Boothe Memorial Park and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boothe Homestead
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The Boothe Homestead
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| Location | 5774 Main St., Stratford, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Boothe, David & Stephen |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Shingle Style |
| Website | boothememorialpark.org[Usurped!] |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000951 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1985 |
Boothe Memorial Park and Museum is a special place in Stratford, Connecticut. It covers about 32 acres of land. This park is home to many unique buildings. It is sometimes called "The Oldest Homestead in America." This is because it stands on the foundations of a house built in 1663. People have lived there without a break since then.
Around 1914, two brothers, David Beach Boothe and Stephen Nichols Boothe, created the Boothe Memorial Museum. They gathered a collection of twenty different buildings. These include a carriage house, a miniature lighthouse, and a clock tower museum. There is also a trolley station, a chapel, and a blacksmith shop. The town of Stratford took over the property in 1949. It then became a public park for everyone to enjoy. Boothe Memorial Park and Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1985. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
Exploring the Park's Unique Buildings
Boothe Memorial Park has many interesting structures. Each one tells a part of history. You can find buildings like an Americana Museum. This museum shows items from American history. There is also a windmill, which uses wind to create power.
The Park's Observatory
The BMAS (Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society) Observatory is located in the park. It was built in 1957. An observatory is a place where people study stars and planets. This observatory has two telescopes. One is a large 16-inch Cassegrain reflector telescope. The other is a 4-inch Unitron refractor telescope. These tools help people see far into space.
The Historic Putney Chapel
The Putney Chapel was first built in 1844. It was used for church services. In 1968, the chapel was moved to Boothe Park. It is now a non-religious building. The chapel is open to everyone and can be rented for events. It is also accessible for people with disabilities.
Connecticut's Last Toll Booth
The park is also home to something very unique. It has the last remaining highway toll booth in Connecticut. A toll booth is where drivers used to pay money to use a road. This booth was moved from the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge in Milford, Connecticut. All state toll booths were removed in June 1988. This toll booth is made of wooden logs. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
In Spanish: Museo y Parque Conmemorativo de Boothe para niños
