Past Events

Look back to see how urban vacationers once embraced Ridgefield’s fresh breezes, scenic elevations, and countryside charm.

Join neighbors and friends as Ridgefield launches a historic year of commemorative programming, heritage exploration, and patriotic cheer.

Celebrate a pivotal moment in Revolutionary history on the anniversary of Rochambeau’s 1781 visit to Ridgefield, and discover how his bold strategy and French support helped win American independence.

Step inside a preserved 18th-century classroom and discover how generations of Ridgefield’s youth once learned their lessons in this historic setting.

Experience a curated world of wonder where past and present intertwine in a vibrant celebration of the visual arts. Exclusively by invitation to Catoonah Circle membership tier of the Ridgefield Historical Society.

Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project culminates with a community gathering led by historian Dr. Susan Ferentinos, exploring identity, legacy, and lived experience through storytelling.

Savor something special while supporting local heritage at one of Ridgefield’s favorite cafés.

Explore bygone summer camp adventures, outdoor escapes, youthful rituals, and cherished traditions during this lively discussion.

Experience the beauty of Ridgefield's most stunning gardens during the inaugural Ridgefield Garden Tour, Beyond the Garden Gate, presented by the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Ridgefield Historical Society.

A gala celebration on the eve of the Ridgefield Garden Tour: An evening in a spectacular private Ridgefield historic home, with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, music and conviviality. Hosted by and benefitting the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Ridgefield Historical Society.

Stop by our booth and learn more about Ridgefield's LGBTQIA+ history that we're preserving.

See you on Main Street. Look for us in the parade as we remember our fallen Ridgefielders on Memorial Day.

Step into the past and celebrate storytelling with a festive afternoon of family fun, local heritage, and a special reading from a newly published children’s book.

Share recollections of beloved blooms, forgotten tools, and the people who nurtured beauty and bounty across the decades in Ridgefield.

Join us at the Ridgefield Playhouse for a Ridgefield Town Party, a free, day-long celebration of community, music, and local nonprofits in honor of the Playhouse’s 25th Anniversary.

Meet the Ridgefield Historical Society and other local organizations and learn how you can get involved and support their missions at this inaugural non-profit fair.

Savor something special while supporting local heritage at one of Ridgefield’s favorite cafés.

Join our “living history” event on Main Street where Revolutionary War characters are brought to life by actors in period costumes.

Learn how hi-tech archaeology is being used to reveal our history.

Celebrate this milestone as we discuss the history, evolution, and legacy of the newspaper.

An exploration of the balance between the hand of the gardener and the power of nature in the New York Botanical Garden landscape.

Join author and historian Jack Sanders for an exclusive bus tour of Ridgefield's grand estates as he guides participants through the town’s rich architectural and cultural history.

Leading researchers will share fascinating recent archaeological discoveries related to Revolutionary War burials.

Join us for a special Women’s History Month celebration as Dr. Darla Shaw honors Connecticut’s trailblazing female governors, Ella Grasso and Jodi Rell.

Take a walk down memory lane with photos of Ridgefield from Korky’s collection.

Ridgefield Historical Society and Lounsbury House highlight 20 treasures from Ridgefield's 2023 Historic Resources Inventory

Discover the hidden history of Ridgefield's Goodwill Baptist Church, its dynamic leaders, and the enduring legacy of its members.

Curious about Ridgefield’s history? Bring your questions and explore the town’s past with Jack Sanders and his new Ridgefield Encyclopedia!

Redding Co-Historian Brent Colley discusses how the railroad shaped Gilbert & Bennett’s success and aided the growth of surrounding areas, including the Branchville area of Ridgefield.

Learn how to write your own obituary, or someone else’s with Jack Sanders, master storyteller and former editor of The Ridgefield Press.

Snowy days, sledding hills, and winter tales, join us as we revisit the charm and challenges of winters past.

Come share your favorite family holiday recipes and memories! Take a peek in some Ridgefield town cookbooks from our archives and see what was popular throughout the years.

The Ridgefield Historical Society brings the beloved tradition of silhouettes to the Scott House just in time for the holidays.

