Director’s Message

Dear Members and Friends,

I am so excited to share Hill-Stead Museum with you through this fantastic website, and invite you to explore these pages and discover all that the museum has to offer. Hill-Stead’s world-class collection of French Impressionist paintings and fine art, exquisite decorative arts and handsome antiques can be found on display year-round in our 1901 Colonial Revival house, designed by one of the country’s first female architects, Theodate Pope Riddle. As beautiful as the images on this site may be, the experience of viewing Hill-Stead in person is unmatched, and I hope to see you at the museum soon!

An oasis for visitors from around the world, Hill-Stead’s 152-acre property boasts rambling stone walls and meadows, historic barns, a network of wooded hiking trails, and the marvelous Sunken Garden. There is truly something for everyone at Hill-Stead, and our broad range of educational activities for visitors of all ages exemplifies our commitment to remaining a destination for learning, reflection and enjoyment.

The museum maintains a vibrant Calendar of Events, including monthly First Sunday Gallery Talks, hands-on art-making activities, engaging speakers presented by our Decorative Arts Study Group, and unique public programs such as May Market, Hay Day, and the nationally-acclaimed Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Please join us for some of these fun and enriching events!

Without the generosity of individual members, donors, foundations and corporations, the museum could not present so many unique public offerings. Hill-Stead is also grateful for its dedicated volunteers, who help to maintain our historic garden, guide visitors on tours, and assist with numerous fundraising efforts. Please visit our Support Us page to discover how you can help preserve this National Historic Landmark and ensure our collection captivates visitors for generations to come.

Whether arranging a first-time visit, planning a return trip for an upcoming program or discovering our museum from a faraway place, I hope you enjoy navigating this site and learning about Hill-Stead Museum’s fascinating story. Please visit us frequently, both in-person and online!

Dr. Anna Swinbourne

Executive Director and CEO


More Director’s Messages

 

Director’s Message – February 29, 2024

Executive Director Dr. Anna Swinbourne invites you to let Hill-Stead’s art inspire you.  [Read more]

Director’s Message – January 18, 2024

Executive Director Dr. Anna Swinbourne invites you to see Hill-Stead’s newest exhibition “Born in 1867: Theodate’s Generation” [Read more]

Director’s Message – September 22, 2023

Executive Director Dr. Anna Swinbourne introduces Hill-Stead’s newest exhibition “Born in 1867: Theodate’s Generation” [Read more]

Director’s Message – July 25, 2023

An inviation to our annual Gala from Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director. [Read more]

Director’s Message – May 12, 2023

An inviation to our annual Gala from Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director. [Read more]

Director’s Message – March 20, 2023

Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director, invites you to our spring events. [Read more]

Director’s Message – December 26, 2022

Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director, expresses her gratitude for the last year. [Read more]

Director’s Message – December 19, 2022

Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director, invites you to the exhibition Alfred Pope: An Evolution of Ingenuity [Read more]

Director’s Message – November 4, 2022

Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director, salutes change-making women [Read more]

Director’s Message – August 3, 2022

Dr. Anna Swinbourne, Hill-Stead’s Executive Director, invites you to Hill-Stead, where we prize that good and try our best to keep eyes on it. [Read more]

 

For the latest news: Hill-Stead News