We are eager to share an interactive, conversational tour that deeply considers history and today
Bring your school group, organization, or community group to the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for an engaging, conversational history tour. Explore the life and legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the impact of Black abolitionists and freedom builders on her work, and the powerful ideas behind her influential novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
These interactive tours connect the struggles for freedom in the 19th century with the social questions we face today. Groups will also learn about Nook Farm, the vibrant community of writers and thinkers that shaped Stowe’s world.
Tour Options:
- Writing Freedom – 30 minutes
- This tour explores the genre of freedom narratives through the lives and voices of the 19th century Black abolitionists Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglass, and Josiah Henson. Each of these authors had a direct connection to and impact on the writing of Harriet Beecher Stowe, but this tour makes space to learn about their lives and stories.
- Inspiring Stowe: The Real Josiah Henson – 60 minutes
- On this tour, we explore how Harriet Beecher Stowe came to author Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), a complex and controversial anti-slavery novel with a massive impact on U.S. history and culture. We’ll discover what Stowe learned, read, and witnessed that made her want to speak out against enslavement in her own time, with special attention to the life of Josiah Henson, the real-life Black abolitionist who inspired the character of Tom in Stowe’s novel.
- Inheriting Freedom – 60 minutes
- One tour, two stories! Come learn about the Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the white anti-slavery author Harriet Beecher Stowe. We’ll explore their stories from the time they were young children until they became famous authors, paying special attention to the importance of love, family, and education in their lives.
- Spirits at Stowe: Spirits After Dark – 60 minutes
- Delve into the historic, social, and political context of the 19th century and explore the role of spiritualism in the lives of reformers, suffragists, and Black activists.
- A Tradition of Literary Activism– 60 minutes
- Guided audio tour exploring Stowe’s House.
Program Options:
- Draw Yourself Into History: Zine Edition – 30 minutes
- Zines let you say whatever you want. You have complete control over the words, pictures, and ideas that you share. In this program, visitors will use zines to tell their story.
Here are just a few things to keep in mind for your upcoming visit:
General Information
- Large backpacks, gum, food, and beverages are not permitted in the Stowe House. We provide bins to store bags and lunches. Your group is welcome to picnic on the grounds or inside of the neighboring Katherine Seymore Day House depending on weather.
- Allow time for shopping in the Stowe Museum Store for Stowe-inspired books, toys, jewelry and souvenirs.
Covid-19 Guidelines
The Stowe Center is continuing to recommend masks but not required to be worn inside all indoor spaces across the Stowe Center Property. We are also encouraging social distancing when possible inside of the house. Hand sanitizer is available in every building and masks can be provided to those who need one.
Weather/Delays/Arrival
- In the event that the Stowe Center or your school is closed due to inclement weather, we will make every effort to re-schedule your group.
- If you will arrive more than 15 minutes early or late, please notify us at 860.522.9258 x317.
- We can accommodate vans and individual cars in our parking lot at 77 Forest Street. Buses can drop off students at the curb in front of the Stowe House and then park on Forest Street.
- Tours require two chaperones for every 10 students (3rd grade through 8th grade); one chaperone for every 10 students 9th grade and up.
- Teachers/Chaperones are responsible for the group at all times.
- Because the Stowe Center is comprised of 19th century landscape and buildings, some ADA adjustments require advance arrangements for the best experience for your youth. Please indicate if we can provide accommodations and services in advance by calling 860.522.9258 x317, or send an email to tickets@stowecenter.org.
If you have any further questions about your visit, please email or call yyoung@stowecenter.org or call 860.522.9258 x319.
- General Admission (17-64): $20 per person
- Seniors (65 +): $15 per person
- Student Group Guided House Tour: $10 per student
- Student Group Guided House Tour + Program: $15 per student
- Hartford Public Schools Student Group: $5 per student
- Hartford Public Schools Student Group + Program: $8 per student
- Chaperones receive discounted admission of $10 per person.
- Complimentary admission for all teachers.
- Major credit cards, check, or cash are accepted. PO and school invoicing processes are allowed.
Refund Policy: The Stowe Center does not provide refunds for group tours if the itinerary is changed within two weeks of the scheduled tour date.
77 Forest Street, Hartford CT 06105
From the North (Springfield, MA)
Take I-95 South to intersection with I-84. Take I-84 West to Sisson Avenue (Exit 46). Right onto Sisson Avenue. Right onto Farmington Avenue. Right onto Forest Street.
From the South (New Haven, New York City, etc.)
Take I-91 North to the junction with I-84. Take I-84 West to Sisson Avenue (Exit 46) then follow directions from the north.
From the East (Boston, etc.)
Take I-84 West to Sisson Avenue (Exit 46) then follow the directions from the north.
From the West (New York City via I-84, Danbury, etc.)
Take I-84 West to Sisson Avenue (Exit 46) then follow the directions from the north.
Parking lot available for small busses
Large busses can pull into the round-about in front of the Katharine Seymour Day House
Because the Stowe Center is comprised of 19th century landscape and buildings, some ADA adjustments require advance arrangements for the best experience for your group. Please indicate if we can provide accommodations and services in advance by calling 860.522.9258 ext.317, or send an email to tickets@stowecenter.org
Translator headphones are available for guests who need a translated tour.
The first floor of the Visitor Center (which includes the ticketing desk and museum store) is wheelchair accessible with an ADA restroom available.
The first floor of the Stowe House is accessible to non-electric wheelchairs. A portable ramp allows visitors to bypass the porch steps to access the building. The house tour itself includes one flight of stairs, and so the second story of the home is not accessible to wheelchair users. For folks unable to use stairs, we offer an alternative tour that provides digital images and information about the upper floor, provided by a staff member.
The Stowe Center is undertaking a major renovation to our grounds and Visitor Center that will vastly improve the accessibility of our campus.
- No flash photography is allowed in the Stowe House.
- No videos are allowed to be taken inside the Stowe House.
- All images taken on tour must be for personal use.
- If any images are taken for commercial purposes (news outlet, tv segment, documentary, etc), please email research@stowecenter.org for Permission to Photograph contract.
- Staff at the Stowe Center may join the tour and will take pictures of the students. We do this with the utmost care and consideration, but it is so important for us to document our work with a range of audiences for our funders who underwrite our work, for grants we are writing to support us, and for marketing our work to build new audiences. Per CT state law, this is permissible without a prior authorization from the guardian. Should any student or adult choose to opt out of this request, we can be completely respectful of such requests.