Ever wonder what life was like 10,000 years ago in Ridgefield? Join us as we explore the lifeways of the first people to inhabit these lands subsiding off of big game animals like mastodons.

Everyone has a story to tell and we'll celebrate some Ridgefield tales during Tellabration!

Join author and historian Jack Sanders for an exclusive bus tour of Ridgefield's grand estates as he guides participants through the town’s rich architectural history.

Come in costume to the final Sunday at the Schoolhouse of the season!

Join us for an evening of discovery, exclusively by invitation to Catoonah Circle membership tier of the Ridgefield Historical Society. Enjoy guided tours of the vault, access to seldom seen Ridgefield artifacts from past centuries, and a chance to meet and mingle with fellow history enthusiasts and supporters.

The Ridgefield Historical Society annual meeting of the membership will take place at the Scott House, 4 Sunset Lane, and via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. 

Step back in time and relive the magic of the legendary Danbury State Fair, a cherished piece of local history - bring your stories and join the fun!

A Ridgefield farmer's son, from alumnus of Peter Parley Schoolhouse to president of well known university.

Mr. Jones, Founding President of the Ridgefield Historical Society, will discuss and sign copies of his new book, THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD: Benedict Arnold, the Patriot Militia and the Surprising 1777 Battle that Galvanized Revolutionary Connecticut.

Keith Jones, author of 'definitive' book on The Battle of Ridgefield will meet with Ridgefield History Club to discuss how his new book uses the latest research methods to expand on previous publications of the Battle of Ridgefield.

Join us at the Ridgefield Civics Bowl to learn about Ridgefield's fascinating civic history.

The Ridgefield Historical Society's annual display at Town Hall serves as a remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. On display Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2024.

Join us as we celebrate the birthday of Samuel Goodrich (1793-1860), who wrote some 170 children’s books under the pen name Peter Parley.

Come experience a true country agricultural fair! The Ridgefield Historical Society will share an exhibit celebrating our rich agricultural heritage.

We'll take a closer look at Ridgefield scrapbooks, time capsules of Ridgefield history. Come share your memories!

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse, aslo known as the West Lane District Schoolhouse, will be open to visitors on Sunday July 28. Come learn more about Abigail Goodrich Whittelsey a famous alumna!

Come see all the exciting things we have coming up and learn more about our town's past, present and future!

Come share your stories of summers in Ridgefield, bring your memories of your favorite swimming spot or your summer jobs and share how you passed time in the dog days of summer.

All archaeological ruins have tale to tell and Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist Emeritus, will share a few from his new book.

The Ridgefield Historical Society is participating in the Books on the Common Where’s Waldo extravaganza again this year and we’re looking forward to seeing all participating children.

The Peter Parley/West Lane District Schoolhouse will be open to visitors for Last Sunday at the Schoolhouse, caretakers Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to answer questions!

Helena Hernmarck, celebrated for her monumental tapestries designed for architectural settings, takes center stage as the tour showcases her masterpieces.

Bring your personal recollections of buildings, neighborhoods, businesses and organizations that are no longer a part of our town.

New exhibit at Town Hall features Branchville One Room School as it is added to the state Register of Historic Places. On display June 1-December 31, 2024.

We are preserving LGBTQIA+ history, learn more at Pride in the Park.

See you on Main Street. Look for us in the parade as we remember our fallen Ridgefielders on Memorial Day.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens for the season on Sun. May 26!

It's nearly Memorial Day, a time when we honor those who lost their lives while serving their country over the centuries.

The Town of Ridgefield Graveyard Restoration Committee is highlighting some of the graves of Ridgefielders who are believed to have died in the great Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19.

Come see how we are preserving Ridgefield's history, past, present and future!

The Ridgefield Historical Society has a new exhibit in Town Hall commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Meals on Wheels Ridgefield. On display from May 1-Aug. 15, 2024.

Join our “living history” event where Revolutionary War characters are brought to life by actors in period costumes.

The Ridgefield Historical Society presents featured speaker Mike Allen, creator of the Amazing Tales From Off and On Connecticut's Beaten Path podcast.

Join us at Ridgefield's Covid Memorial Tree as we remember those lost during the pandemic.

