Webb Barn Sale
2024-04-13 09:00 - 2024-04-14 13:00 (America/New_York) | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Rain or Shine!
Sale Dates:
Saturday, April 13, 9 am-3 pm (The Sabores Mexicanos Food Truck will be on site for lunch purchases, 12-3 pm)
Sunday, April 14, 9 am-1 pm (Indulge by Palazzo‘s Indulge truck will be on site for gourmet mini donut and coffee purchases, 8:45-11 am)
Admission:
$5 for adults; youth under age 18 free. Admission is payable at the door.
This biennial sale has historically been the biggest fundraiser in support of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Connecticut (NSCDA-CT). We are hoping for a great turnout and successful sale again this year!
Come shop for tableware, silver, art, kitchenware, toys, collectibles, linens, garden items, holiday decor, jewelry, rugs, small furniture, and more!
Payments:
Accepted payments: cash, checks, and credit cards.
Parking:
Free parking is available behind the Webb Barn to the rear of the Museum campus, on the street, in the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center lot at 200 Main, Street, or in the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department lot located at 171 Main Street.

Expansion and Inspiration: Recent Acquisitions to the Winterthur Collection
2024-04-17 18:30 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Alexandra Deutsch, John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, will speak about recent acquisitions and the ways in which collecting there has evolved while remaining anchored in Henry Francis du Pont’s legacy. Alexandra oversees the mansion’s 175 museum rooms and adjacent galleries, along with the world’s largest and most celebrated collection of American decorative arts.
Join us at 6 p.m. for a complimentary reception. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.
NSCDA-CT and Museum Members: $15 / General Public: $20. Register HERE.
About the Presenter:
Alexandra Deutsch, a graduate of Vassar College and the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture, is the John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections at the Winterthur Museum. She leads Winterthur’s Collections and Interpretation Division. Prior to arriving at Winterthur in 2019, she was Vice-President of Collections and Interpretation and Chief Curator at the Maryland Center for History and Culture, formerly the Maryland Historical Society.
Her tenure at the Maryland Center for History and Culture was distinguished by nationally recognized exhibitions that included In Full Glory Reflected: Maryland and the War of 1812, Woman of Two Worlds: Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte and Her Quest for an Imperial Legacy, and Spectrum of Fashion. From 2010 until 2019, she worked to establish the Fashion Archives, now named the Barbara P. Katz Fashion Archives at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. Since arriving at Winterthur, she has spearheaded a re-envisioning of the museum’s gallery building and led multiple exhibitions, including Outside In: Nature-inspired Design at Winterthur (2020), Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House (2022), Ann Lowe, American Couturier (2023) and is currently curating a major reinstallation of the permanent collections on view in Winterthur’s galleries.
Her publications include Ann Lowe, American Couturier (2023), Spectrum of Fashion (2019), Structure and Perspective: David Brewster Explores Maryland’s Social Landscape (2017) and Woman of Two Worlds: Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte (2016). She has written and lectured about diverse topics in American material culture throughout her career with a particular emphasis on women’s and fashion history.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | Victorian-Era Colonial Revival: Late 19th Century Furniture of New York Cabinetmakers Matthew Meier & Ernest Hagen
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
VIRTUAL LECTURE
Join us for an exclusive virtual lecture* with Grant S. Quertermous, Curator & Director of Collections at the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, as he delves into the history and craftsmanship of a remarkable 1892 Meier & Hagen mirror from the Webb Deane Stevens Museum’s collection, and the evolution of Meier & Hagen furniture.
The mirror was produced by Meier & Hagen in 1892 and is on display in our new exhibition: Out of The Attic: A Century of Collecting.
Thursday May 22nd, 7:00 pm
Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.
Grant Quertermous | Grant Quertermous is the Curator and Director of Collections for the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation (formerly Classical American Homes Preservation Trust), a position he has held since 2020. He previously served as Curator at Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, a National Historic Landmark in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. for five years and prior to that he was the Assistant Curator at James Madison’s Montpelier for nine years during its major restoration and furnishing project. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Murray State University and a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina. His book, A Georgetown Life, the Reminiscences of Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon of Tudor Place was published by Georgetown University Press in 2020.

