Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center is providing outdoor docent-led walking tours of its historic site. Tours are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays at 1 and 2 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11 a.m., weather permitting. Initially, KTM&HC will offer two tours, A Short Walk Through Three Centuries and Gilberts at the Cannon Ball House. Trained docents will guide the tours and share some fascinating details about the lives of the past residents. Tours are suitable for all age groups.
In addition to the regularly scheduled Saturday and Sunday tours at 1 and 2 p.m., KTM&HC has
tours scheduled for:
Monday, February 15, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tuesday, February 16, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
A Short Walk Through Three Centuries highlights the three centuries of history at Keeler Tavern Museum, from Benjamin Hoyt's first home in 1713 to the founding of the museum in 1966.
Gilberts at the Cannon Ball House – Renowned architect Cass Gilbert bought the Resseguie Hotel – formerly the Keeler Tavern -- as a summer home in 1907. Learn about the Gilberts and their life at the Cannon Ball House in the early 20th century.
Each tour will last about 45 minutes, and online registration is required. Be sure to dress appropriately and to wear comfortable shoes suitable for covering uneven terrain.
In inclement weather, tours will be canceled two hours prior to start time. Please check the museum’s website at KeelerTavernMuseum.org for updates on tour status.
Due to the pandemic, tour groups will be limited to 10 people. Visitors must wear masks and are asked to observe social-distancing protocols.
Tours start on the patio outside the Visitor Center located at 152 Main Street in Ridgefield, Conn. Parking is behind the Visitor Center (look for the KTM&HC main entrance sign on Main Street).
Tours are free, but a $5 donation is suggested. To register, please go to keelertavernmuseum.org/events/221/outdoor-guided-tours.
About Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center (KTM&HC) tells 300 years of the town’s—and nation’s—history through the lives of its past residents. The 4-acre historic site is currently open for outdoor visits to the Cass Gilbert-designed Walled Garden and Rose Arbor, including the self-guided walking tour, “Gilberts in the Gardens” (scan the QR code on any one of the outdoor sign posts for a map of the campus and the walking tour stops). In addition, visitors can enjoy the famous cannonball embedded in the corner post of the historic Keeler Tavern. The Carriage Barn is open for designated, limited-capacity exhibitions and events. The Tavern Museum is temporarily closed to the public pursuant to state and local health guidelines for social distancing in the time of the coronavirus. Additional information, including updates about on-site and online programming and events, as well as rental of the Cass Gilbert-designed Garden House and Walled Garden, can be found at keelertavernmuseum.org, @KeelerTavernMuseum on Facebook and Instagram, @KeelerTavern on Twitter, or by emailing info@keelertavernmuseum.org. For inquiries about school programs, digital learning experiences, and virtual field trips, please email education@keelertavernmuseum.org.
