bush-holley house museum

On the bank of the Mianus River outlet to The Long Island Sound stands this Colonial House built in 1930, plus its add-ons in later years. It is adjacent to the Greenwich Historical Society with its Gift Shop and Gallery. The Bush-Holley House is distinguished by authentic restoration including slave quarters, and its attention to the Cos Cob Impressionist Colony which was based in it when it was a guest house in the early 20th century. The noted painter Childe Hassam was a summer resident with his wife, and some of his smaller works are on display. The 50-minute tour on the hour is fascinating. Built abutting the local road that skirts the river, the house currently lacks any real property in this residential part of Greenwich. Yet combining the tour with a visit to the Historical Society gives visitors an important glimpse into the business and cultural life of what was once a thriving coastal port, now a thriving diverse community.

We wound up here when rain cancelled our beach day. SO glad. Our tour guide Lucy was fantastic and not only taught us so much about the house specifically but also about general history and art. From the slave quarters up through the Victory Garden, the museum showcases the most interesting aspects of the house's entire history, and the people who lived there come alive. The current exhibit in the storehouse is fascinating- it covers the great estates in the area, which my companion loved, while I absolutely adored the incredible clothing and accessories on display. I've been to a lot of historic houses lately and this was the most engaging and interesting. And as a side note, tours are usually given on the hour. We got there too late for one and figured we'd missed out since we couldn't stay for the next one, but Lucy took us on our own, personalized tour that was a bit abbreviated so she'd be back in time for the scheduled tour, and adapted it for the things we were most interested in. She was absolutely great- she knew the answers to every question (I tend to ask a lot of questions) and had so much enthusiasm. They have a lot of special programs and programs for kids, and the next time I'm in town I'll definitely check to see if there's any special program going on there.

We took a tour of Bush-Holley House Museum. I was quite impressed with the depth of knowledge the docent had and the condition the house and surrounding area had been kept (for the pricey neighborhood). Even if you are not a history guru (I am certainly not), the tour will give you enough understanding of the life the family led then, and how the area has evolved since. Highly recommended.

It's about art and history with some disturbing facts about the slaves who lived there. It was very informative.

A fascinating bit of preserved revolutionary war era Greenwich. It's location just underneath I-95 is an unfortunate reminder of the destruction wrought upon the environment by our progress.

If you are in the Cos Cob/Greenwich, CT area, plan to visit this historical place. I went because a friend was part of a tal about slavery in the area. I was amazed to know that this area has a historical site where slaves lived! With that in mind, the area intrigues me as I'm sure it will others.

A house museum with special appeal for those who admire American Impressionists, with a very knowledgable and engaging docent.