From interactive tours and stunning formal gardens to new exhibits and exciting programs, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center (KTM&HC) has something for everyone this summer. Plus, thanks to the state’s Connecticut Summer at the Museum initiative, all Connecticut kids 18 and under and an accompanying adult get FREE site admission now through September 5! It’s never been a better time to visit and get engaged.
At KTM&HC, we share hundreds of years of fascinating site history with the public, encouraging visitors to make connections between local and national, past and present. We’re also a cultural center for our community, bringing people together to experience history, arts, and culture on-site and online. We prioritize interactive, conversation-based learning and we’re committed to making our site and offerings accessible for all.
One of the best ways to experience KTM&HC is by visiting us in person. Purchase site admission in advance or at the Visitor Center and be ready to make a day of it! Site admission includes a guided tour of our historic tavern; a special exhibit in the Gilbert Wing of the tavern (currently on display: “Reflections of the Past: Over 50 Years of Interpretation at KTM&HC”); a self-guided outdoor walking tour; family activities and videos in the Cass Gilbert-designed carriage barn; and access to our beautiful, four-acre site, including a historic walled garden overflowing with gorgeous flowers – the perfect place for a mid-summer stroll. Visitors can also stop by our Museum Shop, which has a newly curated selection of merchandise, including KTM&HC-branded and locally sourced items.
Our guided tours use engaging storytelling to bring hundreds of years of site history to life for visitors of all ages. “Meet the Residents” highlights some of the individuals and events that shaped this site over time: colonial-era builders Benjamin and Sarah Hoyt; tavern founders Timothy and Esther Keeler; 19th-century residents Phillis Dubois and two generations of the Resseguie family; and Cass and Julia Gilbert, who, in the early 20th century, shaped the site to look much as it does today. Also, new for summer 2022, we’re prototyping “War at Home,” which shares the experiences of the residents of our site during the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield. As part of our reinterpretation project, we’re making sure the stories we tell are inclusive and representative, with special emphasis on amplifying the voices of former residents whose stories have not been told.
Don’t just take our word for it! Check out this feedback about KTM&HC from a recent visitor: “All museums should be like the Keeler! . . . I was blown away! Love the incorporation of different perspectives of Ramapo, African Americans and women. John was the best tour guide ever! He was animated and made us appreciate the history more with his story telling and props. Staff was very helpful and friendly. Kudos! Highly recommend this Museum and tour. Thought provoking and made me curious, which is what one hopes for in a museum.” If you take one of our tours this summer, we want to hear from you too!
We’re also offering a series of collaborative public programs with community partners like the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and the Ridgefield Poet Laureate all summer long. Join us outdoors on our beautiful site for Music at the Museum and Poetry in the KTM Gardens, a unique way to experience the arts in a historic setting. For a more sustained immersion in arts and culture tailored specifically for kids, check out our Keeler Kids summer programming for the weeks of August 1 and 8 – there are still a few spots available! Participants will have the opportunity to build their own “cabinet of curiosities” or design and install an exhibit to be displayed to the public this summer!
Check out our website for more information about site admission, CT Summer at the Museum discounts, public programs, and Keeler Kids: www.keelertavernmuseum.org. KTM&HC is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.