This lecture is generously supported by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation.

Restoration Revealed: Craftsmen at Work
2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Restoration Revealed: Craftsmen at Work
Step into living history every Thursday at 2 PM
Watch master craftsmen breathe new life into centuries-old treasures at WDS Museum’s weekly restoration showcase. From the skilled hands of Mount Vernon’s master carpenter Nathanial Ulfers to rising talent like American College of Building Arts intern Ryan, witness traditional trades that built America.
See history unfold before your eyes:

An 18th-century loom taking shape timber by timber
Historic interiors restored with period-authentic techniques
The iconic 1752 Joseph Webb House receiving its new cedar-shake roof

This isn’t just observation—it’s immersion. Chat directly with our artisans about time-honored methods passed down through generations. Discover the secrets behind mortise-and-tenon joinery, hand-split shingles, and authentic colonial finishes that have weathered nearly three centuries.
Every Thursday brings something new. Check our social media Thursday mornings to preview the day’s projects, or simply drop by to be surprised. Whether you’re a history buff, DIY enthusiast, or curious about American craftsmanship, you’ll leave with newfound appreciation for the skills that shaped our nation.
No tickets required—just curiosity and a respect for the craft.
Restoration Revealed: Where the past meets the present, one careful stroke at a time.
Made possible with the generous support of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation

LECTURE | Out of the Attic: Inventing Antiques in Twentieth-Century New England
2025-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
LECTURE
What transforms a discarded object into a treasured antique? Join acclaimed historian and independent scholar Briann Greenfield as she reveals how Connecticut and New England didn’t just collect antiques—they invented the very idea of what makes something “antique.” Through a century of transformation, she traces how everyday objects evolved from dusty attic finds to coveted museum pieces. Greenfield uncovers the fascinating stories of collectors, dealers, and curators who shaped American material culture, showing how personal passion and cultural values created the antique market we know today.
*This event is available in person and via Zoom.
In-person at 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT or on Zoom. Zoom details will be shared via email in advance of the lecture.
Tickets: $15 | $10 Members

LECTURE | Coming Home: The Story of a Tulip and Sunflower Chest With Pat Kane
2025-11-20 19:00 | CT
Purchase Tickets
Renowned decorative arts scholar Pat Kane reveals the remarkable story of Connecticut’s Wethersfield chest tradition in this specialized lecture. Explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural identity through these colonial masterpieces that represent some of America’s finest early furniture making. Kane’s expertise illuminates how these functional objects reflect broader patterns of settlement, trade, and artistic expression in the Connecticut River Valley, making them invaluable windows into colonial American life and
aesthetics.
Tickets: General Admission $15| Members $10 | Jenrette Society & Students $5
Bio | Patricia E. Kane, Friends of American Arts Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Yale University Art Gallery, has been at Yale since receiving her M.A. from the University of Delaware, Winterthur Program in Early American Culture in 1968. The topic of her Master’s thesis was the seventeenth-century joined furniture of Hartford County. She received her Ph.D. in art history from Yale in 1987. She oversees collections of American decorative arts and design that range from the seventeenth century to the present. Since 2002 she has directed the Rhode Island Furniture Archive at the Yale University Art Gallery that documents furniture making in Rhode Island from 1650 to 1830. The results of this research are disseminated through a website, https://americandecorativearts.yale.edu/ , hosted by Jstor, and Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture 1650–1830, a publication for a 2016 exhibition at the Art Gallery. In addition to ongoing research on early Rhode Island furniture, she has collaborated with scientists at Yale to identify the different species of mahogany used in early American furniture.

