Weir Farm

https://www.nps.gov/wefa/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weir_Farm_National_Historic_Site Weir Farm National Historical Park is located in Ridgefield and Wilton, Connecticut. It commemorates the life and work of American impressionist painter J. Alden Weir and other artists who stayed at the site or lived there, to include Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, John Singer Sargent, and John Twachtman. Visit the home and studio of America's most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and walk in the footsteps of generations of world-class artists. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fields, and waterways, you’ll soon see why Weir described his home as the "Great Good Place." Weir’s farm is a national legacy to American Impressionism, the creative spirit, and historic preservation. If you are coming to Weir Farm National Historical Park as part of a group that will require three or more vehicles, please call in advance to arrange a group visit. Follow Route 7 the Branchville section of Ridgefield. Turn onto Route 102 West at a traffic light. Take 2nd left onto Old Branchville Road. Turn left at first stop sign onto Nod Hill Road. Follow Nod Hill Road one mile; continue straight after stop sign at Pelham Lane to 735 Nod Hill Road Burlingham House Visitor Center The Burlingham House Visitor Center bears the name of Julian Alden Weir's youngest daughter, Cora Weir Burlingham, who lived in this house from 1931 to 1986. Today the building serves as the park's visitor center where you can talk with Park Rangers, sign up for tours, obtain Junior Ranger program materials, explore museum exhibits, watch the park film, pick up free-to-use art supplies, and visit the Eastern National Park Store. Public restrooms are available seasonally in the nearby Burlingham Barn. If you are coming to Weir Farm National Historical Park as part of a group that will require three or more vehicles, please call in advance to arrange a group visit. Take Route 7 until you reach the intersection with Route 102 West (Ridgefield/Wilton border). Turn onto Route 102 West at a traffic light. Take 2nd left onto Old Branchville Road. Turn left at first stop sign onto Nod Hill Road. Follow Nod Hill Road one mile; continue straight after reaching Pelham Lane to 735 Nod Hill Road. Weir House A view of the south side of the Weir House with porch visable, showing a fence in front of the home The Weir House was home to three generations of artists, beginning with Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir in 1882. Living Room of the Weir House The inside of a living room with two arm chairs and a table in between. Weir House tours are offered seasonally, Wednesday through Sunday. Plein Air Painting of Weir Studio A painting of a red building with the same building in the background. An oil painting of Weir Studio by artist Mary Burkhardt at Weir Farm National Historical Park. The Inside of the Young Studio The inside of a studio with several northern windows, paintings, sculptures, and art supplies. The Young Studio has been restored to circa-1940 and is historically furnished. Mahonri Young once owned many of the furnishings and art supplies in the building. Weir Barn An wooden barn with the slider door open and a wooden fence around the sides. The Weir Barn and its outbuildings - the tack house, chicken coop, ice house, and corn crib - were crucial to the working farm. Weir Pond A large still pond in the foreground reflects the tree line that rims the pond. Weir Pond was built in 1896 after Julian Alden Weir won 1st prize at the Boston Art Club Exposition. NETN Species Spotlight - Your Flowers, Shrubs, and Plants Native species - birds, insects, plants, etc - need our help. When planning your yard layout, consider adding some valuable native plants to the mix. Red maple flowers NETN Species Spotlight - Wild Turkey Wild Turkeys are one of the most iconic species in America. They have a long, and as it turns out, mythic history. Wild Tom Turkey. Wayne Dumbleton. NETN Species Spotlight - Hermit Thrush The Hermit Thrush's ethereal song is a mainstay of summers in the Northeastern U.S. But climate change could mean its song will only be heard north of the border if warming continues unabated. A Hermit Thrush perches on the forest floor. National Park Forests - More Than a Pretty Picture A study led by NETN shows that eastern National Park forests hold greater complexity and ecosystem function that the surrounding forest. A forest tech measures the size of a tree. Species Spotlight - Red Crossbill The Red Crossbillis one of the most unique and specialized birds of North America. Learn about their traits and habits, and how you may encounter a flock of them during this irruption year. . A Red Crossbill sits on a conifer tree. Citizen Science in the Digital Age With well over 100 citizen-science based apps now available for smartphones, there is no lack of opportunity for people of all ages and affectations to significantly add to the collective knowledge base about many aspects of the natural world. The phrase “there is an app for that” has perhaps never been more true for natural resource monitoring. Students use microscopes to identify pond species at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP Bioblitz. NETN Species Spotlight - Ruby-throated Hummingbird The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only bird of that species that makes its home east of the Mississippi. Learn more about this remarkable bird. A hummingbird feeds on a flower NETN Species Spotlight: Monarch Butterfly The monarch butterfly is a majestic insect. Mimicry, migration, and