Located in Farmington, Connecticut, the name had simple beginnings. Founder, Theodate Pope, called it her "homestead on the hill."
Built in 1901, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark and may be the finest example of Colonial Revivalist architecture in the United States.
At Miss Porter's in 1888, Theodate with Alice and Agnes Hamilton
Although born into wealth, Theodate was deeply...
...involved in philanthropic causes and social justice.
Theodate Pope Riddle (her married name) died in 1946.
photos are courtesy of Miss Porter's School and Hill-Stead Museum - Farmington, Connecticut. *note the Hamilton sisters became quite renowned in their own right.
Theodate graduated from Miss Porter's School in 1888 and in her 20s, became one of the first women architects in America. Daughter of a wealthy....
....Cleveland industrialist, Alfred Pope, Theodate persuaded her reluctant parents to come to her newly beloved Farmington.
05:42 a.m. on May 06th. Can you spot the plane? (click to enlarge).
Being their only child, her parents came and soon embraced the Farmington Valley and...
....purchased a lot of land. Hill-Stead was originally laid out over 250 acres.
Hill-Stead was Theodate's first project. It may be the most amazing museum you never heard of. Inside there is a wealth of ....
....French Impressionist, e.g., Monet, Degas, and American paintings, as well as great historical and cultural artifacts.
Theodate's vision for Hill-Stead was not limited to the buildings and architecture.
There were / are walking trails and pastures - all with purposeful designs.
Theodate's will: Hill-Stead was to be a museum “for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.”
The Sunken Garden - Theodate was equally interested in the surrounding landscape and took special care when designing the gardens.
In the 1980s, the Sunken Garden was restored according to a plan drawn by Beatrix Farrand , one of the first female landscape designers.
A signature of New England, there are stone walls delineating parts of this country estate.
As you can see, almost all of these photos were taken at dawn.
Tulips are almost always first - usually during the first week of May.
The garden remains an integral part of Hill-Stead, providing a spot for quiet meditation, a gathering place for visitors and school tours....
....and a site for weddings and other special events, including the renowned annual Sunken Garden Poetry Festival in summer.
breath-stopping
Mother Nature displaying her shafts of light.
If you click to enlarge, you can see the morning's dew.
Same exact (two) photographs taken 20 minutes apart as the sun rises.
The newly illuminated flowers are nice, but the alluring mystique of the shadows (left photo) are priceless.
You can almost hear and see the voices, people, and events, both past and future.
Looking south toward the back pasture.
Among the visitors here: former President Theodore Roosevelt and author Henry James.
If you look closely, there is a bird sitting atop one of the two peaks of the gazebo (click to enlarge).
Bird is still there, taking it all in.
wide angle
El condor pasa.
ultra wide angle
Some of these photos may look like repeats, but they are not.
Every photo has its own unique angle.
Again....there are no repeat photos here. Click to enlarge and you will quickly see.
Simply put, there are unlimited opportunities to capture the splendor of Hill-Stead.
Mother Nature sculpting with light.
Theodate Pope Riddle (her married name) went on to design and build Avon Old Farms School and Westover School in Middlebury, CT.