Come share your memories of your favorite places to eat out in Ridgefield, whether it was a venue for a special occasion or the familiar spot "where everybody knows your name".

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories as Dr. Darla Shaw hosts a history tour featuring 50+ fabulous women from Ridgefield's past.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, come share personal remembrances of Ridgefield women, who have influenced your life and the community.

What's in a name? Have you ever thought about why your street is named the way it is?

Ridgefield is celebrating a golden environmental anniversary this year and a new exhibit highlights the decades-long effort to promote recycling. On display from February to May in Town Hall.

Join us for an evening filled with Ridgefield history, hosted by the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, at the historic Lounsbury House!

Share in the warmth of Christmas memories from Ridgefield's past!

Calling all children, families, and yes even pets! Silhouettes, a beloved tradition at the Historical Society, returns for the holiday season.

Jack Kelly, an award-winning author and historian, will give a talk about his new book featuring Benedict Arnold!

Celebrate the holidays with the Ridgefield Historic House Tour!

Join us for this fabulous preview party at the Tuttle-Smith House!

Join us as we look at the evolution of Ridgefield through the photography of Clarence Korker.

Everyone has a story to tell and we'll celebrate some Ridgefield tales during Tellabration!

Discover LGBTQ history including the experiences of Connecticut residents!

Remembering the enslaved in Ridgefield, a Witness Stones installation ceremony
honoring Dinah and Peter.

Join us for this special event to benefit the Ridgefield Historical Society!

To close the season we'll be sharing schoolhouse tricks and treats from the past!

Hear about what we accomplished last year and where we're going.

Silvio Bedini’s Ridgefield will be the topic for this months history club!

Enjoy an afternoon on a bus tour exploring colonial Ridgefield. Learn about the architecture, people, and stories connected to these historic places.

By using local stories to illustrate national trends, Dr. Ferentinos will demonstrate the importance of individual LGBTQ lives and communities to our understandings of the past.

Join us in saluting another distinguished West Lane Schoolhouse alumnus, Cyrus Northrop, whose birthday is Sept. 30.

Celebrate the Ridgefield Historical Society's new chapter!

It's harvest season and we invite you to join us as we unearth the fascinating history of farming in our picturesque town.

These monologues, adapted for the stage from the storytelling of Dr. Darla Shaw, celebrate four eccentric women of Ridgefield.

Discover the interesting history and stories of the people who once inhabited the Bennett’s Pond area.

Discover the Virginia Dynasty, who served as president from 1801 to 1825, and set the guideposts for later American liberals to follow.

Come and experience the beautiful and varied gardens and greenhouse in Ballard Park which are maintained by the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Caudatowa Garden Club.

Terry McManus, President of the Ridgefield Garden Club, archivist and historian, will give a talk on the history and current care of Ballard Park and its gardens.

This month marks the 240th anniversary of Peter Parley's birth. Visit the Schoolhouse for a glimpse into his life and times, and a 2:00pm performance, by his sister Abigail Goodrich, as portrayed by Dr. Darla Shaw.

The Ridgefield Historical Society will be an exhibitor at the 91st Cannon Grange Agricultural Fair at 25 Cannon Road in Wilton.

In August at the Ridgefield Historical Society, we’re thinking about school days. Going to School in Ridgefield will be the topic for this gathering of the Ridgefield History Club.

It's July and Ridgefield Schools are not in session, but the Peter Parley Schoolhouse is open and welcoming students of all ages. No homework. No pressure. Just a wafting breeze and a glimpse into Ridgefield past.

Meet the Ridgefield Historical Society outside Town Hall at Ridgefield's annual Summerfest.

Join the July Ridgefield History Club where we will reminisce and share recollections of favorite Ridgefield stores and businesses — past and present.

This Independence Day, the Ridgefield Historical Society will again be celebrating Let Freedom Ring. All are welcome to join us, or partake independently with a bell of your very own.

It's July in Ridgefield CT and that means one very important thing — it's time find Waldo!

Ridgefield Schools released earlier this week, but the Peter Parley Schoolhouse is open and welcomes students of all ages.

