More than 200 museums, historic sites and cultural attractions across Connecticut will offer free or discounted admission on Saturday, June 13, as part of the 22nd annual Connecticut Open House Day.
The statewide event, organized by the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism, is meant to draw residents to destinations they may have passed for years without ever stopping.
Hartford County alone features dozens of venues, ranging from colonial-era landmarks to amusement parks.
“Connecticut is full of places people drive by every day without realizing what’s inside,” said Rachel Lenda, director of tourism for the office. “Open House Day gives residents a unique opportunity to experience many of those attractions for free or at a discounted rate.”
Among the most prominent stops in Hartford is the Governor’s Residence, which Gov. Ned Lamont will open for free public tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No fee or ticket is required.
Built in 1909 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house at 990 Prospect Ave. has been home to every sitting governor since 1945.
For the occasion, artwork on loan from the New Britain Museum of American Art and the Wadsworth Atheneum will be displayed inside, and Ellington-based Oak Ridge Dairy is donating ice cream for visitors on the patio.
Elsewhere in Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House will offer free admission, with a scavenger hunt and tours of the historic legislative chambers. The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is also opening its doors at no charge, including access to “Rebellious,” an exhibition exploring moments when Connecticut residents pushed back against the status quo.
The Mark Twain House & Museum will offer free tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with craft activities, face painting and appearances by Tom Sawyer characters on the grounds, in partnership with the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for Literary Activism next door.
Outside Hartford, the Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine in East Granby is offering free admission all day, including 30-minute tours of what is billed as America’s first chartered copper mine, dating to 1707, and a free evening concert.
Lake Compounce in Bristol, meanwhile, is offering free park admission to the first 25 guests when it opens at 10 a.m.
A full list of participating attractions is available at ctvisit.com/articles/celebrate-connecticut-open-house-day-june-13th-2026.
