Butler-McCook House & Garden

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Connecticut's Old State House as they celebrate their 230th birthday on May 16th!🎂🤩

Want to learn more about the history of Central Row & State Street area surrounding the OSH? Join us on our Beyond Main Street Walking tour this Saturday May 16th, 10 am- 12 pm.

We'll begin along South Prospect Street, from the 1788 Amos Bull House to the Hartford Times Building, to the BPO Elks Lodge. To the west, explore more of the city’s South Downtown neighborhood on Elm and Gold Streets.

To register: https://ctlandmarks.org/event/walking-tour-beyond-main-street/

For questions: [email protected]

04/30/2026

We were privileged to attend the celebration of this semester’s class yesterday. The student-produced video captures the great work this cohort of grad students and undergraduates have been doing throughout Hartford, to tell our stories and elevate our city (look for our garden cameos!).

We had the great fortune of collaborating with BUILD Fellow last summer at the Butler-McCook House. We send our best as she graduates and takes big steps forward in her career. Moreover, we encourage those in Hartford to learn more about this program and consider partnering with BUILDHartford!

We tell stories of Hartford here at Connecticut Landmarks, bridging past to present and present to future. Join in our storytelling by attending one of our upcoming Historic Hartford Walking Tours or Open Tour Days at the Butler-McCook or Isham Terry Houses.

1 like. "BUILD Hartford Celebration Video"

10/14/2025

Here's your chance to put your beautiful artistic talent and our stunning gardens front and center! Calling all artists for entries to the Connecticut's Historic Gardens Poster Art Contest to be featured on the celebrated annual poster for .

For details: https://www.cthistoricgardens.org/poster-contest

09/25/2025

Our Historic Hartford Walking Tour: Hartford Women will step off Saturday Sept 27, 2025 at 10 am from the Amos Bull House, located at the east end of the Butler-McCook Garden.

Hear how Hartford women saved this unique structure from the wrecking ball, preserving the 2nd oldest building in Hartford—literally and figuratively behind the Butler-McCook House. Learn about publishers, editors, writers, civic leaders and more—all women—while enjoying a beautiful fall morning in our capital city!

For tickets and more information:

https://ctlandmarks.org/event/historic-hartford-walking-tour-hartford-women-2/

Join us on this new walk for 2025, as we cover what may seem like familiar geographic ground of Main Street, only with new stories to tell as we celebrate the lives of Hartford Women. Learn about Hannah Bunce Watson, Caroline Hewins, Elizabeth C**t, Beatrice Fox Auerbach, Ann Uc***lo & Carrie Saxon

09/22/2025

Thanks to all who joined us for our Historic Hartford Walking Tour: Charter Oak & C**tsville on a beautiful fall Saturday. We were treated to a visit inside the stunning SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. How lucky we were to be in the right place at the right time! Dziękuję!!

We have one last walk coming up Sept. 27th, Hartford Women, for our 2025 Season with tickets still available. https://ctlandmarks.org/event/historic-hartford-walking-tour-hartford-women-2/

09/15/2025

The forecast this coming Saturday morning is ideal for our Historic Hartford Walking Tour: Charter Oak & C**tsville. Join Jana Colacino as she leads this walk and examines landscape, art and architecture in the Charter Oak and C**tsville neighborhoods. She will share stories of Amos Bull, the legendary Charter Oak, Borden Milk, Sam and Elizabeth C**t and their extensive architectural and philanthropic legacy in Hartford, metal and machine work in Hartford, including the origins of plus so much more!

For information and tickets: https://ctlandmarks.org/event/historic-hartford-walking-tour-charter-oak-coltsville/

Join us to explore the architectural treasures of C**tsville and the Charter Oak neighborhoods. Discuss the impacts of industry and immigration on these neighborhoods in Hartford, including sites like the C**t Factory and its worker houses, the Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House, the Capew...

09/06/2025

Join us this Saturday, Sept. 6 for our Open Saturday tours, which will occur on the hour at 1, 2 and 3 pm. Hear how the McCook family spent their summers in Niantic and so much more about this fascinating founding family of Hartford in the oldest remaining home in Hartford!

09/04/2025

🍎✏️📓School is back in session and we will bid summer farewell with our last concert to close out a PHENOMENAL 2025 Season, presenting The Hall Monitors on Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 6-8 pm!

We are thrilled to welcome these accomplished musicians led by Steven Bulmer on bass to our Garmany Music Terrace. Joining Bulmer are Jen Allen on piano, Matt Parker on saxes and flute, Nathan Edwards on saxes and Ben Bilello on drums.

Bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner while you enjoy music in the lovely setting of the Butler-McCook House & Garden. Visit the historic Butler-McCook House's first floor. Tour our galleries to see "Take a Bow, Hartford" celebrating the wonderful performers in our Hartford community as captured in the photographs of Andy Hart and Cecil Hudson, as well as the opening of a new exhibition featuring the work of Frank Poulin Photography in our Amos Bull and Butler-McCook Houses.

These events are sponsored by: the Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign with major support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

08/17/2025

Many thanks to the Crescent Beach Historical group for their invitation to speak about the McCooks and their many wonderful summers spent in Niantic, CT.

In 1953, when remaining family members Frances and Anson McCook sold their property to the Town of East Lyme for $87,500, despite a more lucrative offer from a Hartford developer, it became a public park preserved for the enjoyment of all. The pictures demonstrate that McCook Point, once known as Champlin's Point, looks much as it did when the McCooks enjoyed it.

08/14/2025

Hartford is clear and the music is a go!!!!