomed! Details Fall Harvest Festival - sponsored by BMW of Darien! Oct 21, 2023, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM The Fall Harvest Festival is in its fifth year! Join us for hay rides, petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crafts, games, cider & donuts, live music & more! Geared towards ages 3 to 12, but all are welcome! Tickets - members: $15 adult/$10 child, non-members: $20 adult/$15 child. Details Load More

Wool-on-Wool, Ferraghan, handmade; 6’ 4” x 13’ 7”. < Back Oriental Rug First Floor - Parlor Other Decorative Arts Wool-on-Wool, Ferraghan, handmade; 6’ 4” x 13’ 7”. Featuring a deep alternating border surrounding central design field in natural dyes of red and indigo, with flowerheads and herati motifs. Condition shows several areas of wear, including a 6” repaired tear in the center; circa first quarter 20th century. Previous Next

Charlotte Amalie, USVI < Back Virgin Islands Charlotte Amalie, USVI 1956 Established: Size: 14,737 acres Visitors: 112,287 in 2018 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next

Covid didn't keep St. Nicholas from visiting the Homestead! Children enjoyed a socially distanced visit with Santa and received a stocking filled with old fashioned games. < Back A Visit from St. Nicholas - December 19, 2020 Covid didn't keep St. Nicholas from visiting the Homestead! Children enjoyed a socially distanced visit with Santa and received a stocking filled with old fashioned games. Previous Next

< Back Field Trip to the Keeler Tavern Museum, Ridgefield Date TBD If you find the Mather Homestead to be fun and interesting, I bet you'll love the Keeler Tavern Museum! Let's take a visit together! Previous Next

Probably Eastern Massachusetts, 1730-1760. Walnut, white pine; 31” h. x 36” w. x 19 ¼” d. < Back Dressing Table (or "Lowboy") First Floor - Dining Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Probably Eastern Massachusetts, 1730-1760. Walnut, white pine; 31” h. x 36” w. x 19 ¼” d. The well designed and constructed dressing table has an over-hanging top with molded edges on front and sides, and front corners, over a full-width drawer above three smaller, side-by-side drawers, the middle drawer being shallower, and original brasses. Front skirt is ornately scalloped and includes two turned pendant drops; side skirts also scalloped. Case stands on four cabriole legs ending in pad feet. Condition is good. Previous Next

Acabella celebrated its 20th year with a Spring concert at the Homestead! The group, led by Heather Raker and Carolyn Woodberry, include singers Brooke Beck, Kelly Galvin, Amanda Martocchio, Jennifer Mathissen, Cathleen Morgan (our newest member!), Claire Runyan, Susan Seelert, Rachel Steib, Tere Stevens, Jenny Zonis. View on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matherhomesteadfoundation/videos/588855689504615. Concert starts around 7 minutes < Back Acabella - June 5, 2022 Acabella celebrated its 20th year with a Spring concert at the Homestead! The group, led by Heather Raker and Carolyn Woodberry, include singers Brooke Beck, Kelly Galvin, Amanda Martocchio, Jennifer Mathissen, Cathleen Morgan (our newest member!), Claire Runyan, Susan Seelert, Rachel Steib, Tere Stevens, Jenny Zonis. View on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matherhomesteadfoundation/videos/588855689504615. Concert starts around 7 minutes Previous Next

Coastal Connecticut, 1775-1825. Maple, tulip poplar, rush seat; 46 ¾" h. x 24 ¼" w. x 17 ¾" d. < Back “York” Armchair Second Floor - Entrance Hall Furniture and Hard Furnishings Coastal Connecticut, 1775-1825. Maple, tulip poplar, rush seat; 46 ¾" h. x 24 ¼" w. x 17 ¾" d. The turned armchair, known in the period as a York chair, has a Y-shaped crest above a solid splat, tenoned into a stay rail. The rear posts have elongated baluster turnings above balusters and terminate in urn finials. Shaped arms attach to turned front posts, with baluster turnings between and above double turned front stretchers. Double side stretchers and a single rear stretcher secure the legs. Previous Next