Historic Wethersfield

Wethersfield is notable for the size of its historic district and the devotion to preservation that has made it a magnet for people interested in 18th and 19th Century architecture. Set on the Connecticut River, it dates to 1634, and its historic district includes about 50 pre-Revolutionary houses, another 100 built by 1860 and another 150 built shortly after the Civil War. A wealthy town in its early years, Wethersfield experienced a mid-19th Century downturn that protected its homes from demolition. The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum at 211 Main Street encompasses three houses of different eras, including on that was Washington's headquarters in 1781. Also open to visitors is the 1720 Buttolph-Williams House, which has the look of a 17th C. building. The Wethersfield Historical Society’s Keeney Center on Main Street offers local history (860-529-7656; wethhist.org).

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum (860-529-0612; webb-deane-stevens.org) is open May 1 to Oct. 31, Wednesday to Monday, 10-4; weekends, 10-4 in November and April..

The Buttolph-Williams House is open on similar days and hours (860-529-0460; ctlandmarks.org). There are also December House Tours.

Details

Historic Wethersfield is just off I-91 at Exit 26; take I-84 East to I-691 to I-91 northbound or take I-95 or the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkway north to I-91 northbound. Wethersfield is south of Hartford; from Ridgefield it’s about a 70-mile trip.