House Tours
- The 1901 Pope Riddle house and its period rooms are open for guided tours only.
- Guided tours of the Pope Riddle House are offered Wednesday through Sunday, every hour on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm with the last tour at 3 pm; closed major holidays (Easter Sunday, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).
- Tickets may be purchased at the museum on a first-come, first-serve basis; with no more than 16 people per tour.
- Hill-Stead also offers Exclusive Private Tours on select Saturdays.
- Hill-Stead welcomes groups of 10 or more people with advance reservations. For more information see Group Tours.
- Hill-Stead’s new Museum Shop is now open during museum hours, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
- Hill-Stead’s grounds are open to the public daily from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. For groups of eight or more please contact Karen Hudkins to make an advance reservation. Dogs are welcome at Hill-Stead. Please note: They must wear a leash and stay under their owner’s control at all times.
- Hill-Stead offers both in-person and online field trips BOOK NOW.
- Visitors will be required to lock their bags and personal belongings in the lockers located in the visitor center, or alternatively, to store them in their car during the visit/tour of the historic house and/or art gallery.
- Please review Hill-Stead’s reopening plan.
Admission
To keep our museum accessible to all, Hill-Stead participates in the Blue Star Museums, Museums for All, AAA and Connecticut Art Trail programs.
Highlights of Hill-Stead
One-hour guided tour of the museum. Offered Wednesday through Sunday on the hour between 10 am and 4 pm with the last tour at 3 pm. No advanced purchase required.
Special Admission Programs
As a Blue Star Museum, Hill-Stead offers active-duty military families FREE admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and museums across America.
Hill-Stead is a part of the Museums for All program and offers FREE admission for up to four people to with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Museums for All is a cooperative initiative between the Association of Children’s Museums and Institute of Museum and Library Services to offer a signature access program that encourages families of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits.
Hill-Stead is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail. Discover Connecticut’s artistic treasures with the Connecticut Art Trail Art Passport. The $25 Art Passport includes one admission to each of the 20 member museums per year. Explore diverse, quality collections rich in history and heritage, including European masterpieces, American Impressionism, ancient art and contemporary culture.
Group Tours
Hill-Stead welcomes groups of 10 or more people for private guided group tours. Group Tours require advance reservation.
Highlights of Hill-Stead (10 or more people)
1-hour guided tour of the museum.
House & Garden Tour
One-and-a-half to two-hour private group tour of the house, gardens and grounds. Great for garden and architecture enthusiasts! Please wear comfortable shoes.
Group Tour Reservations
- Please register here or contact the Education Department (860.677.4787 ext.136 or education@hillstead.org).
- Group tours are private tours led by Hill-Stead Museum Guides
- Please reserve at least two weeks in advance
- In the event of closure due to inclement weather, deposits may be applied to a future date.
- For student and youth group tours, please see School Tours.
- Visitors will be required to lock their bags and personal belongings in the lockers located in the visitor center, or alternatively, to store them in their car during the visit/tour of the historic house and/or art gallery. For group tours that exceed locker capacity, Hill-Stead will store the belongings in a designated bin in the security office for the duration of their tour/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 explore the grounds and gardens and visit the museum shop and restrooms.
Accessibility
The first floor of the historic house is wheelchair accessible. The Sunken Garden, restrooms, and Makeshift Theater are all wheelchair accessible. Designated parking is available.
Amenities
Free on-site bus and car parking, reserved handicapped spaces, museum shop, and restrooms.
Transportation
Buses may not use the main entrance on Mountain Road to enter the museum. Buses must use the bus entrance located on Rt. 4. If you will be arriving by passenger van or car, please use the main entrance located on Mountain Road.
Restaurants
For a list of restaurants, see our FAQ page, or inquire in the Museum Shop.
The safety of staff and visitors is our highest priority.
To ensure a safe, inspiring experience for all, we’ve adopted new health and safety protocols. You’ll find everything you need to know about your next visit below.
Social distancing best practices are in place. All persons entering the building will be required to wear a face mask covering at all times.
- Hill-Stead reserves the right to require masks regardless of vaccination status
- Please practice safe social distancing
- A limited number of visitors will be permitted at one time
- A one-way flow of traffic will be required in the House
- Contactless payment is available and encouraged
- Please review our reopening plan