Pond Walk at Weir Farm August 19

Are you a frequent hiker to the pond at Weir Farm National Historic Site?

Take a closer look. What may seem like a simple walk to the pond is

actually a complex foray into a cultural landscape. On Sunday, August 19

from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., join Park Ranger David Low for a new look at this

popular local trail. Explore the ways people have shaped their natural

environment, and discover sights that often go unexamined–ones which you

may have passed several times and never thought to consider. You will find

the Pond Trail has many surprises. There is no fee to participate, but

registration is required. To register or for more information, please call

(203) 834-1896 ext. 28. This is not a strenuous hike, but the walk will

consist of standing with short periods of walking. Bringing a water bottle

and wearing appropriate footwear is recommended.

About Weir Farm

Weir Farm National Historic Site, the only National Park Service site

dedicated to American painting, was home to three generations of American

artists including Julian Alden Weir, a leading figure in American art and

the development of American Impressionism. Today, the 60-acre farm, which

includes the Weir House, Weir and Young Studios, barns, gardens, and Weir

Pond, is one of the nation’s finest remaining landscapes of American art.

For more information about Weir Farm National Historic Site or the National

Park Service, please visit www.nps.gov/wefa or call (203)834-1896.

A Brush With the Civil War At Weir Farm April 15

Weir Farm National Historic Site

Wilton Connecticut’s Weir Farm National Historic Site is hosting a special commemorative event on the relationship between J. Alden Weir and the Civil War on Sunday, April 15 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Weir Farm celebrates the life, artwork and artistic legacy of J. Alden Weir. What most people don’t know is that Weir and his family held deep ties to the Civil War. Born in 1852 in West Point New York, by 1861 nine year-old J. Alden Weir witnessed firsthand the escalating tensions at the U.S. Military Academy, and later watched his older brothers march off to war.

Join Park Ranger Allison Jordan for A Brush with War: The Weir Family and the Civil War, a special presentation to commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial, and learn about the incredible connections the Weir family had to our nation’s bloodiest conflict.

Weir’s family included a Professor at West Point, a winner of the Medal of Honor, a sailor caught in the battle of Mobile Bay, a commander of the United States Colored Troops, and an artillery lieutenant whose actions at Gettysburg haunted him for the rest of his life.

There is no fee to attend A Brush with War, but registration is requited. Plenty of seating will be available. To register, or for additional information call 203-834-1896×12 or visit www.nps.gov/wefa/index.htm Weir Farm is located on 735 Nod Hill Rd. in Wilton CT.

About Weir Farm

In June of 1882, painter J. Alden Weir boarded a train from New York bound for his modest farm among the hills of Branchville, CT. Once here, Weir and his family transformed their summer retreat into a creative refuge for friends and fellow artists. After Weir, artists Mahonri Young and Sperry Andrews lived and worked here, continuing the legacy of artistic expression that still inspires today.