You don’t have to be an expert on the Nutmeg State to know that we have a lot of history. People have lived on the land now known as Connecticut for centuries, and we were one of the first few colonies settled by Europeans. The Connecticut Colony, also known as the River Colony, was settled by the English in 1636. A surprising number of colonial buildings still stand here – go somewhere like Old Wetherfield and you’ll be able to see some of the oldest buildings in the United States. None, however, are as old as the Henry Whitfield House in Guilford. This is not only the oldest building in Connecticut, it’s also the oldest stone house in all of New England. Check it out:

The house was built for a Puritan minister for whom it is now named. It was one of the earliest buildings to be constructed in the Guilford area.
Dmadoeo/Wikimedia Commons
Construction started pretty late in the year, in September 1639. The settlers were not able to complete the home until the summer of the following year.
There was so much stone available that the walls were constructed to be nearly two feet thick. Some other parts of the home, like the rafters, were made of various trees in the area.
Chris soto/Google Reviews
Thanks to the sturdy construction and thick walls, the home was considered to be a fort to protect the settlers in case of attack.
The building served as a home for Henry Whitfield, his wife, and their nine children. It also was a meetinghouse for town meetings and served as the church until the town's church was constructed.
Wikimedia Commons

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In 1899, the house was opened to the public as the first state museum.
Tony Healy/Google Reviews
A self-guided tour of the home's three floors will show you plenty of furniture and artifacts from the time period when the home was built.
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZE MD/Wikimedia Commons
Even today, archaeological digs are often going on here.
Swampyank/Wikimedia Commons
It's fascinating to walk through these rooms and think about how many years they've seen!
Luis Somoza/Google Reviews

Have you ever visited the Henry Whitfield State Museum in Guilford, CT? Did you know it was the oldest building in Connecticut?

Check out the Henry Whitfield State Museum Facebook page. You can also learn more from the Connecticut state website and even take a virtual tour of the museum. If this visit is part of a road trip, you’re only a short distance from the popular Madison Beach Hotel.

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Henry Whitfield State Museum, 248 Old Whitfield St, Guilford, CT 06437, USA