Holiday Candlelight Tours
2025-12-19 18:00 - 21:00 | CT
Candlelight Tour Tickets
Experience Christmas in our historic houses, beautifully lit in the evenings for two weekends in December. Delight in a charming array of holiday decor both historic and contemporary, including Christmas trees, greenery, handmade treasures, antique toys, enchanting period ornaments, and modern holiday design.
Feel the tingle and excitement of this most wonderful time of the year as you explore rooms transformed by interior designers and decorators showcasing both traditional and fanciful decor.
The Museum Gift Shop will also be open both evenings. Shop a wide array of fabulous holiday treasures, including books, ornaments, candles, children’s toys, handcrafted treasures, and hostess gifts.
Tours will be held at 6, 7, and 8 PM on each date. Groups are limited to 12. Tours include walking and stair climbing, and are appropriate for adults and children 13+. NSCDA-CT and WDS Museum members: $30 / General Public: $35. Don’t delay, as tickets are sure to sell out! Pre-registration is required. Tickets for this event are non-refundable.

Holiday Candlelight Tours
2025-12-20 18:00 - 21:00 | CT
Candlelight Tour Tickets
Experience Christmas in our historic houses, beautifully lit in the evenings for two weekends in December. Delight in a charming array of holiday decor both historic and contemporary, including Christmas trees, greenery, handmade treasures, antique toys, enchanting period ornaments, and modern holiday design.
Feel the tingle and excitement of this most wonderful time of the year as you explore rooms transformed by interior designers and decorators showcasing both traditional and fanciful decor.
The Museum Gift Shop will also be open both evenings. Shop a wide array of fabulous holiday treasures, including books, ornaments, candles, children’s toys, handcrafted treasures, and hostess gifts.
Tours will be held at 6, 7, and 8 P.M. on each date. Groups are limited to 12. Tours include walking and stair climbing, and are appropriate for adults and children 13+. NSCDA-CT and WDS Museum members: $30 / General Public: $35. Don’t delay, as tickets are sure to sell out! Pre-registration is required. Tickets for this event are non-refundable.

LECTURE | Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden Women of Delftware
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden Women of Delftware
WDS Book Talk with Genevieve Wheeler Brown
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 PM
This lecture is offered in person and via ZOOM. Please purchase virtual tickets prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the lecture to ensure you receive the link.
Purchase Tickets

When over seventy-five pieces of rare Delftware were discovered in a historic Manhattan townhouse, decorative art expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown recognized these exquisite ceramics held secrets overlooked for centuries. Join us for an illustrated journey through the hidden history of this beloved art form and the remarkable women who shaped it.
Through vivid images of 17th and 18th century treasures—puzzle jugs, flower pyramids, Persian blue teapots, and ornate tiles—Brown reveals the stories of female factory owners like Barbara Rotteveel, who founded “The Three Bells” in 1671, and royal patron Queen Mary II, whose passion for blue and white ceramics sparked a decorative revolution. Discover how pioneering American collectors Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II laid the groundwork for women in museums while preserving decorative arts for future generations.
Part art history, part detective story, this presentation celebrates the artistry and forceful female lives behind one of the world’s most coveted ceramics.
Tickets: $15 | $12.50 Virtual | $10 Members
This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom.
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.
About the Author: As a decorative art advisor and writer with over thirty years in the art world, including a decade with Christie’s in New York and London, Genevieve Wheeler Brown has been actively involved in the community of Delftware. She has also participated on the Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser with an eye out for overlooked “treasure.” In her role, she has held innumerable objects, from fake Stradivari violins to gold-mounted Faberge eggs, considering their value but also the stories they can tell. Beyond Blue and White has been named an NPR Here & Now Editors’ Pick!, The Art Newspaper‘s Book Bag Selection and recently received glowing reviews by the Magazine ANTIQUES and The Wall Street Journal.

LECTURE | America's Tapestry: Fiber Arts & The Revolution
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
LECTURE | America’s Tapestry: Fiber Arts & The Revolution with Stefan Romero of America’s Tapestry, a collaborative community embroidery project
Thursday, April 9, 7 PM
Buy Tickets
Join WDS and America’s Tapestry to learn about the prominent role needle art is playing in our nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. America’s Tapestry founder and director Stefan Romero will discuss the creation of this collaborative community embroidery project, highlighting lesser-known stories from the American Revolution. Get a deep dive on everything from panel design to the stories of those who are working on bringing these incredible embroideries to life. From finding inspiration in the Scottish Borders to grassroots organizing in the United States, hear the story of how this ambitious project came to life.
Tickets: $15 |$12.50 Virtual | $10 Members
This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom.
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.

