Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum

Joseph Webb House, headquarters of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
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Established	1919 (1919)
Location	211 Main Street Wethersfield, Connecticut

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is a special place in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It's run by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Connecticut. This museum lets you step back in time!

It has three old houses from the 1700s. These houses are still in their original spots in Old Wethersfield. They are the 1752 Joseph Webb House, the 1769 Silas Deane House, and the 1789 Isaac Stevens House. The first two houses are so important that they are called National Historic Landmarks. The third house is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All three houses are right next to each other.

The Joseph Webb House is the main building for the museum. It looks just like it did in the late 1700s. There's also a beautiful garden and an old barn behind it. The Silas Deane House shows what a home looked like in the mid-1700s. The Isaac Stevens House is set up to show how a regular family lived in the 1820s and 1830s. Many items in this house belonged to the original Stevens family.

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum also helps manage another old house nearby. This is the 1715 Buttolph–Williams House. It's owned by Connecticut Landmarks. Inside, you can see very old furniture and items from the 1600s and early 1700s. This house was even the setting for a famous book! It's where Elizabeth George Speare's book The Witch of Blackbird Pond took place. That book won the Newbery Medal in 1958.

The museum is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it meets high standards for museums.

Exploring the Historic Houses

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is made up of three main houses. Each house shows a different time period. This helps visitors understand what life was like long ago.

The Joseph Webb House

This house was built in 1752. It's the biggest house and serves as the museum's main office. When you visit, you'll see how people lived in the late 1700s. The house has been carefully restored to look like it did back then. Outside, there's a lovely garden designed in an old style. There's also a barn from the 1800s.

The Silas Deane House

Built in 1769, the Silas Deane House takes you back to the middle of the 1700s. It shows how a wealthy family might have lived during that time. Silas Deane was an important person in American history. He was a diplomat during the American Revolutionary War.

The Isaac Stevens House

The Isaac Stevens House was built in 1789. This house is special because it shows how a middle-class family lived in the 1820s and 1830s. Many of the items inside actually belonged to the Stevens family. This makes it feel very real and personal.

Other Important Buildings

The museum also helps with another historic property. This house is very old and has a famous connection.

The Buttolph–Williams House

This house was built in 1715. It's managed by the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. Inside, you can see rare antiques from the 1600s and early 1700s. It's like stepping into a time machine! This house is also famous for being the setting of the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond. This book is about a young girl who moves to colonial Connecticut.

Museum Recognition

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is a respected institution. It has received important recognition for its work.

National Historic Landmarks

The Joseph Webb House and the Silas Deane House are both National Historic Landmarks. This means they are very important places in American history. They are recognized for their historical value to the entire country.

National Register of Historic Places

The Isaac Stevens House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is another important list of historic sites. It means the house is recognized for its historical significance at a national level.

Accreditation

The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This is a big deal for museums. It means the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum meets high standards for how it cares for its collections and educates visitors.

Properties

See also

• List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War