Plan Your Visit to Hill-Stead
Hours
Hill-Stead Museum:
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm.
Please note during field trip season (April-June, Sept-Oct) the tour schedule will fluctuate.
Call ahead if you have questions or purchase tickets online.
The Pope Riddle House:
Permanent Collection
Available via Guided Tours only.
- The first tour starts at 10am and the last tour starts at 3:00pm.
- Tours are capped at 12 people and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Your ticket is only valid for the time you selected and is not transferrable to another time slot. No entry will be permitted up to 10 minutes past the start time. Refunds are only provided in the event of museum closure.
- No food, drinks, photography, or bags are permitted in the Pope Riddle House. Lockers are available for personal belongings.
- Please present your email confirmation at the Museum Shop for entry.
Carriage Barn Visitor Center:
Temporary Exhibitions
Available via self-guided visits.
- Included with tour ticket purchase.
Tickets to the Pope Riddle House and Temporary Exhibitions can be purchased at the Museum Shop or 0nline.
We offer special themed tours once a month. Visit our calendar for more details or purchase tickets online.
Hill-Stead Grounds:
Daily from 8:00am-5:00pm.
- Hill-Stead’s grounds and hiking trails are free to the public.
- Organized groups and gatherings making use of the grounds require advance reservation via [email protected].
- Dogs are welcome at Hill-Stead, but must wear a leash at all times. The museum asks that owners clean up after their pets; there are receptacles provided throughout the property.
Please note that Hill-Stead is closed for all major holidays.
Admission
Museum Members are always free. Not a member? Join Now!
Members must log in online with your primary email for discounts.
Museum Members: FREE
Adults: $20.00
AAA & Seniors (62+): $18.00
Students: $15.00
Children (6-12): $12.00
Children (0-6): FREE
Ways to Save with Special Admission Programs:
To keep our Museum accessible to all, Hill-Stead is proud to offer free or discounted admission with various programs. Special discounts, passes, and reciprocal benefits are not available for online purchases; they can only be applied to in-person purchases.
- AAA discount
- SNAP participants/EBT or SUN Bucks card holders via Museums for All
- Active military and their family via the Blue Star Museums Program
- Passport holders of the CT Art Trail
- Members of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- Qualifying members of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM)
- Individual members of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
- Individual members of the New England Museum Association (NEMA)
- Staff of other museums
Check with your local library to see if a Museum Pass is available for an additional discount.
Group Tours
Group tours are private tours for 10 or more people led by Hill-Stead Museum Guides and require at least two weeks advance registration and are subject to availability. In the event of closure due to inclement weather, deposits may be applied to a future date.
Please note that Groups up to 36 people can tour concurrently (complete within 1 hour). Groups larger than 36 will need to tour in multiple shifts (complete in 2 hours).
Highlights of Hill-Stead (10 or more people)
1-hour guided tour of the museum.
Adults: $18.00
Seniors: $16.00
House & Garden Tour (10 or more people)
1.5-2 hour private group tour of the house, gardens and grounds. Great for garden and architecture enthusiasts! Please wear comfortable shoes. Available from May through September.
Adults: $22.00
Seniors: $20.00
Curator-led Private Tour (for up to 6 people)
2 hour private tour of the museum with full access to all period rooms led by Hill-Stead’s Senior Curator. A unique opportunity to take an in-depth look at the collection with detailed family and artist stories.
To book this type of tour please email [email protected].
Adults: $50.00
Accessibility
Hill-Stead offers designated parking and wheelchair accessibility to the first floor of the Pope Riddle House, Museum Shop, Exhibition Gallery, and the Sunken Garden. The second floor is only available via stairs. Hill-Stead provides one wheelchair for visitor usage upon request. Service animals welcome.
Visitor Information
Archives
The Museum Archives are open by appointment only. Please contact [email protected].
Art classes, Plein air painting groups, and other groups
Clubs, classes, or workshops must make a reservation at least 7 days in advance. Location fees and restrictions apply. To make a reservation contact the Education Department at [email protected].
Please consider bringing your group indoors for a tour of the museum’s renowned collection. Monet’s fine landscapes can be a great source of inspiration. To arrange for a group please visit this link or email the Education Department at [email protected].
Photographers
Please review our Photography and Filming Policy here.
Pets at Hill-Stead
Hill-Stead welcomes pets of all kinds on the property, as long as they are accompanied by owners at all times and properly leashed or restrained. The museum asks that owners clean up after their pets; there is a receptacle in the Orientation area for garbage.
Guidelines for Visitors
The Hill-Stead Museum asks that you “Leave only footprints, take only photographs.” (Photographs allowed outside the museum only).
Please help us preserve this unique setting by observing the following guidelines:
- Please restrict your use of permanent materials, such as acrylic and oil paints, to grassy surfaces and stay away from all stone walls, bluestone paths, porches, and walkways.
- We ask that you park in designated parking areas only and not on the grass.
- Picnicking is allowed only in designated areas where the museum have placed picnic tables. Please do not eat in the Sunken Garden.
- During public hours, you are welcome to use the Hill-Stead Museum restrooms.
- There is also a wonderful array of original en plein air paintings by Connecticut artists, art books for children and adults, and many wonderful gift items available for sale in the Museum Shop.
- Please remember to keep away from poison ivy, which grows in abundance on the grounds of Hill-Stead. In addition, after you have finished working, remember to check yourself for ticks that may carry Lyme disease.
- Hill-Stead Museum is a not-for-profit organization and relies on support from people like you to keep its doors and grounds open. Consider making a donation to the museum or becoming a member. Stop by the Museum Shop for more information.
