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The Mather Homestead Foundation is overseen by the Board of Directors: Chair: Richard L. Chilton, Jr., Stephen Berger, Diane Boston, Meredith Edwards, Jennifer L. Foster, Carol Glassmeyer, Ania Janis, Ronald LaMorte, Maeve McGovern, Ginger Morgan, Penny Rashin, John Sini, Tammy Sload, Lauren Swenson, Tiffany Van Elslander. Other boards include: Advisory Board, Junior Board, Teen Board. MATHER HOMESTEAD FOUNDATION BOARDS Thank you to our dedicated board members! THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman: Sarah Nickerson Matthew Dougherty Jennifer L. Foster Joellyn Gray Ania Janis Ronald LaMorte Ginger Morgan Penny Rashin Chelsea Staniar Tammy Sload Kelly Stewart Tiffany Van Elslander Alison von Klemperer Chairman Emeritus: Richard L. Chilton, Jr. JUNIOR BOARD The purpose of the Mather Homestead Foundation (MHF) Junior Board is to involve MHF supporters who may not have the time to serve on the Board of Directors, but are interested in being involved. Junior Board members will provide guidance to the Mather Homestead Foundation Board, plan an annual fundraising event, and also serve as ambassadors for MHF in the community. Chairs: Laura Nolen, Stephanie Tucker Taylor Carlson, Jessica Carreiro, Diana Demirjian, Ashley Diamond, Carolyn Elmi, Amanda Forth, Danielle Gaglio, Kate Holderness, Dana Koebbe, Sarah McMackin, Jessica Merrill, Alison Muench, Mariana Rosario, Aly Sommer Junior Board members at June, 2025 Summer Soiree ADVISORY BOARD Thank you to the following people for your service to the Mather Homestead Board of Directors and thank you for your continued engagement as Advisory Board member: Stephen Berger Margot Congdon Meredith Edwards Andrea Huntington Kevin Peraino Tracey Riccardi Kevin Treesh Carolyn Woodberry TEEN BOARD CLICK HERE for more information and application The Mather Homestead Teen Board offers high school students with an interest in history an opportunity to both contribute to and learn from the Mather Homestead, including its rich collection of original documents and antiques. 2025-2026 Chairs: Bella Fiordalis, Ava Mohr, Neev Sahgal Lachlain Blair Consuelo Bowman Eliza DeChristopher James DiBiaso Jackie Gordon Jake Kelley Alex Kettell Quincy Kettell Jack Lang Luke Mihopoulos Sean Mihopoulos Holden Mohr Sabrina Mohr Trevor Nelson Luke Riley Nishka Sahgal Olivia Stricker Finn Wild 2024-25 Teen Board

The Mather Homestead is a historic home in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Built in 1778, the home was raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War and was later the summer home of Stephen Tyng Mather, founder of the National Parks Service. Tours by appointmentment and the Mather Homestead Foundation hosts a wide range of educational programs designed for all ages. The Mather Homestead, Darien's only Registered National Historic Landmark, was built in 1778 by Deacon Joseph Mather, son of the fiery Patriot Reverend Moses Mather, and raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War. The Homestead was later the home of Stephen Tyng Mather, an avid conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service. Following his death, his daughter, Bertha Mather McPherson, one of Connecticut's first female architects and a visionary preservationist, preserved the home and left it as it is today. In 2017, Mather descendants generously donated the Homestead to a newly created foundation to be operated as a museum dedicated to historical education. The Mather Homestead Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Mather Homestead is Darien's only Registered National Historic Landmark Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930) First Director of the National Park Service Owner of the Homestead 1906-1930 MH CELEBRATES AMERICA250! The Mather Homestead will celebrate its Revolutionary War history this year as our country celebrates America 250 -- the semiquincentennial. Join us for lectures, literary discussions, homesteading workshops, a Revolutionary War Reenactment and more. The Mather Homestead Foundation is excited to work with other local organizations—including the Museum of Darien, Historic Rowayton, the Darien Library, the Rowayton Library, Lockwood Mathews Mansion, the DAR (Good Wife’s River Chapter), and the Darien Town Historian—to celebrate America’s founding and the shared Revolutionary War history of Darien and parts of Norwalk, which were once united as Middlesex Parish. Learn More VISIT THE HOMESTEAD The Mather Homestead is rich in history and open for public education and enjoyment. We are open for tours Tuesday through Thursday 9 am to 2 pm, Fridays and Saturdays by appointment. Email us at info@matherhomestead.org to inquire about and schedule a tour. UPCOMING EVENTS Tour The Mather Homestead Today at 9a, 10a, 11a, 12p, or 1p Wed, Apr 15 More info RSVP Records Erased - Professor Chris Brown on Abolition and American Revolution Thu, Apr 23 More info RSVP Painting Patriotism, Healing Wounds: The Art of Col. John Trumbull with Walter W. Woodward Tue, Apr 28 More info Details The British are Coming! Revolutionary War Reenactment at The Mather Homestead Sat, May 02 More info RSVP Field Trip to Yale's Beinecke Library and University Art Gallery Thu, May 14 More info RSVP It Girl Book Group Tue, May 26 More info RSVP The Mather Homestead's 6th Annual Garden Tea Thu, Jun 04 More info RSVP Celebrate The Summer Solstice with The Mather Homestead Junior Board Sat, Jun 13 More info RSVP Plein Air Week September 14 through 18. Please RSVP for lunch September 16 Mon, Sep 14 More info RSVP Middlesex Parish Open House Day Date and time is TBD More info RSVP Book a Tour T-Th 9a to 2p More info RSVP Vinyasa Yoga with Mary Ann Wednesday/Saturday 9:30a More info RSVP BECOME A MEMBER When you become a member of the Mather Homestead you support our mission and help to secure our future. Mission Statement: The Mather Homestead Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead, built in 1778 and enjoyed by seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for public education and enjoyment. The Foundation is committed to raising awareness of the Homestead’s unique history, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and Stephen Tyng Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System. Membership Benefits include: Invitations to free member-only events, d iscounts on Mather Homestead events, f ree tours for you, family and friends, 10% off in our (new!) gift shop, m embership to NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum Association), offering free entry to over 1,400 museums*. $150 Family Membership $100 Individual Membership Become a Member THANK YOU! The Mather Homestead Foundation is thankful to the generosity of the Mather-McPherson family, Richard L. Chilton, Jr., the Darien Foundation, Fox Hill Builders, and our many other supporters . Give

