Nathan Hale Homestead
Coventry, Connecticut
Hanged by the British for his service as a spy in the Continental Army, Nathan Hale came from a family full of patriotic heroes. Six of the eight Hale brothers served in the American Revolution, and three died of war wounds. It’s Nathan Hale’s last words that live on: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
The Hale brothers grew up on a 17-acre farm in Coventry that has remained relatively unchanged since 1776. The Georgian-style home purchased by their wealthy father in 1740 is furnished with family possessions, including Nathan Hale’s chest from the war, and other period antiques. Site guides focus on the story of patriotism through sacrifice, describing Hale’s journey from teacher to spy, which ended in his early death at age 21.
“Nathan Hale is someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for his ideals,” said Sheryl Hack, director of Connecticut Landmarks, which operates the homestead. “Touring the site prompts the soul-searching questions about what we’re willing to sacrifice.”
In addition to a house tour, groups can request specialty tours of the farm, which adjoins the 1,500-acre Nathan Hale State Forest. Two other popular requests are the hearth-cooking and tea programs, where participants learn to prepare a meal at the hearth and the importance of tea to Colonial life, respectively. This year, the homestead renovated the original 18th-century Hale family barn and a 19th-century dairy barn, which can now be used by groups as a lunch or dinner space.
www.ctlandmarks.org/nathan-hale
Plimoth Plantation
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean stands Plimoth Plantation, the first permanent English colony in New England built by the Pilgrims on the shore of Plymouth Harbor. The re-creation is pure 1627, with thatched roofs, cramped quarters, open fireplaces and long-horned livestock. Role-players who have adopted the stories and daily lives of original Pilgrims never break character.
“Our living-history educators love to engage visitors on daily life, but you can’t get them to talk about anything beyond the 17th century,” said Kate Sheehan, manager of media relations for Plimoth Plantation. “That’s why we have modern guides alongside them, answering anything a Pilgrim wouldn’t know.”
Near the Plymouth Colony is the Wampanoag homesite on the banks of the Eel River. Native people in traditional dress — not actors — describe what it was like to live alongside the colonists in the 1620s.
Though a visit to Mayflower II is usually a must, the ship is now being restored at Mystic Seaport; it will return to Plymouth in the spring of 2019.
For groups, the museum has put together a list of professional speakers who give tours on a wide range of specific interests — early gardens, Colonial religion and Native culture among them. Another specialized tour includes a 30-minute walk along Plymouth waterfront and a view of Plymouth Rock. For the ultimate experience, groups can dine like a Pilgrim on 17th-century fare alongside actors who teach groups how to eat without a fork. “A Colonial meal might not sound great, but it is delicious,” Sheehan said. “My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”
New Castle Court House
New Castle, Delaware
Historic New Castle and its beautiful, old buildings have been standing since the late 1600s. At the heart of the city is one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the nation. The original 1732 courthouse is built over the remains of a 1689 courthouse and served as Delaware’s first Capitol, where the state declared its separation from Pennsylvania and England.
“New Castle is the real thing, not a reconstruction,” said Cindy Snyder, site manager for New Castle Court House. “Our buildings have been in use for the last 300 years, and the layout is just as it was in George Washington’s time. If he were to come back today, he might not recognize the lights and electric cars, but he’d recognize everything else.”
Snyder likes to compare her courthouse to its Georgian counterpart in Philadelphia. “It’s not as ornate as Independence Hall, but there’s still a majesty to it,” she said. The redbrick floors are original, as is the English bar with a prisoner’s stock.
Tours relate the courthouse’s central role in Colonial politics leading to a new nation. When Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, proud citizens gathered to hear it read aloud from a balcony on the second floor. Guides also point out period portraits, furniture, artifacts and decorative arts.
“It’s the best starting point,” Snyder said. “You can gather the big picture, then go exploring throughout the rest of town.”
