Tours of Hill-Stead

Hill-Stead Museum Tours

Tours

Highlights of Hill-Stead – Daily Walk-in Tours

55-minute guided tour of the museum—Tuesday through Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm, on the hour and half-hour, with the last tour at 3 pm.
  • $16 adults
  • $14 seniors
  • $12 students
  • $8 children 6-12
  • FREE for members & children under 6. Learn more about Membership Benefits.
  • No advanced purchase required.

First-Floor-Only Tours

55-minute guided tour of the museum—Tuesday through Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm, on the hour and half-hour, with the last tour at 3 pm.
  • $12 adults
  • $10 seniors & students
  • $5 children 6 – 12
  •  FREE for members & children under 6. Learn more about Membership Benefits.

Special Exhibition Tours

Purchase Tickets for June & July Tours
Diamonds in the Rough: Golfing at Hill-Stead—Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Regular house tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday year-round. Tickets for special exhibition tours and regular house tours can be purchased separately or at a discounted combo price.
  • Exhibition Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors, $12 students, , $12, $8 children 6 to 12, free for children under 6
  • Exhibition + House Tickets: $17 adults, $22 seniors, $20 students, $20, $12, children 6 to 12
  • FREE for Museum Members and children under 6. Not a Member?  Join Now
  • Let’s Go Arts Members: 2-for-1 admission
  • Please note: Closed-toe shoes are required to visit the re-creation of Hill-Stead’s first tee due to possible poison ivy, which is commonly present in preserved natural landscapes such as ours.

Group Tours

Group tours require advance registration.  Please contact the Education Department (860-677-4787 ext. 140 or millerl@hillstead.org.)

Request a Group Tour

Highlights of Hill-Stead (10 or more people):

One-hour guided tour of the museum, perfect for groups with time constraints or multiple destinations. 

  • $14 – adults
  • $11 – seniors & students
  • $8 – children 6-12
  • FREE for members & children under 6. Learn more about Membership Benefits
  • Reservations are required.

Estate Tour

1½- to 2-hour private group tour of the house, gardens and ground.   Great for garden and architecture enthusiasts 
  • $20 adults
  • $18 seniors & students
  • $8 children 6-12
  • FREE for members & children under 6. Learn more about Membership Benefits

Gold Tour – A treat for two!

1½- to 2-hour private “white-glove” tour of the museum. Gold Tour guests receive special attention and view more objects and rooms than available during daily tours.  Get a glimpse inside cabinets, go behind ropes, and much more.
  • $50 – two members (groups of four may be accommodated by request)
  • $100 – two non-members, includes a family membership! Learn more about Membership Benefits.
  • Reservations are required. Tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
  • These tours are offered between 10:30 am and 2 pm, and are subject to availability.

NEW Hill-Stead Museum & Stanley-Whitman House combo-tour package — TWO for the price of ONE!

1-hour guided tour at each museum for adult visitors seeking an afternoon of learning and enjoyment in Farmington—Tuesday to Friday between 10 am to 3 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays between 12 and 3 pm.

  • $15 per – per adult for a minimum of 10 people
Please note:
  • Add-on lunch options are available. See Details.
  • A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required to reserve (check, credit card or cash).
  • Museum memberships, passes and discounts may not be used towards this special offer
  • These tours are offered from
  • To reserve, contact Lisa Johnson, Executive Director of the Stanley-Whitman House (860.677.9222 ext. 305, lisa@stanleywhitman.org), or Lauren Miller, Director of Community Engagement at Hill-Stead Musem (860-677-4787 ext. 140 or millerl@hillstead.org).

For more information, or to reserve a tour, contact the Education Department (860-677-4787 ext. 140 or millerl@hillstead.org.)

Additional Information

Reservations

Hill-Stead welcomes groups of 10 or more people but requires advance reservation and a non-refundable deposit. Please reserve at least two to four weeks in advance of your visit.

Admission Discounts

Other discounts do not apply to group tours, i.e., AAA discount, library passes or coupons.

Timing

Allow ample time. General museum tours are one hour. We suggest giving your group at least two hours at Hill-Stead, so that in addition to the guided tour, individuals may see the 12-minute orientation video, explore the grounds and gardens and visit the museum shop and restrooms.

Accessibility

The first floor of the historic house is accessible. The Sunken Garden, restrooms, and Makeshift Theater are all accessible. Designated parking is available.

Amenities

Free on-site bus and car parking, reserved handicapped spaces, museum shop, and restrooms.

Bus Directions

Buses should use the Farmington Avenue gate. Please note that GPS will route you to the car entrance. Group reservations are required in advance. Download Bus Directions (PDF) 

Restaurants

For a list of restaurants, see our FAQ page, or inquire in the Museum Shop.

5 Star CT

How many tourism regions can provide 5 world-class destinations (including Hill-Stead Museum) only minutes from one another? Visit two internationally-famous authors’ immaculately restored homes, a museum with a great collection of American Art from Colonial to Contemporary, a beautifully appointed home brimming with glorious Impressionist art, and a historical society that unfolds the rich history of the Constitution State before your eyes.

For more information or to book a 5 Star CT tour, visit www.5starct.org.

Destinations include:

  • Hill-Stead Museum
    Set on 152 hilltop acres, this unique Colonial Revival home contains priceless works by Monet, Degas, Manet and Whistler, as well as a breathtaking sunken garden.
  • Connecticut Historical Society
    Home to a nationally-renowned collection of 3.5 million items and engaging, interactive exhibitions that weave together the history of the Nutmeg State.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
    The final home of the abolitionist author who changed the world with her blockbuster novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
  • The Mark Twain House and Museum
    America’s most beloved humorist called this 25-room Victorian mansion home for 17 years, the period when he wrote his greatest works.
  • The New Britain Museum of American Art
    Fifteen welcoming galleries featuring works by American Art masters past and present.

5 Star Tour Amenities include:

  • Easy pick-up and drop-off for buses at all five sites.
  • One-stop booking services for 5 Star CT tour packages.
  • Themed packages available.
  • On-site dining and catering options.
  • Fun-filled gift shops.
  • One-to-two hour visits at each site allow tour operators to program multiple destinations in a day.
  • Affordable and comfortable nearby hotels and dining options.