Few People Know The History Of The Iconic Bush-Holley House In Connecticut

We have plenty of great historical house museums in Connecticut - after all, the Connecticut colony was first settled by the British back in 1636. You can visit all kinds of centuries-old buildings here, and even walk through living museums like the Seaport Village in Mystic, which is set up to resemble a maritime seaport city from 200 years ago. One of the most interesting historical homes in Connecticut that's now open to the public for tours is the Bush-Holley House in Greenwich. This National Historic Landmark has such a fascinating backstory!

The Bush-Holley House was constructed around 1730 in an area of Greenwich that was later known as Cos Cob. Several renovations were done on the home throughout the 1700s, when it served as a family home for the Bush family of farmers.

In 1848, the home was purchased by the Holley family, who decided to operate it as a boarding house for traveling artists and writers who were passing through the area.

The home was to become the gathering place for members of the Cos Cob Art Colony. Greenwich had been a popular summer residence for traveling artists for decades, but this was the first time there was any sort of official group.

The artists primarily painted in the American Impressionist style. John Henry Twachtman, the leader of the group, even painted a still life of the home in winter.

Many artists stayed at the home in Cos Cob during the summer while taking art classes in Greenwich. The home also hosted traveling writers and editors. The Cos Cob Art Colony was the first art colony to be based in Connecticut.

The Bush-Holley House now functions as a house museum set up with period-accurate furniture from the 1700s. There's a small art gallery featuring paintings from members of the Cos Cob Art Colony.

A guided tour here is a quick and interesting way to spend a few hours in Greenwich. The docents provide information on the area during the 18th and 19th centuries, and discuss the importance of the art colony.

Tours of the Bush-Holley House are offered by the Greenwich Historical Society. You can learn more from the society's website or Facebook page.