Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Hartford, Connecticut)

Infobox_nrhp | name =Stowe, Harriet Beecher, House
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= Hartford, Connecticut
lat_degrees = 41 | lat_minutes = 46 | lat_seconds = 1.14 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 72 | long_minutes = 42 | long_seconds = 2.81 | long_direction = W
area =
built =1871
architect= Unknown
architecture= Gothic
added = October 06, 1970
governing_body = Private
refnum=70000710 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic home in Hartford, Connecticut that was once the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Organization Mission Statement

The Stowe Center’s mission is to preserve and interpret Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Hartford home and the Center’s historic collections, create a forum for vibrant discussion of her life and work, and inspire individuals to embrace and emulate her commitment to social justice by effecting positive change.

About the house

The house was once part of a community called Nook Farm and former neighbor to Mark Twain. In this Victorian house, Stowe lived with her husband Calvin, a theologian, and her oldest twin daughters, Hatty (Harriet) and Eliza. They moved into the house in 1873 and were residents there until Stowe's death in 1896. The house contains period antiques and also items that belonged to the Stowe Family.

The Nook Farm Grounds were designed by the partnership of Stevenson, Fuoco, and Canning.This site at the western end of Hartford was originally a compound of houses of artists and writers including Mark Twain, Charles Dudley Warner, Francis Gillette, et al.Harriet Beecher Stowe had a large mansion called 'Oakhome' at the South portion of Nook Farm. She later moved to the smaller Nook Farm Cottage at 77 Forrest Street. The first restoration of the site was accomplished by landscape architect Katherine (Mrs. Holly) Smith Stevenson assisted by landscape architect Jaquie Canning. Kitty Stevenson's grandmother had been a friend and neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Kitty Stevenson was a friend of Beecher descendant, early presevationist Kathy Day. In the 1970s Rob Camp Fuoco joined this firm of landscape architects. Following the retirement of Stevenson and Canning , Fuoco did much historic research and accomplished the 1978 and 1990 redesigns of the historic grounds which resulted in the historic site and gardens that we see today. During this second stage many Victorian, historic, and educational elements were added. These include the color theme gardens, the inclusion of Harriet's beloved wildflowers, the inclusion of three typically high victorian gardens, the scented garden, and the meadow garden.

The historic site

In addition to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the historic site includes a visitor center (1873 carriage house) and museum shop, and the Katharine Seymour Day House (1884). A tour of the Stowe House provides an intimate glimpse into the life of the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The Day House offers magnificent interiors with changing exhibits and a research library. Visitors will enjoy the Center's tranquil surroundings, accented with historical Victorian gardens. Guided garden tours are offered seasonally.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is on the Connecticut Freedom Trail and the Connecticut Women's Heritage Trail and commemorates Black History Month and Women's History Month. The gardens are part of Connecticut’s Historic Gardens.

See also

* Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Ohio)

References

External links

* [http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and Library]