Ridgefield Museums & Historic Sites

Keeler Tavern

In 1938, the Connecticut Guide called Ridgefield's Main Street "one of America's most beautiful rural streets." Still famed for its beauty and interesting places, Ridgefield's village is best explored on foot. Main Street passes antique homes from the beginning of the 18th Century to grand homes built at the end of the 20th Century. The Elms Inn is one of these antique homes, having been built originally in 1799.

Whether your interest is the Revolutionary War era in particular, American history in general, or contemporary art as displayed in the Aldrich Museum, you will enjoy the historic sites, homes and museums in the Ridgefield area.

Note that the selection list is in alphabetical order and indicates the distance to the museum. For those who wish to scroll the entire list, it is in order by distance from the hotel.

Map links provide driving maps and instructions from the hotel to the location selected.

Select Museum or Historic Site to View

Select Location Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art - 0.6 Cass Gilbert Fountain - 0.9 Keeler Tavern Museum - 0.8 Main Street - 0.0 Ridgefield Community Center - 0.4 Ridgefield Historical Society - 0.5 Ridgefield Library - 0.1 Ridgefield Town Hall - 0.4 Weir Farm - 4.4 West Lane Schoolhouse - 1.6

Listed by distance from the hotel:

In 1938, the Connecticut Guide called Ridgefield's Main Street "one of America's most beautiful rural streets." Still famed for its beauty and interesting places, Ridgefield's village is best explored on foot. Main Street passes antique homes from the beginning of the 18th Century to grand homes built at the end of the 20th Century. In the business district there are many places to dine, from the elegant to the casual.

Built in 1903 and located at 472 Main Street, this beautiful Beau Arts period building has been restored to its original splendor. The Ridgefield Library offers year-round programs for adults, teens and children and offers multiple computer stations for internet access.

A stately Mansion built in 1896 for Governor Phineus C. Lounsbury, now home to special functions, weddings, antique shows and more. It has a beautiful wrap around porch as well as changing rooms for brides and grooms.

Built in 1896 for $16,000 this present Ridgefield Town Hall building replaced one built in 1876 that was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1895. Located at 400 Main Street, the town hall serves as the offices of the Selectman, Treasurer, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Assessor, Probate Court, and Registrars of Voters.

This stately mansion was originally built as the residence for Governor Phineus C. Lounsbury in 1893 and named "Grovelawn". In its time, the house coveted many luxurious features such as a windmill, greenhouse, private water supply, bowling alley, and much more. Today it is known as the Ridgefield Community Center and is home to special functions, weddings, antique shows, and the Ridgefield Workshop for the Performing Arts, Inc and other activities.

The Ridgefield Historical Society was established in 2001 to preserve, catalogue, research, and disseminate information about the history of Ridgefield, Connecticut. In September 2002, the society opened its new headquarters in the "Scott House." The building had stood for more than two and a half centuries in the village of Ridgefield, and was disassembled, moved to 4 Sunset Lane and restored with the help of many contributors. View the photo library that documents this reconstruction feat.

This museum is housed in an historic 18th-century building and is a nationally respected showcase for the best works of contemporary artists, many of whom have been featured here at the beginning of their careers. It was founded by Larry Aldrich, originally to showcase his collection. Propelled by a very active and involved corps of volunteers, the programming at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art includes frequent events for children, from concerts to art workshops.

1772 Keeler Tavern Museum offer tours by costumed guides explaining how the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield was fought right down Main Street and how the British troops were aiming for the tavern, a known gathering place for patriots. The tavern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and later the home of renowned architect Cass Gilbert, and its restored sunken garden, is a treasure.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Keeler Tavern Museum has been a farmhouse, tavern, stagecoach stop, post office, hotel for travelers, home of noted architect Cass Gilbert and, since 1966, a museum. Now decorated with period furnishings, and changing exhibits from the Museum's collections, its past comes alive as costumed guides lead tours through room settings that portray life in rural Connecticut from the early 18th century to the mid 20th century.

Conveniently located on 2 plus acres along Main Street (Route 35) in historic Ridgefield, Connecticut, the Museum is easy to reach from major highways throughout the tri-state region.

The Cass Gilbert Fountain, dating from 1907 has become a Ridgefield landmark. It was given to the town by Cass Gilbert, the noted American architect, and is located at the intersection of West Lane and Main Street. Over the years it has been struck by many errant automobiles, and in the early 1990's, the white stone fountain was raised and surrounded by greenery to help protect it. The fountain sprays water from the top and also out of the little turtles near the base.

Presently, the 91-year-old fountain is still working. It is white stone on a little island with grass and bushes. The fountain is in the middle of the road of West Lane, which turns onto Main Street. During the winter, this fountain is covered with a glass dome. Generally this dome is put over the fountain in November, and, depending on how severe the winter is, taken off sometime in the spring. Throughout some of spring, summer and most of fall the fountain is working and water comes off the top and out of the little turtles near the base. During the Christmas season, wreaths are put on the glass dome covering the fountain.

2004 Fountain Reconstruction Project Slide Show

Also called The Little Red Schoolhouse or the Peter Parley Schoolhouse, West Lane Schoolhouse was last used in 1915 and is maintained today by the Ridgefield Garden Club. The original school dates from the middle 1700s, but the current building is probably of 19th Century construction. The Schoolhouse was where Samuel G. Goodrich, the author of more than 100 books, under his own name or his pseudonym, Peter Parley, got his early education.

American Impressionist painter, J. Alden Weir (1852-1919) summered at this country retreat for nearly 40 years. Weir Farm National Historic Site. is open all year, Wednesday - Sunday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM