Situated on the crest of a hill in Farmington, Hill-Stead Museum is a magnificent mansion designed by architect Theodate Pope Riddle, one of the first licensed female architects in the United States and the daughter of the home’s original owner and art collector.
The clapboard house Riddle designed featured the latest modern conveniences and, during the first half of the 20th century, she and her parents entertained illustrious guests, including prominent writers, academics, artists, and even U.S. presidents.
Today, Hill-Stead houses an exceptional Impressionist art collection and features a restored sunken garden, as well as sweeping views across its 152-acre landscape. The museum also preserves an extensive archive of correspondence, diaries, and household documents. Another of Riddle’s projects, Avon Old Farms School, can be seen nearby in Avon.