Fairfield County, home to four of Connecticut’s main cities, features an amazing selection of attractions and areas of interest. From museums to nature trails, we highlight the top historical destinations in this region of New England.
The Fairfield Museum and History Center, located at 370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT, combines a library and museum. The Fairfield Historical Society opened the Fairfield Museum in 2007 with the mission of “using history to strengthen the community and shape its future.” The 13,000-square-foot museum is home to various exhibits, a family education center, a theater with 80 seats overlooking Fairfield’s Town Green, and a research library and reading room dedicated to the museum’s special collections.
The Museum Commons includes the following exhibits: Sun Tavern (c. 1780), which depicts tavern life and colonial justice. It has a Victorian Barn (1888), including hands-on agricultural displays. And a Victorian Cottage (1888), a children’s area where children can dress up, build a town, and learn about local history.
The museum also houses a large research library where visitors can learn more about Fairfield County’s history from 1639 to the present. You can also visit one of the amazing Jazz Friday performances or take a guided walking tour of “Town Green,” “Old Post Road,” or “East Cemetery.”
Fairfield, CT, is home to three famous historic districts in Connecticut. One of the most stunning is located alongside Old Post Road. This charming location offers a great dose of history in a captivating package. Have your camera ready because this is photo-worthy! We also suggest leaving your car in the parking lot of the nearby museum and walking around to get a real sense of the area’s historic charm.
This location is also home to the Fairfield Honor Roll, a memorial honoring individuals who served in World Wars I and II in Vietnam, Korea, and the Persian Gulf. Also on the grounds is the lovely Fairfield Academy, which began operating in 1804. The school closed eighty years later due to the emergence of other public schools in town. Today, it is an attractive relic of a bygone period and features a replica classroom.
In 1898, Mabel Osgood Wright established the Connecticut Audubon Society to protect the state’s avifauna. In 1914, Annie Burr Jennings donated ten acres of land to the society. These were utilized to establish the first private songbird sanctuary in the United States: Birdcraft Sanctuary.
In 1993, the six-acre refuge located at 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, Connecticut, was designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its significance in American history. There are gardens meant to attract butterflies and birds, a huge pond, a caretaker’s hut, and a museum at this site. This is a truly tranquil and family-friendly spot to spend a peaceful morning or afternoon.
A wooden boardwalk around the boundary of the pond and a nearby viewpoint provides a clearer picture of the local fauna. The museum is modest in size and contains exhibits that educate visitors about the county’s wildlife and natural habitats. Behind it, you’ll see rescued birds such as owls, hawks, and other species.
Numerous ancient and medieval artifacts have been generously loaned to FUAM by preeminent art institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Yale University Art Museum, and the Worcester Art Museum.
In addition to an excellent copy of the Book of Kells, the museum houses a remarkable collection of antique plaster castings of masterpieces from Greece and Rome. You can discover inspiration for your unique pursuits within the complex walls of this fascinating site.
You might want to double-check that they are open before setting off. Please note that the museum is closed on major holidays and is only accessible during the summer by appointment.
The Fairfield Museum and History Center, located two and a half miles northwest, manages the Ogden House Museum and Dooryard Garden.
The Ogden family lived in this charming cottage, a restored saltbox farmhouse from the 18th century until British firebombers spared it during the Revolutionary War. Ogden House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a beautiful place to learn about the fascinating narrative of its past.
It was constructed in 1750 and is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a historical home, complete with antique glassware, furniture, and other essential items.
The Fairfield Garden Club takes great care of the Dooryard Garden, often known as the Colonial Kitchen Garden. It is located in the backyard and contains fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are used for anything from insecticides and medicines to dyes. The walkways made of broken seashells are a great addition to this historical site.
In the center of the Greenfield Hill Historic District is the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. This church, which was built around 1855 and had baby-blue entryways and a clean, white interior, adds charm and history to a historic part of town.
This is a great place to visit, and you won’t want to miss it. It’s been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971. Greenfield Hill is full of historical artifacts like the beautiful 105 Meetinghouse Lane, a private home built in the mid-1700s and one of the town’s most impressive dwellings.
Another sweet private home is the Old Salt Box. In 1751, it was built. Even though you can’t go inside these beautiful homes, you can still enjoy them from the outside. To really appreciate the area’s beauty, park at the church and stroll along the vast, tree-lined roadways.
Bronson Road is home to Greenfield Hill Cemetery, which is also worth a visit. This historic site, which was once used as an Indian burial ground, now holds the remains of troops from the American Revolution, the French, Indian, and Civil Wars. Additionally, it is the final resting place of some of the area’s first-known residents.
Fairfield, a wealthy town on Connecticut’s Gold Coast, is home to some beautiful Long Island Sound beaches and charming historic districts centered on town greens. The Renaissance and Baroque paintings and plaster casts of old sculptural masterpieces in the Fairfield University Art Museum are also worth the trip. You can also go hiking, swimming, or camping in their stunning woodlands and lakes.
Give yourself a fantastic holiday by visiting Fairfield’s stunning destinations.