The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, known as “the Kate,” is a must-do Connecticut day trip for families, film lovers, and anyone interested in the state’s remarkable women.
Located in Old Saybrook’s historic 1911 town hall and theater, the Kate hosts live music, theater, film, cultural programs, and arts-education opportunities for young people. The center honors Katharine Hepburn, the celebrated actress and Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. Born in Hartford in 1907, she spent childhood summers at her family’s Fenwick home in Old Saybrook, a place she called “paradise,” and later returned there as a permanent resident until her death in 2003. The Katharine Hepburn Museum, located next to the theater lobby, offers an intimate look at Hepburn’s life and career through letters, photographs, home movies, costumes, wardrobe pieces, awards, and other memorabilia.
Exhibits also explore the remarkable women in her family, including her mother and namesake, Katharine Houghton Hepburn. Katharine Houghton Hepburn was a leading Connecticut reformer and Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. She served as president of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, advocated for women’s voting rights, and later worked to expand access to birth control. Her progressive activism helped shape the independent spirit and determination of her daughter.
With a museum visit, a live performance, and time to explore charming Old Saybrook, the Kate makes an inspiring and memorable Connecticut outing. Katharine Hepburn’s record four Academy Awards for Best Actress are just one part of a legacy that continues to connect visitors with film, the performing arts, and women’s history.