63 National Parks Acadia 50 mi SE of Bangor, ME Read More American Samoa 2,600 mi SW of Honolulu, HI Read More Arches 230 mi S of Salt Lake City, UT Read More Badlands 75 mi SE of Rapid City, SD Read More Big Bend 235 mi S of Midland, TX Read More Biscayne 10 mi S of Miami, FL Read More Black Canyon of the Gunnison 12 mi E of Montrose, CO Read More Bryce Canyon 268 mi S of Salt Lake City, UT Read More Canyonlands 244 mi SE of Salt Lake City, UT Read More Capitol Reef 220 mi S of Salt Lake City, UT Read More Carlsbad Caverns 145 mi NE of El Paso, TX Read More Channel Islands 93 mi W of Los Angeles, CA Read More

Self-Guided Tour 1778 Homestead The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. It became a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1963 and was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 02:14 The Well The well served as the source of water for the house—as well as a crucial hiding place during Tory raids. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:37 The Garden Designed by famed architect Walter Burleigh Griffin, this garden has evolved under the care of multiple generations of Mathers. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:54 The Cottage Built in 1927, the cottage built here was replaced by a guest house in 1936, which still stands today. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:31 The Field This field is the site of what was once a 100 acre self-sustaining farm managed by the Mather family which provided everything the family needed centuries ago. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:54 The Playhouse Recently renovated, this playhouse serves as place of fun for generations past, present, and future. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:43 The Barn The history of Mather barns goes back well over 100 years. The most recent iteration, the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center, was built in 2020. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 01:26 The Root Cellar The root cellar was an essential component of a colonial farm in Connecticut. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 01:08 Stephen Mather The grandson of Joseph Mather, Stephen was the first director of the National Park Service, and more than doubled the park system's land area. Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 02:40 The End Thank you for visiting the Mather Homestead! Read More Listen to Audio 00:00 / 00:32

Item List 1778 Home This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More Barn This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More Gardens This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More Playhouse Read More

Eagle Scout Projects Abhilash Polaki Nature Trail, Bench & Sign Read More Connor Blenke Kitchen Garden Read More Dennis Glassmeyer Outdoor Classroom & Seating Read More Owen Miller Woodshed Read More

England, 1821. A formulaic/pattern work, well executed, featuring figures, animals, and biblical script. < Back English 1821 “Adam and Eve” Sampler, Silk-on-Linen Second Floor - Guest Room Other Decorative Arts England, 1821. A formulaic/pattern work, well executed, featuring figures, animals, and biblical script. Along the upper section enclosed by scrolling vines: Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the lord she shall be praised. In the lower half, surrounded by animals, birds, and figures are Adam and Eve by the apple tree and the snake, and this verse: Adam and Eve. Whilest innocent in paradise were placed but soon the serpent by his while the happy paire disgraced. The maker’s stitched signature is along the bottom section: Eliza Sumner finished this work december the 8 1821 aged 9 years. Condition is good with light discoloration of linen ground. Previous Next

Mahogany; 10” h. x 12” l. x 12” w.; 20th century < Back Footstool Second Floor - SE Bedroom Furniture and Hard Furnishings Mahogany; 10” h. x 12” l. x 12” w.; 20th century Reproduction small square footstool with needlework slipseat. Previous Next

Northern Europe, 20th century. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass; 31" h. x 13 ¼" w. < Back Looking Glass Second Floor - SE Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Northern Europe, 20th century. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass; 31" h. x 13 ¼" w. Rectangular with a scalloped and pierced walnut-veneered crest rail, gilded appliqués at the center, a repeated motif at the veneered base. Ogee molding and parcel gilt inner edge appear to be 18th century, however the backboards exhibit little or no age, and modern wire nails appear to be the original fasteners. Previous Next

Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park. Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring. Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture FIELD TRIPS Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: - Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park - Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring - Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture - Tour and lunch at Fraunces Tavern, New York UPCOMING EVENTS Past Field Trips Multiple Dates Tour The Mather Homestead Today at 9a, 10a, 11a, 12p, or 1p Apr 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Buy Tickets Records Erased - Professor Chris Brown on Antislavery and The Declaration of Independence Apr 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Chris Brown, Professor of History at Columbia and author of Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism, will answer all of our questions about the transatlantic slave trade, the abolitionist movement, and the adoption of the Declaration. Wine and cheese at 6:30 followed by a lecture at 7p. Buy Tickets Painting Patriotism, Healing Wounds: The Art of Col. John Trumbull with Walter W. Woodward Apr 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM This richly illustrated talk discusses the lifelong struggle of John Trumbull to earn respect for his art by painting what he told Thomas Jefferson were some of the “noblest series of actions which have ever presented themselves in the history of man.” It’s a Connecticut family story about a talente 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! RSVP Field Trip to Yale's Beinecke Library and University Art Gallery May 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Join us for a spring outing to Yale's Beinecke Library followed by the Yale University Art Gallery. Take guided tours of the Beinecke's "Unfurling the Flag" exhibit and the Wurtele Gallery's "Keeping Alive the Remembrance" installation, celebrating America's founding. Followed by lunch at Mory's! Buy Tickets It Girl Book Group May 26, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Come solo or with your book group and join the conversation about Allison Pataki's new novel It Girl. We'll serve up champagne, light bites, and lively discussion that puts us in the spirit for the Garden Tea. RSVP The Mather Homestead's 6th Annual Garden Tea Jun 04, 2026, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM This year, we welcome author Allison Pataki to discuss her newly released novel It Girl, inspired by the life of Evelyn Nesbit. Join us for a garden lunch, raffles, prizes, and more as we celebrate America—and The Homestead—at the turn of the 20th century, and the women who broke barriers. Buy Tickets Celebrate The Summer Solstice with The Mather Homestead Junior Board Jun 13, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM Enjoy cocktails and canapés amongst the flowers of the sunken garden while the sun is still brightly shining. Then, join us at dusk in the field for a summer garden-inspired dining experience brought to us by Greer Southern Table. Raffles, music, and the perfect way to kick off summer. Buy Tickets Plein Air Week September 14 through 18. Please RSVP for lunch September 16 Sep 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 18, 2026, 7:00 PM Artists and aspiring artists are invited to enjoy the Mather Homestead property from September 14 through September 18. Come to paint, draw, photograph and be inspired! Lunch will be served on Wednesday, 9/16. Rain date 9/17. Please RSVP. RSVP Middlesex Parish Open House Day Date and time is TBD 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. In Middlesex Parish, we invite you on a Road Trip! Check out our tour here! https://theclio.com/tour/2844 RSVP Book a Tour T-Th 9a to 2p You will be prompted to identify a date and time when you check out below. Buy Tickets Vinyasa Yoga with Mary Ann Wednesday/Saturday 9:30a Join us Wednesdays and Saturday mornings at 9:30a! Buy Tickets Vinyasa yoga with Mary Ann - Purchase a Ten-Pack Ticket Here Date and time is TBD Refresh your mind and energy with this revitalizing practice to uplift and restore your entire system. Enjoy a well-paced flow that will offer you just the right amount of challenge while encouraging strength, resistance, and flexibility while reducing tension in the hips, back and shoulders. Buy Tickets Exhibit - Bertha Mather McPherson: Visionary Preservationist By appointment This exhibit will look at Bertha Mather's legacy as preservationist of home, family and community. Opening June 2025 and open by appointment through the summer. RSVP Exhibit: Stephen Mather and the National Parks by appointment Learn about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930), the first Director of the National Park Service and the owner of the Homestead from 1906 to 1930. Exhibit geared towards adults PLUS "kids corner" for kids of all ages. Open hours Thurs. 6 to 7:30, Sat. 11 to 1, Sun. 1 to 3 RSVP Past Field Trips

Probably Dutch, 18th century. Brass and copper; 1 ¼" h. x 7" w. x 2" d. < Back Tobacco Box First Floor - Parlor Other Decorative Arts Probably Dutch, 18th century. Brass and copper; 1 ¼" h. x 7" w. x 2" d. A rectangular box with rounded ends. The copper sides, brass bottom, and hinged lid are elaborately engraved. Previous Next

New England, 1820-1840. Mahogany; 28 ½” x 20 ⅜” l. x 15 ¾” d. < Back Tilt-Top Stand Second Floor - Guest Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings New England, 1820-1840. Mahogany; 28 ½” x 20 ⅜” l. x 15 ¾” d. A rectangular top with shaped corners. Top attaches to a ring-and-urn turned pillar, ending in three S-shaped (or ogee) legs. Previous Next