Reviews of Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (Tourist Attraction)

Fran Guertin

Not a typical house tour, more about her place in history but still interesting and informative.as a stand alone tour maybe not but combined with the Twain house tour it made for a pleasant day. About 3 to 4 hours to do both.

Melissa Freeman

This tour is on the same grounds at the Mark Twain house, although they are separate entities. This event offers a ticket discount if you purchase a ticket for the Mark Twain house.This event starts in the welcome center asking the visitors about other controversial books that they may have read. The tour then leads into the house (approx. 7 rooms on 2 floors). At each room, the docent encourages discussion about society and the impact of "Uncle Tom's Cabin " then and now.I was skeptical, but once we got into it, it was quite the amazing and unique tour. I would recommend it to everyone...and, it will only be great is you open up and participate.

Arthur Rogers

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour when I went through. The guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I loved that the tour sparked conversation and wasn't just focused on the furnishings in the house. It's important now to have these important discussions of social justice, and the HBSC is a perfect setting for that. Chelsea was a wonderful host for the tour! She was so professional and led an excellent tour. I highly recommend a tour here.

F Cintron

My main interest in attending the Harriet Beecher Stowe museum home, was to view her home for my architectural interest for the period. The house tour was more if a literary discussion of Harriet Beecher Stowe literary works, and how her writing can still be influential in today's modern history. My recommendation for anyone taking the tour is to be prepared for the discussion. The tour was very awkward with just two if us. I'm sure it would have been better if our tour group was larger.

Jacquelyne Boucher

We went on a Sunday and had Chris as a tour guide. Chris was extremely informative and facilitated an excellent discussion. It was a wonderful experience. As a history teacher, I appreciated the socrative style house tour that not only discussed Stowe's life but connected to current events of today.

Amy DiFrancesco

Horrible tour guide. Historically inaccurate. This woman was more interested in walking around the house and not answering my questions.

Donna Clark

Great tour...great tour guide, very knowledgeable

Shonte Eyre

Awesome home museum! Our guide was amazing and really engaging, and answered all of our questions patiently and thoroughly, even though we were the last group of the day and I bet he was ready to go home! Amazing bits of history to be seen here, and definitely sparked great conversation for a while after.

Tina Titus

Amazing place, both historically and aesthetically.

Angus Bennion

Unique tour, definitely worth a visit.

Tye c

was an amazing seenary more people should go to this beautiful placce

Alexandra Joppe

Very interesting. We had a very knowledgeable guide.

Daniel Sanchez

Go on the ghost tour it was awesome

María Vanessa Naranjo Amoretti

I visited the Harriet Beecher Stowe House between 1987 and 1989 when our Stonington High School, English Literature teachers took us on a field trip there. It was a wonderful experience which I cherish up to today! Thank you to all of them!

Jeff Shelby

The guide on our tour was very engaging and knowledgeable. The Mark Twain house is right next door and the two together were an interesting contrast.

bennie Mae Greene

Take your children to see history as it was made by the writer of Uncle Tom Cabin. Take the time so they will know.

Hiram Ruiz

Very interesting approach to introducing visitors to Stowe. Not a tour of artifacts but a somewhat interactive presentation about her and her impact.

George Bickley

Unique discussion-based tour. Thought provoking. I recommend it.

Ashley VanDyke

It was a very cool museum

Matthew Mason

Very cool history center.

H Houston

Super experience!

Jess Wolcott

We greatly enjoyed our tour here. We had fantastic, informative tour guide who taught us about Harriet’s inspiration for becoming an abolitionist, and also the social and cultural effects of her writing “Uncle Toms Cabin”. My husband and I found this tour to be thought provoking, while also getting to appreciate the house itself. There was a great deal of discussion questions, and we toured with some talkative, intelligent people in our group who I think aided to our learning. Bonus points that Mark Twain’s house is just next door!

Tracy Knackstedt-Smith

We enjoyed our tour. Other reviews led us to think the discussion would be offensive. Our tour guide presented a tour with facts and it was pleasantly presented.

Nick Lazaris

Be sure to take the house tour - lots of background information even though her great work was written earlier in Maine.

Stephen Hansen

Excellent tour

Carson Nowling

I personally think that the house was a good experience.

Kirsten Neus

This was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on! It was a great overview of the life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, how she came to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the impact the book had on American history. The tour is very well designed and really makes you think. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and we had some really interesting conversations. If you only have time for one tour, I would definitely recommend this one.

jerzy Uscilowicz

stay away from this place. it is mostly pc nonsense and very little about harriet beecher stowe. be prepared for expressing your "feelings" with pencils at the end of the tour. waste of time, money (private and public) to support it.

pamela valdez

It was beautiful

G Aquino

Definitely book the one-hour tour to learn more about the famed author and her influential novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Our guide, Nora, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. The tours are meant to be participatory and visitors are encouraged to share their thoughts, reflections, and feedback as the tour progressed. Visitors are also allowed to take photos inside the house, unlike the Mark Twain Museum next door. Be sure to inquire about ticket discounts if you have bought tickets for the Mark Twain Museum.

