The Homestead was built in 1778 during the Revolutionary War as a safe house and raided by Tories in 1781. < Back Revolutionary War Times The Homestead was built in 1778 during the Revolutionary War as a safe house and raided by Tories in 1781. Previous Next

Annual gifts provide for the ongoing preservation and maintenance of The Mather Homestead and property, educational programming, tours and administrative expenses. Your gifts are much appreciated! See more information on the Challenge Grant and joining the Mather Homestead Society here. Preserve. We celebrate our storied and unique history ... home to seven generations of a bold American family, raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War, and later owned by Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service. Educate. We enrich our community by "B ringing History to Life" for all ages through lectures, tours, book clubs, reenactments, family fun events, field trips, workshops, and more. Inspire. Together, we are securing the future of Darien’s only Registered National Historic Landmark and ensuring that future generations share our passion for history, preservation, education, and stewardship. The Mather Homestead Foundation relies on contributions from our Mather friends who recognize the importance of the Mather Homestead in our local and national history and are dedicated to the preservation of the 1778 home and surrounding seven acres of property as a place for historical education. We hope you will remain a dedicated supporter for years to come and appreciate all gifts. Donations support the following: Preservation, maintenance & restoration of the 1778 house, grounds and other buildings. Master planning projects to enhance our historic property and create a more visitor-friendly experience. Educational programming which "brings history to life" including lectures, tours, kids events and more. Continual research of artifacts in our collection to develop new exhibitions and programs. Oversight of the Mather Homestead Foundation. * Donors contributing $150 or more will automatically become members of the Mather Homestead. BENEFITS Please consider joining the Mather Homestead 1778 Society of donors giving $5,000 and above to the annual fund! The 1778 Society is a community of our most dedicated supporters who value the significance of preserving this R egistered National Historic Landmark and supporting our educational programs. In appreciation for their commitment and philanthropy, 1778 Society donors will be invited to special events and programs throughout the year. Please use form to make your gift via credit card. Alternatively, checks, made out to "The Mather Homestead Foundation" (please remember "Foundation"!) may be mailed to: The Mather Homestead Foundation PO Box 1054 Darien, Connecticut 06820 THANK YOU! The Mather Homestead Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Tax ID number 47-5555968. Your gift to the Mather Homestead is considered tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Planned Giving We encourage donors to consider the Mather Homestead in their estate plans in order to help secure the future of the Mather Homestead. We welcome planned gifts large and small and appreciate your consideration of this treasured historic landmark. For questions, please reach out to Heather Raker at 203-202-7602 or heatherraker@matherhomestead.org .

The Mather Homestead includes many pieces which are original to the home (late 18th century), pieces acquired over the centuries, and many pieces collected by Bertha Mather McPherson during the 20th century which are from the Revolutionary War period.   THE MATHER HOMESTEAD COLLECTION The Mather Homestead includes many pieces which are original to the home (late 18th century), pieces acquired over the centuries, and many pieces collected by Bertha Mather McPherson during the 20th century which are from the Revolutionary War period. View the collection

Our fifth annual Fall Harvest Festival will welcome families for hay rides, petting zoo, crafts, apple bobbing, pumpkin decorating and more! SEVENTH FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 25, 2025 It was a beautiful day for our seventh annual Fall Harvest Festival, which featured pony and hay rides, crafts, apple bobbing, live music featuring Parkway Ramblers and more, Plus a visit from the Noroton Fire truck! Thank you to BMW of Darien, the King School, the Goddard School, Kumon, Rolleri Sheppard Accountants and Darlene Meier of Houlihan Lawrence for your support of this event! Photos by Conner Day SIXTH FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 26, 2024 It was a beautiful day for our sixth annual Fall Harvest Festival which featured pony and hay rides, crafts, apple bobbing, live music featuring Parkway Ramblers and more, Plus a visit from the Noroton Fire truck and GEORGE WASHINGTON! Thank you to BMW of Darien, the King School, Rolleri Sheppard Accountants and Darlene Meier of Houlihan Lawrence for your support of this event! FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 21, 2023 The rain did not keep families from coming out for our annual fall harvest festival featuring petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin patch, crafts, fire truck rides (replacing hay rides due to rain) and ... this year .... Revolutionary War reenactors! Pictures by Alicia Andriopoulos, Pixsoul Photography. Thank you to our Sponsors below!! FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 22, 2022 It was a beautiful day for our fourth Fall Harvest Festival featuring petting zoo, crafts, live music, face painting and, for the first time, hay rides! Pictures by Katharine Calderwood. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL November 2, 2019 Our third annual Fall Harvest Festival! Thank you to our volunteer committee! FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL November 3, 2018 Our second annual Fall Harvest Festival. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL November 4 , 2017 Our first annual Fall Harvest Festival celebrated the brand new Mather Homestead Foundation, created to celebrate the history of the Mather Homestead and to bring history to life! Other Family Fun Events

SUPPORT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD AND WIN GREAT PRIZES! We invite you to support the Mat her Homestead's property beautification and preservation projects by buying raffle tickets for great prizes! When you check in to the Garden Tea, you will choose which packages to enter your raffle t ickets. If you will not be present at the tea, you can indicate the prizes below. Buy more tickets and more chances to win! Prize packages below. The Mather Homestead Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization funded by generous donors and fundraising events. Please be generous! PAY VIA CC BELOW OR VENMO: @mather-homestead-foundation last 4 digits x9649 THANK YOU!

