Denison Homestead
Farm Market

Second Continental

Light Dragoons

July 8, 2012

Denison Pequotsepos
Nature Center

The Denison Homestead contains 160 acres of ledges, meadows and woodlands winding through the picturesque land of Mystic and Stonington, CT.

In 1654, Capt. George Denison, one of the first settlers of Mystic, CT was granted this land by Governor John Winthrop Jr. for service to the early militia. Most of his original acreage has been preserved, thanks to the stewardship of  The Denison Society, and has been enjoyed by the community and Denison descendents since 1946. For almost 90 years, its open space and many trails have been open to the public.

Pequotsepos Manor: The 1717 house museum that is the centerpiece of the Homestead restored in 1946 by J. Frederick Kelly, the most noted New England Colonial Revival architect. Each room represents a different period of history in America and tells the story of the Denison Family that lived there at that time. In 1979, the Denison Homestead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC): Long before widespread awareness about nature education and habitat preservation, the Denison Society made a commitment to environmental preservation by leasing the land on the south side of the road to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center,DPNC, for the nominal fee of $1 a year. This illustrates the commitment the Society has made to nature, conservation and the environment. There are numerous hiking trails.

Dension Farm Market: Held on Sundays from June – November in our lower meadow, this local Mystic farmers market features fresh-grown products and our famous Fiddlers. This land, adjacent to the leased Nature Center, now provides habitat for many different plant and animal species that cannot persist in small preserves. It also provides space for colonial reenactments and farming events.

Community Events: School children tour the homestead and participate in an archeological dig, as well as the historical re-enactments that occur periodically in the house and on the land. The Mystic Garden Club, of which Annie Gates was a founder, continues to use our barn. People of all ages enjoy touring the museum and the three period gardens. In April, visitors flock to see the homestead lawn awash in hundreds of daffodils.

Genealogy Genealogical information is provided to Denison descendents by our volunteers. Local historical books may be viewed at the Homestead Library.

Upcoming Events