Stefan Romero | Director and Founder of America’s Tapestry Stefan Romero is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious College of Fine Arts, where he specialized in the dress and textiles of Colonial America. As a Fulbright Scholar, Stefan deepened his understanding of the discipline through his Masters Degree at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In collaboration with William & Mary (VA), Seton Hill University (PA), and a number of carefully selected historical and craft organizations, Stefan is creating a unique exhibition: “America’s Tapestry”. To learn more about America’s Tapestry, please visit www.americastapestry.com.

Webb Barn Sale
2026-04-18 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Webb Barn, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, 06109, United States
WEBB BARN SALE
Saturday, April 18 & Sunday, April 19 | 9:00 AM-3:00 PM | Rain or Shine!
One person’s heirloom is another’s greatest find. The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Connecticut (NSCDA-CT) returns with their beloved biennial sale — a community favorite fundraiser in support of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Browse an extraordinary array of donated goods: fine silver, tableware, art, jewelry, linens, rugs, small furniture, kitchenware, collectibles, toys, garden items, holiday décor, and so much more. Every purchase directly supports the preservation and programming of one of Connecticut’s most cherished historic landmarks.
Come early for first pick—and come ready to discover something wonderful.
Admission: $5 per adult | Children under 18 free
Payment: Cash, check, and credit cards accepted at the door
Parking: Free parking is available behind the Webb Barn on the museum campus, on Main Street, at the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center (200 Main Street), and at the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department lot (171 Main Street).

LECTURE | The Art of Collecting
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
LECTURE | The Art of Collecting with Ned Lazaro
Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM
Purchase Tickets
What drives someone to seek out a two-hundred-year-old sampler—and what does that impulse tell us about who we are? Join textile historian Ned Lazaro, Associate Curator of Textiles and Costumes at The Wadsworth Atheneum and former curator of textiles at Historic Deerfield for a moderated discussion on the history of collecting schoolgirl samplers and other forms of needlepoint in the United States. From early needlework to printed broadsides, discover how these rescued objects shaped our understanding of material culture—and why they still matter.
Tickets: $15 |$12.50 Virtual | $10 Members
This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom.
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture to Members and Virtual ticket holders.

Ned Lazaro | David E. (Ned) Lazaro is the Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. He manages a collection of roughly 7,500 items, including costumes and textiles ranging from Egyptian artifacts to contemporary fashion. Lazaro specializes in interpreting fashion history, including 18th-to-20th-century deportment.

LECTURE | Civic Stitches: Early American Needlework and National Identity
2026-09-10 18:00 - 19:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
LECTURE | Civic Stitches: Early American Needlework and National Identity  with Emily Whitted, Guest-Curator, American Girlhood: Needlework, Memory, and The Making of a Nation

Thursday, September 10, 6:00 PM
Purchase Tickets
This companion lecture to the exhibition American Girlhood by guest curator Emily Whitted will explore the larger history of needlework as part of early American education for girls. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, female education was a critical space for civic development, and needlework was one educational medium in which girls processed their own identities within the new nation. This lecture will connect needlework within the exhibition with pieces from other public collections, and broadly trace the rich lives of early American girls engaged in crafting a nation.
Tickets: $15 |$12.50 Virtual | $10 Members
*This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom. Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.
About the Curator | Emily Whitted is a PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the guest curator of American Girlhood: Needlework, Memory, and the Making of a Nation. Her research broadly explores the history of textiles, women’s history, and material culture in early America. Her current and past work includes projects with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the National Park Service and National Council on Public History, the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle, and the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation. She also holds an M.A. in American Material Culture from the Winterthur Program at the University of Delaware.