Our lectures explore a variety of topics and a variety of formats. Some of our lectures are traditional lecture format, while others involve a bit of hands on learning (e.g., honey tasting). A list of all past Mather Homestead lectures can be found here. Past Lectures Laurence Jurdem - January 21, 2024 The Rough Rider and the Professor Photos Brown Bag Lecture featuring Past Presented - November 9, 2023 Connecticut During the American Revolutionary War Photos Witches in Connecticut - October 25, 2023 Witches in Connecticut! Photos Mattie Kahn & Reena Ninan - October 3, 2023 Young and Restless Photos Brown Bag Lecture - Cloak and Dagger: The Revolution's Secret War! Local Revolutionary War buff, Eric Chandler, educated our audience about the Spies of the Revolutionary War! Photos Connecticut's Historical Gardens - May 17, 2023 Connecticut's Historical Gardens Photos Artscapes - April 19, 2023 American Impressionism Photos Dean King - April 18, 2023 at the Darien Library Guardian's of the Valley: John muir Photos Brown Bag Lunch: Women in the American Revolution - March 10, 2023 Brown Bag Lecture: Women in the American Revolution - putting the "her" in heroics! Photos An Evening at the Mather Tavern - Feb 16, 2023 Tavern Food + Tavern Drink + Tavern History + Tavern Games = Tavern Fun! Photos Keith Simpson - Feb. 8, 2023 Lecture featuring Keith Simpson: Our Changing Landscape over 400 years Photos ArtScapes Robin Hoffman - Jan. 18, 2023 American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks Photos Jonathan Waterman - November 16, 2022 A Journey through the National Parks Photos Plum Plums - November 10, 2022 American Farmstead Cheese & Wine Education with Plum Plums Cheese Photos Dayton Duncan - September 11, 2022 The National Parks: America's Best Idea Photos Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III - June 23, 2022 Great Camp Sagamore and the Rustic Movement, plus stories of the Vanderbilt Family Photos Catie Marron - May 26, 2022 Becoming a Gardener: What Reading and Digging Taught Me about Living Photos Queen Bee Marina Marchese - April 28, 2022 Honey tasting with the Queen Bee Photos Dennis Drabelle - April 14, 2022 The Power of Scenery, online discussion - April 14, 2021 Photos Jonathan Olmsted - March 30, 2022 Celebrating 200 Years of Frederick Law Olmsted Photos Thomas Wickman - January 26, 2022 Winter's Past and Winter's Future Photos Akhil Reed Amar - November 10, 2021 The Words that Made Us Photos Steven Beissinger - October 7, 2021 Stephen Mather and the National Parks Photos Victoria Johnson - June 2, 2021 American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic Photos Load More

< Back American Poetry with Samantha Gault Weds., Feb. 16, 7 pm We will discuss love poems! Previous Next

The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 and has been impeccably preserved over two and a half centuries. < Back The Mather Homestead The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 and has been impeccably preserved over two and a half centuries. Previous Next

Our first Harvest Festival included pony rides, crafts, a hunt for the Mather silver, tours of the home and more. < Back Harvest Festival - November 8, 2017 Our first Harvest Festival included pony rides, crafts, a hunt for the Mather silver, tours of the home and more. Previous Next

Docent Donn Smith has been busy in the attic and has many stories to tell about the Homestead and its inhabitants < Back Donn's Blogs Docent Donn Smith has been busy in the attic and has many stories to tell about the Homestead and its inhabitants Previous Next

The Mather Homestead has a unique combination of rich history spanning centuries and well-preserved land with access to wildlife. We are proud to promote our mission of education by offering scout programs for both Boy and Girl Scouts! See below for more information. SCOUT PROGRAMS The Mather Homestead has a unique combination of rich history spanning centuries and beautiful open property. We are proud to promote our mission of education by offering various programs for our local Scouts. Scout Badges - the Mather Homestead is a unique place to earn badges. Girl Scouts -- Daisy Eco Learner and Good Neighbor badges, Brownie Gardener badge, Stephen Mather "Fun Badge" Boy Scouts -- American Heritage and Landscape Architecture badges. Fall & Spring Clean Up - we appreciate the many Scouts who have helped us with fall/spring clean up and other projects on the property. Scout meetings - learn about Revolutionary War history by taking a tour of the homestead followed by a scavenger hunt! Or scouts can earn our "Stephen Mather Ranger Badge" by learning about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, first director of the National Parks Service. Eagle Scouts - Scouts have enhanced the Mather Homestead property through their on-site projects. Thank you! Please reach out to discuss a future Eagle Scout project opportunity. PAST EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS Campouts on site Please contact us at info@matherhomestead.org to discuss opportunities for your troop!

Our Yellowstone adventure included learning about Yellowstone over a dinner of bear & moose Mac 'n cheese, frolicking in Old Faithful (sprinkler!), s'mores over a campfire, and finally stories with cuddly stuffed animals. < Back Adventure in Yellowstone National Park Our Yellowstone adventure included learning about Yellowstone over a dinner of bear & moose Mac 'n cheese, frolicking in Old Faithful (sprinkler!), s'mores over a campfire, and finally stories with cuddly stuffed animals. Previous Next