The Ridgefield History Club, a program of the Ridgefield Historical Society, is an informal monthly gathering in which attendees speak and reminisce together about a particular topic in Ridgefield history. […]

This event has been cancelled. If you were planning to attend, please visit us on Sunday, June 25 or a subsequent date. We apologize for any inconveniences and hope you enjoy this beautiful day.

The Ridgefield Historical Society will be at Pride in the Park with a display of photos of queer Ridgefielders from the past along with fun trivia. Stop by our table […]

Summer beckons, but it's opening day at the Peter Parley School

The Ridgefield History Club, a program of the Ridgefield Historical Society, is an informal monthly gathering in which attendees speak and reminisce together about a particular topic in Ridgefield history. […]

Early this May, the Town of Ridgefield will be dedicating a special tree to the memory of those lost in the Coronavirus pandemic. The tree, an 'Autumn Brilliance' Amelanchier, was […]

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.
Join the fun at the Lounsbury House as we present a Gilded Age Tea, featuring Kandie Carle, "The Victorian Lady," and a fine assortment of tea and treats.

Join the Ridgefield Historical Society as we commemorate the 246th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield, which took place on April 27, 1777 and was a pivotal engagement in the Revolutionary War—pitting […]

The Battle of Ridgefield remains a formative and defining event in our town. Visit Town Hall (weekdays 8:30am – 4:30pm) for an exhibit featuring relevant artifacts and photos, from reenactment […]

This exhibit at Ridgefield Town Hall focuses on the New Yorkers who summered in Ridgefield, as well as the immigrants who built the infrastructure that supported the opulent lifestyle of the Gilded Age.

Join the Ridgefield Historical Society and our friends at the Ridgefield Library for a spectacular in-person performance about the Black experience in American history. In this musical event, Kimberly Wilson […]

This Thursday, February 23, on Fairfield County's Giving Day, we invite you to help us preserve our World War II oral history collection. .

On Tuesday, November 15, Ridgefield Public School students installed two Witness Stones at the Ridgefield Historical Society's David Scott House, honoring the lives of the enslaved individuals who inhabited the home centuries ago.

Following two sold-out November performances at the Ridgefield Theater Barn, Eccentric Women of Ridgefield will be staged at The Meetinghouse in Ridgefield, 605 Ridgebury Road, on Sunday, Jan. 29, at […]

Ridgefield’s current Demolition Delay Ordinance, created in 2019, requires the Building Department to inform the Historic District Commission and Ridgefield Historical Society when demolition applications are received. If a building […]

On Sunday, December 4, the Ridgefield Historical Society welcomes back Silhouette artist Deborah O'Connor, for hand-cut Silhouettes — special portraits and gifts you will treasure for a lifetime.

Celebrating the lives and originality of four Ridgefield women from days gone by, Eccentric Women of Ridgefield is being presented by the Ridgefield Theater Barn with the collaboration of the Ridgefield Historical Society.

Celebrating the lives and originality of four Ridgefield women from days gone by, Eccentric Women of Ridgefield is being presented by the Ridgefield Theater Barn with the collaboration of the Ridgefield Historical Society.

Before the Gilded Age, before the American Revolution, before the first proprietors arrived — before Ridgefield was even known as Ridgefield — our land was occupied by American Indians. 

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, October 30, 1 - 4 pm. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

Join the Town of Ridgefield Graveyard Restoration Committee and the Ridgefield Historical Society for a self-guided tour featuring some of Olde Town Cemetery's most notable Revolutionary residents..

It's annual meeting season, and the Ridgefield Historical Society is hosting ours on October 18th.

The podcast 'Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut's Beaten Path' features local stories about people, places and events from throughout the state — including Ridgefield.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, September 25, 1 - 4 pm. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

A new exhibit in town hall, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, highlights Ridgebury’s encounter with French troops, just four years after the hostile British force under General Tryon had come through the village.

