The Historical Society Summer 2026 interns included high school students and both undergraduate and graduate college students. Students studying everything from history to art, statistics to archaeology, gave their time to further the mission of the Historical Society. These internships were made possible by the generosity of the Georgianne Kasuli Family and the Goldstone Family. Meet the interns and see what they’ve been up to! | |
Veterans Park Students’
Response to 9/11:
Banner on Display in Town Hall
| Twenty-five years ago, Veterans Park Elementary School students responded with art and their heartfelt reactions to the unimaginable tragedy of the 9/11 attacks. The banner they created is now in the permanent collection of the Ridgefield Historical Society and a portion of that banner is part of the 9/11 Ridgefield Remembers exhibit in the Town Hall, main and lower levels. | Ridgefield 9/11 Oral History Project | The Ridgefield Historical Society is inviting community members to share their personal memories and experiences of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath. The new oral history project will preserve the stories of residents whose lives were touched by the events of 9/11. | |
From the Collection:
School's Not in Session:
Ridgefield School for Boys
| A private boys’ school in the early part of the 20th Century brought young men to its Ridgefield campus to prepare them for college. The Ridgefield School’s first location was on southern Main Street, followed by nearly three decades on North Salem Road, overlooking Lake Mamanasco. It was later the site of the Michael Chekhov Theater Studio and was then purchased by Francis D. Martin. | "On Board" with Carsten Hils | Meet new Board Member Carsten Hils who is leading the historical society's development and fundraising efforts. Carsten lives in a modernist home, which he and his wife Joanna recently opened for a program in the historical society’s Mad For Modern series and last year hosted a stop on the Ridgefield Garden Tour presented by the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Ridgefield Historical Society. | | The Ridgefield Historical Society has received a $35,000 implementation grant from Connecticut Humanities to support the production of The Battle of Ridgefield: A New Look at 250, a new documentary that will bring Ridgefield’s Revolutionary War story to life for the Battle of Ridgefield’s 250th anniversary. | | |
We invite you to join us for the 2026-2027 membership season (July 1-June 30). Please renew your membership now and gain access to exclusive member benefits.
The Ridgefield Historical Society plays a vital role in preserving and sharing Ridgefield's historical, cultural, and architectural heritage. Your membership contribution directly supports our mission to bring local history to life through engaging online and in-person offerings, including exhibits, lectures, research services, tours, historic preservation, house histories, archaeology, school programs, internships, and access to our state-of-the-art archives where over 10,000 Ridgefield artifacts are preserved.
Help us preserve the remarkable history of Ridgefield by becoming a member today. Your membership contribution is essential to the future of the Ridgefield Historical Society, an independent non-profit organization that receives no operational funding from the town, state, or federal government. Thank you!
| | Volunteer at the Scott House | | |
Looking for a meaningful way to connect with Ridgefield’s history and community?
The Ridgefield Historical Society is seeking friendly Visitor Services volunteers to help welcome guests to the historic Scott House on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1–5 p.m. Volunteers greet visitors, answer the phone, and help create a warm and welcoming experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Whether you can volunteer regularly or occasionally, we’d love to have you join us! For more information contact info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
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Ridgefield History Club:
The History of Olmstead Lane
Tues. Sept. 15, 10 a.m.
@Scott House, 4 Sunset Ln., Free
Town historian Jack Sanders will present the homes and people of the proposed Olmstead Lane town historic district at a meeting of the Ridgefield History Club.
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Last Sundays at the Schoolhouse
Sun. Sept. 27, 1-4 p.m.
@Peter Parley Schoolhouse,
West Ln. and South Salem Rd., Free
Visitors are invited to learn about Cyrus B. Northrop Jr., a Ridgefield boy who attended Peter Parley school and went on to become the beloved president of the University of Minnesota.
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Main Street Walking Tour
Sat. Oct. 10, 10 a.m. (Rain date Oct. 17)
Jesse Lee Church, 207 Main St.
$30 members/$35 non-members
Take a walk down Main St. with town historian Jack Sanders while he shares stories about the many interesting people who have lived in homes and had businesses there. The group size is limited to twenty people, age 12 or older.
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Battle of Ridgefield Bus Tour
Sun. Oct. 18, 10 a.m.
Scott House, 4 Sunset Lane
$65 members/$75 non-members
Join a special 250th anniversary journey through the landscape of the Battle of Ridgefield, guided by Dr. David Naumec, battlefield historian and archaeologist, who helped uncover new evidence about the events of April 27, 1777.
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Ridgefield History Club:
Witch Trials, Blue Laws, & the Tooth Fairy: The Legacy of Colonial Connecticut
Tues. Oct. 20, 10 a.m.
@Scott House, 4 Sunset Ln., Free
What do Halloween, witch hunts, an English King, pallbearers, Leviticus, and public education have in common?
The answer to that puzzle will be the focus of October's Ridgefield History Club. Susan Kweskin will lead an illustrated group discussion on Connecticut's dark past, its own witch trials, the people who fueled them, and their enduring impact.
| | | All merchandise sales support the mission of the Ridgefield Historical Society to preserve, interpret & foster public knowledge of Ridgefield’s historical, cultural & architectural heritage | | |
Farmers Against the Crown Painting
Limited-edition prints of this remarkable painting by Dale Gallon, depicting the barricade at the main engagement of the Battle of Ridgefield on Main Street, are available exclusively through the Ridgefield Historical Society in association with Mr. Gallon. A portion of each sale will benefit the mission of the Ridgefield Historical Society to preserve and share the history of Ridgefield.
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The Battle of Ridgefield Book
The Ridgefield Historical Society is pleased to present Keith Marshall Jones III’s book, THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD, which Connecticut State Historian Emeritus Dr. Walter Woodward calls “the definitive account of the Battle of Ridgefield for many years to come.”
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'We're History' Caps
Ridgefield Historical Society caps are now available. They're navy blue cotton with "We're History" embroidered in white on the front and "Ridgefield Historical Society" on the back.
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Battle of Ridgefield Shirts
Purchase a Battle of Ridgefield t-shirt by the Ridgefield Historical Society! Mark the anniversary with our official commemorative tee, featuring the battle emblem printed on the front. Secure yours today and wear a piece of history!
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| The Ridgefield Historical Society is an independent, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (75-3072660) dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and fostering public knowledge of Ridgefield’s historical, cultural, and architectural heritage. We do not receive operational funding from the town, state, or federal government and rely entirely on donations and membership dues to sustain our work. Your generous support is essential in helping us protect and share Ridgefield’s remarkable history. Thank you for being a part of our mission! | | | | |
