Palmer-Warner House

10/15/2026

The Oscar Wilde events at the Palmer-Warner House this Friday and Saturday have been postponed for the safety of our staff and visitors. The nor'easter in September caused damage to several trees on the property that makes them vulnerable to higher winds such as those forecasted. We will be closely monitoring the developing situation over the next few days. Ticketholders have been refunded to the cards used to purchase their tickets. Connecticut Landmarks is working with our partners to reschedule, and will announce the new date for Spring 2027 as soon as possible.

10/12/2026

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Palmer-Warner House honors the Wangunk people and their enduring connections to the Connecticut River Valley.

Long before the Palmer-Warner House was built in 1738, Wangunk communities lived along the river and throughout what is now central Connecticut. Their ancestral homeland includes present-day Middletown, Portland, Haddam, and East Hampton—a regional history that places our historic house within a much older human landscape.

European colonization brought profound changes to Wangunk communities, including dispossession and displacement. Yet displacement was not disappearance. Historical research documents how Wangunk people maintained connections through family and relationships with other Indigenous communities, adapting and continuing despite colonial pressures. Wangunk descendants remain in Connecticut and beyond, preserving family histories and cultural knowledge.

At the Palmer-Warner House, we recognize that interpreting a historic place means looking beyond the walls of its buildings and beyond the dates of their construction. Today, we honor Wangunk history, acknowledge Indigenous persistence, and reflect on our responsibility to tell a fuller story of the region we call home.

10/01/2026

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED!

📖 Step into the haunting world of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray with a free virtual reading event.

Join us on Friday, October 16, from 7:00–7:30 p.m. 💻 to read a chapter from this enduring gothic classic. Whether you know the novel well or are encountering Dorian Gray for the first time, all are welcome.

🎂 Then, carry the literary momentum into the next day at the Palmer-Warner House for The prose, Paradox and Birthday Cake, an engaging in-person program that continues the conversation with history, storytelling, and, of course, birthday cake!

09/27/2026

✨ “I can resist everything except temptation.” ✨

Step back in time for a theatrical evening of wit, charm, and Victorian scandal! Join us at the Palmer-Warner House on Saturday, October 17th, for an immersive Oscar Wilde event.

As you journey through the preserved rooms of the house, history comes alive around you. Professional actors from Blue Stage productions will bring the space to life with staged party vignettes, dropping you directly into high-society drama, drawing-room gossip, and Wilde’s most famous literary brilliance.

🕰️ How it works:
To ensure an intimate experience, you’ll move through the house in small groups, discovering new theatrical surprises in every room. Enjoy parlor games and light refreshments while you wait.

Spaces are strictly limited, and as Wilde himself said, "The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on." So pass this on to your favorite culture lovers and lock in your tickets before they vanish!

🎟️ Event Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, October 17th
📍 Location: Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT
🎭 Featuring: Live actor vignettes & immersive storytelling
⏱️ 1-4pm
👇 Click the link below to secure your entry into Wilde’s world!
https://ctlandmarks.org/event/prose-paradox-birthday-cake-an-afternoon-for-oscar-wilde/
LivingHistory VictorianDrama

09/18/2026

Oscar Wilde’s life, work, and legacy continue to invite important conversations about art, identity, scandal, resilience, and the ways history remembers,or attempts to erase people.

This timely review from The Gay & Le***an Review explores Wilde’s years in Paris and the lasting effects of the Victorian scandal that reshaped his life and affected his family for generations.

Join us at the Palmer-Warner House on October 17 for a special program exploring Oscar Wilde, his world, and his enduring cultural legacy.

What happened to Oscar Wilde after the scandal that shocked Victorian England?

In our latest issue, art critic and biographer Allen Ellenzweig sheds light on the fraught afterlife of a literary legend by reviewing two major new releases: “Oscar Wilde’s Paris” (edited by Colette Colligan and Gregory Mackie) and “After Oscar” by Wilde’s own grandson, Merlin Holland. In his review, Ellenzweig examines Wilde’s strategic reinvention in the City of Light and reveals how his sons were forced to hide their ancestry.