Jeanine Weiss

Really worth the visit. Great little piece of history.

Marta Garcia

Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Worthwhile to visit.

rosanna nisy

Great place lots of history! Great experience

Eric Hearn

Interesting historic site

Christian Doucette

We had an excellent time at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Our tour guide Rachel was incredibly well versed in the history of Harriet, the story of Uncle's Tom cabin, the house and much more regarding to her. You may see many low ratings for this house because of the "different kind " of tour they do here. For about a year and a half, they thought the house tours could be made to be far more than a walkthrough of a famous authors home, but rather a thought provoking and open ended look into the parallels of times when Harriet was alive, to today. I truly mean this when I say, the opinions shared and discussions had are not of any politically charged intention. As a conservative thinking individual myself, visiting with my progressive colleague, we felt all topics and conversation left room for all to speak and share. I suggest, if you live in Connecticut, that you must come visit and be inspired. It houses such a great and diverse dialogue you might not have otherwise elsewhere.

Lester McNeely

Worth a visit.

Gail Reynolds

Interesting historic home with knowledgeable tour guides and special artifacts

John Whaley

Absolutely fantastic tour and Anita was a phenomenal guide. Very discussion driven and learned a bunch regarding her life and mid-19th century abolitionism. Highly recommended.

christopher webb

Learning more about her life gave me an insightful perspective. Touring her home was very fulfilling. The home was restored to the way it was when she lived there.

Martin Ian Goldberg

Not what I expected. While our guide at this unabashedly leftest institution presented a few interesting facts, much context was purposefully omitted or incorrect, to allow for a (false) narrative to be presented. A horrible, violent racist organization and an anti-Semite were both presented at noble. One of the liberal guests taking the tour wouldn't shut up with her nonsense, and was rude to boot.

rocko magistri

I've been there several times. I enjoy the tour.

N di G

Our guide Jasmine was FABULOUS! She made the tour so interesting; it was a complete pleasure.

campbekel

The tour was more than a tour- it was an eye-opening conversation that challenged concepts of history, gender, expression, and equity. I only had time to either do this museum or the Mark Twain museum nearby, and I'm glad I chose this one.

Anthony Todman

Interesting interactive tour

Jesse Germain

When we took this tour it was during the week so the place was not busy. The format of the tours is very unique and opens up some good discussions. Very interactive, informative and a very knowledgeable staff.

Wayne Geiser

The tour is not simply a house tour. It is primarily a tour of the impact of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." HBS's time in other parts of the country as well as the rest of her family are also discussed at the appropriate times. The interior of the home isn't nearly as interesting as the Twain House (next door), but they have done an amazing job with the renovations and decorations throughout.

Darrel Morgan

A great experience in the past history. Especially for kids.

Diane Albanese

An interactive approach to understanding HBS and her works and the issues. Our guide Chelsea carefully led us through the Beecher house and asked leading questions to relate her life, her writing and her fame to today’s deeply troubled world. Slavery, injustice, equality, sexism and racism all covered. What a joy to spend time thinking about her. She was a remarkable woman who achieved so much. This is a special home and tour. Highly recommended!

מרדכי סולימרסקי

I saw it from outside

Shirlee Walker

Was disappointed in the tour. Little talk about the house it self.

Jose Velez Arroyo

Worth your time. Bring the family.

D Barnes

The guide we had is very knowledgable and made the tour very interesting. Worth the visit.

M R Noneya

Historic and very interesting site. Very enjoyable and highly recommended. Photos are allowed inside.

H.-D. Schabosky

Beautiful place to go

Sarah Kemp

A tour well worth every minute.

Srijit Bhattacharya

Excellent historical landmark. The guides are very helpful. You will get a deep look into America's dark past of slavery. The ticket counter offers a discount of $3 if you show them your ticket from the more famous Mark Twain museum. This place also has a restroom, so it's helpful for travellers. There are also a number of food joints nearby, a little up the street like Domino's Pizza and some others.

Fritz

The guide was great

Eva Storrs

Very interactive and generated dialogue based on her work. Little was disclosed about the decor or period pieces of furniture in the home. The tour was honestly marketed, but I feel there is an opportunity here for two types of tours. I was uncomfortable with most aspects of it, however, clearly this was intentional.

Frederick Cheney

I liked it a lot.

jim catalfamo

a nice 2 or 1 deal. its not as nice as the MARK TWAIN HOUSE but still worth it to see and then go next door to the MARK TWAIN HOUSE

Janette Holstein

Tour guide was wonderful. She gave so many interesting facts and thought provoking statements and questions. Love the interactive aspect.