A new exhibit in town hall, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, highlights Ridgebury’s encounter with French troops, just four years after the hostile British force under General Tryon had come through the village.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, August 28, 1 - 4 pm. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, July 31, 1 - 4 pm. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

Celebrate "Let Freedom Ring," a long-standing tradition in which churches, institutions, and individuals ring their bells 13 times at 2 pm to celebrate our freedom and independence.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, June 26, 1 - 4 pm. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

Researchers are compiling the history of the Battle of Ridgefield, and we want you to weigh in on how to share this history! The Ridgefield Historical Society is conducting two […]

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, May 29, 1 - 4 pm, and will welcome visits on the last Sunday of each month through October. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

Two charrettes are planned. An in-person charrette will be held on Sunday, June 12, 2:00 - 3:30 pm. Participants are asked to attend one or the other. Researchers are compiling […]

Tour the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center for a deeper look and another perspective on the Battle of Ridgefield.

The 5th CT Regiment and The Brigade of the American Revolution will conduct a funeral procession and ceremony for the soldiers discovered in Ridgefield in 2019.

Join friends and neighbors, mingle with re-enactors, and party like it’s 1777. Cocktails, dinner, dancing, magic, art lounge, and more!

Meet the field historians who have been working on the Battle of Ridgefield project and participate in a mock dig and other fun activities. Great for all ages.

Tour the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center for a deeper look and another perspective on the Battle of Ridgefield.

Revolutionary War reenactors will re-stage the historic Battle of Ridgefield on the streets of the town. Main Street will be closed to traffic from 10 am until 1 pm.

Revolutionary War characters will be stationed at several stops along Main Street. Each stop will feature a short, entertaining, and informative script.

Revolutionary War reenactors arrive and set up camp for the weekend, with camp tours and demonstrations Saturday and Sunday.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi and the Historical Society launch the anniversary weekend with a special event featuring a performance by the Ridgefield High School Symphonic Orchestra, followed by a panel presentation unveiling the most recent Battle of Ridgefield findings.

Mark describes why the Founders preferred a Militia System in lieu of a large standing army controlled by the Federal Government.

With the 245th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield being commemorated on April 29 - May 1, we're taking an opportunity to look back and remember items from former anniversaries...

All Historical Society members and friends are invited to a special Sunday afternoon Walk & Talk at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists.

In honor of our 20th Anniversary, the Historical Society has partnered with the Ridgefield Guild of Artists for this history-inspired exhibition featuring works of art inspired by items from the Historical Society's collections.

Based on his eponymous book, Bob Plumb will tell the stories of five women who changed Civil War America - Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howe, and Sarah Josepha Hale.

The Historical Society is partnering with the Ridgefield Guild of Artists on an in-gallery and online exhibition taking inspiration from the Historical Society's collections. Artists' submissions will be accepted through Saturday, 2/26.

Drop in to the Scott House to purchase books, maps, handmade scarves/shawls, knitted socks, jewelry, ornaments, and more. Most Items are discounted for members of the Society.

Our annual signature silhouettes event is back just in time for the holidays! Each portrait is cut entirely freehand, by eye, not drawn or traced. All ages and pets are welcome.

Get ready for our second annual LEGO® Sculpture Contest in honor of the Society's 20th anniversary. All entries will be judged by a local panel for PRIZES!

Join us on Halloween when there will be small treats for costumed guests. We hope to see you before you head out for the traditional trick-or-treating.

This exciting new webinar reveals the action, intrigue and terror of the people living around Long Island Sound during America’s War for Independence.

The Ridgefield Historical Society’s annual meeting, to which all members are invited, will take place via Zoom. The session will include annual reports and the election of a slate of directors.

Join us under a tent to celebrate the Historical Society's 20th Anniversary with live music, refreshments, trivia contest, Historical Society information tables, coloring station, historical books for sale, exhibit, food and refreshment, and more.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse is open from 1 to 4 pm on the last Sunday afternoon of each month through October. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse is open from 1 to 4 pm on the last Sunday afternoon of each month through October. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, June 27 from 1 to 4 pm for the season and will welcome visits on the last Sunday afternoon of the month through October. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse opens on Sunday, June 27 from 1 to 4 pm for the season and will welcome visits on the last Sunday afternoon of the month through October. Jack and Sally Sanders will be on hand to welcome guests and answer questions.