Read the full review here: glreview.org/article/afterlife-of-oscar-and-the-wildes
(Premium subscribers get full access to this piece and our complete archives going back to 2003!)

***anReview

University of Toronto Press Europa Editions

09/15/2026

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED!

Join the Palmer-Warner House for a fabulous afternoon honoring the legendary Oscar Wilde’s birthday! Dive into a world of literary entertainment featuring readings from his most celebrated works, brilliant social comedies, and thought-provoking essays.

🎭 Live performance by Blue Fire Stage Company
🍹 Light refreshments and cocktails available
🎁 Plus, a special surprise at the very end that you won't want to miss! 🤫🤫

🗓 When: Saturday, October 17 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
📍 Where: Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT
🎟 Tickets: $35 per person / $25 for CTL Members
https://ctlandmarks.org/event/prose-paradox-birthday-cake-an-afternoon-for-oscar-wilde/

Spaces are limited! Scan the QR code to secure your tickets today or visit ctlandmarks.org/wilde.

09/09/2026

Thank you for your interest in Pipes & C***r at the Palmer-Warner House, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 12. Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the program due to circumstances beyond our control. Any tickets purchased have been refunded to the original forms of payment. Please see your email for information, or call Shaelyn Amaio at 860-247-8996 x 12 if you have any questions.

The Palmer-Warner House will still be open for tours at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm on Saturday, September 12. It promises to be a beautiful day to explore the property, and you can visit our friends at Yankee C***r Co. at their tap room just down the road from the house. https://114536.blackbaudhosting.com/114536/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=acf16e85-3045-4e76-9724-a916780150d0

09/07/2026

Labor Day began as a call to recognize the people whose work built, sustained, and strengthened their communities. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882, when workers gathered in a parade organized by labor advocates to make their contributions visible. By 1894, the first Monday in September had become a federal holiday honoring American workers.

At the Palmer Warner House, preservation carries that same spirit forward. Historic preservation depends on skilled and dedicated labor: carpenters and craftspeople who repair historic fabric; researchers who uncover overlooked stories; staff and volunteers who care for collections; and community members who help ensure that historic places remain open, relevant, and welcoming.

Historic homes also remind us that the past was made through work—by the people who built homes, tended land, prepared meals, cared for families, made repairs, and carried out the many daily tasks that made a household possible.

This Labor Day, we honor the workers of the past and the preservation workers of today. Their labor helps protect the stories, places, and heritage we share.
Happy Labor Day from the Palmer Warner House.

09/05/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Fifth State Distillery to our Pipes & C***r event this year! 🥃🌾

Family-owned and operated, the Schulten family honors the legacy of early Connecticut distillers by creating flagship gin, vodka, wh***ey, and specialty spirits. Every bottle starts right on the farm, using hand-selected corn grown by local, multi-generational partner-farmers who practice sustainable agriculture. 🚜🌱

Come out to taste their incredible craft spirits, listen to lively bagpipes, and grab a bottle to take home! 🥂
🗓️ When: Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Palmer-Warner House (307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT)
🎟️ Tickets: Grab your passes ahead of time https://ctlandmarks.org/event/pipes-c***r/

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09/04/2026

Looking for the perfect local weekend plan? 🍂 We are shining a special spotlight on East Haddam's own Moodus Drum & Fife 🥁✨They are bringing their historic, powerful rhythms right to our site for the annual Pipes & C***r Festival at the Palmer-Warner House. There is nothing quite like hearing them perform live on these beautiful, historic grounds.

Come out to support our local musicians, grab a glass of local c***r, catch some pub trivia, and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of music and history right here in town.

🗓️ When: Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT
🎟️ Ticket Prices:• $25 for General Admission / Adults• $15 for Connecticut Landmarks members (Ticket covers festival grounds entry, live music performances, and trivia!)
👉 Secure your spot & grab tickets:
https://ctlandmarks.org/event/pipes-c***r/