Shari Arndt

Very informative and interactive. Enjoyed the house tour and finding out more about her life and the influences her life had to make her write Uncle Tom's Cabin. Longer than I expected, definitely need to schedule 4 to5 hours when touring her house and Mark Twains.

Brian Lynch

Fantastic history of literature. Jasmine our guide was very knowledgeable and kept the tour up. Great job Jasmine!!!

Steve Iannelli

An extremely well curated museum that recognizes the parallels between history and the present. The tour was enjoyable and relevant to modern events, despite taking place in a 150+ year old house. The house itself was beautiful and almost all of the furniture and art is original. Best of all, the gift shop focuses on modern political movements and writings that echo the importance of Beecher's work in her own time. This is an important museum in our time and does not feel like a dated history lesson. Well worth the trip.

TC W

I visited for CT Open House day. This is a first time visit to Harriet Beecher Stowe House. The tours were shortened so I will have to go again to take the full tour.

Kathy Roeland

This tour was different, focusing on racial injustice and slavery. It was said that her book Uncle Toms Cabin lead to the uproar that caused the civil war. Amazing that a woman achieved so much for back in the day! Thank you Mrs Stowe!

Merrily Haas

This was a fascinating tour to take following the Mark Twain House tour. Much more than a house tour, you explore the racist attitudes of the times that still echo today. The personal story of Harriett Beecher is also explained including her family and the loss of a child.

armando camacho

Amazing historical place right next to mark Twain's house. Must see.

Hennalyne Sedigh

Had a good tour of the house. The tour guide was informative and entertaining.

Kandu Beads

I really liked our guide Oliver, he was super but the content was a bit dull. I wanted to know more about her life, and how she lived, and the circumstances of her moving next door to Mark Twain. (The elephant in the room should have been addressed at least in one passing remark.) The renovation is so complete I feel like it left the house with a modern varnished look which dissolves the authenticity of an old historic home. I was interested in the renovation, how and why it was done and any artifacts they found but this was not included at all in the tour. I liked that there was an emotional element to the story of HBS's decision to write Uncle Tom and Oliver highlighted some of the hypocrisies of her life's works. I would have liked to know how she felt after the civil war and how the book affected her personally (finances, family life etc) and how it related to what in essence was her summer retirement home. The tour in my opinion lacked a foundation as to why the story was being narrated in her home and not in a lecture hall at a library. There was very little information given relating her "stuff" to the story of her writing Uncle Tom. All of that was done before she moved to this house. I don't think I'd do the tour again or recommend it to anyone else unless they are a student of HBS and the politics of the civil war.

Lisa Sindoni

A vibrant history recounting meaningful facts I should have been aware of. So glad we took that trip!

Martin Kalfatovic

Great interactive interpretation of a writer's home.

Rob Waterman

I recommend heading over to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, within shouting distance to the Mark Twain House. I was really impressed with the exhibits, staff, and the innovative methods used to quickly and comprehensively educate guests. Both Mrs. Beecher Stowe's story, and the impact that the book had on the world are very relevant in today's climate and helped me process how one person creating (in this case, writing) compassionately can change an unjust world.

Laura G.

Very informative and thoughtful tour guide. I learned a lot about Ms Ago we and the importance of her work.

Paul Abramowicz

Historical

Adrian Evans

Mixed feeling about the tour of the house, the guide was excellent. I think the tour had only about half an hour of facts, and it was extended by other thought prevoking ideas. Uncle Tom's cabin must have been a very contriversal book.when it was wrote. The tour was very thought prevoking,but found it rather deppressing too. I wondered about her relationship,with her neighbor Mark Twain. Two famous authors living 50 yards,apart. There was no reference to there relationship. I also wondered if there kids,we're friends with each other. These two authors must have been quite the local celebrates of Hartford Connecticut. I wonder if they were sort after guest's,at local dinner parties. Come to think about it,there was no reference to Harriet Beecher Stows domestic staff.I wonder if she had a house keeper,or maid.

Amanda Jones

Not for everyone. They are up front about it but it is a different kind of tour. Meant to cause thought provoking discussion and parallels from the past to today, this tour gave little info on the house or period pieces inside.

Deb Roberge

The family tour was an excellent experience for my family. Our guide, Rachael, was kind, patient and very well informed. My children had tons of fun, and unbeknownst to them, learned a lot and were given a lot to think about. Also, the cost was very affordable. Definitely one of the most enjoyable and personal museum experiences we've had!

Digna Marte

Amazing history!!! Women making history!!!

Jacob Lovell

No pictures allowed, most of house doesn't have artifacts or even many exhibits about Stowe, it was not a big house but took forever to deal with the tour guide who kept repeating himself and wanted to try and have awkward conversations.

Phyllis A Sears

Thank goodness they preserved this house. Right next door to the Mark Twain house. Makes for an easy visit from downtown Hartford on the public bus. These and the Wadsworth Atheneum make for a fun, cultural weekend in Hartford. Take the MegaBus from NYC. Easy!