metamorphosis all help to make it the true king of butterflies. But it's numbers have been dropping dramatically in recent years. Learn more about this amazing species and how you can help to save it. Monarch butterfly on a Meadow Blazing Star plant NETN Species Spotlight: Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed is a very robust invasive plant species. Learn why it spreads so readily outside of its native Japan, and how the NPS and other groups are trying to control it. Japanese knotweed plant NETN Species Spotlight: Acorn Barnacle Barnacles may at first glance appear to have the most boring of lives. But dig a little deeper into these crafty crustaceans, and you'll learn they are among the most fascinating of seashore creatures. Barnacle feeding close-up NETN Species Spotlight - Northern Short-tailed Shrew The northern short-tailed shrew seems like an impossible mash-up of different creatures. From venomous saliva to echolocation, this tiny predator employs many tactics to satiate an endless appetite. Short-tailed Shrew The Positive Side of Zero For something that essentially represents "nothingness", the number zero carries a lot of weight when collecting data. a stone zero What’s the Buzz? How Bees Interrelate with Birds, Wildflowers, and Deer Ecosystems are complex and intricate and sometimes have a surprising web of relationships. Learn how deer, bees, birds, and wildflowers connect in the park ecosystems of the northeast. A bee pollinates a wildflower Wild, Wacky, and Weird Weather. What the? A look at the difference between weather and climate. A Vermont blizzard. NETN Species Spotlight - Fisher The fisher is a very capable predator of northeastern forests. Learn about the ways this large member of the weasel family makes its living. A large male fisher sitting Species Spotlight - Crazy Snakeworm Because of the scouring action of the ice age, earthworms are not native to the northeast. One species in particular, the crazy snake worm, has the potential to greatly alter the natural forest ecosystems in our region. An earthworm held in a person's hand Species Spotlight - Giant Hogweed Giant hogweed is a particularly nasty intruder across much of the country. Find out how the NPS looks for it in parks, and what to do if you spot one in your yard. A person is dwarfed by a giant hogweed plant. NETN Species Spotlight - Eastern Coyote The eastern coyote is a new predator on the scene. But where did it come from and why is it so much larger than its western cousins? Learn about how this animal came to be and the important ecological niches it is filling in the Northeast. A coyote stares at the camera. Curriculum Connections: Making the Most of National Park Experiences Developing curriculum-based programs is the cornerstone for a solid foundation for park education programs. Providing relevant resource-based experiences for people of all ages will ensure a continuum of opportunities for citizens to support their own learning objectives through the national parks and to find meaning in their national treasures. Offering curriculum-based programs, especially for school age children will help foster stewardship. Carriage roads at Acadia National Park. NPS Photo Lessons Learned from a Decade of Forest Health Monitoring in NETN After more than 10 years of monitoring forest health in NETN parks, plant ecologist Kate Miller shares here knowledge and insights and current forest conditions and tips on long term forest management. A forest glade NETN Field Note: Deer, Worms, and Invasives When too many deer, earthworms, and invasive plant species work i concert, detrimental effects happen to the health of northeastern forests. Forest health monitoring NETN Species Spotlight - Turkey and Black Vultures Vultures have the thankless job of cleaning the environment up of dead animal carcasses. Learn how they are able to do it without getting sick from deadly bacteria. Close-up of a Black Vulture. Doug Greenberg. NETN Species Spotlight - Sharp-shinned Hawk About the size of a Blue-Jay, Sharp-shinned Hawks are aerial acrobats and are the smallest of three North American agile hawks known as the accipiters (ah-sip-it-ers). Learn more about this amazing and oft misunderstood hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on a branch NETN Species Spotlight - Snowshoe Hare Snowshoe hare are perfectly adapted to their cold, snow environments. Even so, a warming climate and a complex predator/prey relationship has a large influence on their overall population. The enormous hind feet of snowshoe hare. NETN Species Spotlight - Ruffed Grouse Ruffed Grouse have evolved many effective and surprising traits that allow them to survive northeastern winters. Ruffed Grouse displaying Lucas Bobay Shaping the System under President George H.W. Bush President George H.W. Bush was an ardent supporter of the national parks. Explore some the parks that are part of the legacy of the presidency of George H.W. Bush, who served as the 41st president of the United States from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 1993. President George H.W. Bush shaking hands with a park ranger at the World War II Memorial NETN Species Spotlight - Short-tailed Weasel The short-tailed weasel is as energetic as it is resourceful. It has had a reputation of being both virtuous and vile over the centuries. Find out more about the amazing capabilities of this slender member of the weasel family An ermine in full white. NETN Species Spotlight - Paper Birch The Paper Birch is undeniably a tree of the north woods. Entwined in lore and legend, it has been a key part of ecosystems and cultures since well before the time of the Neanderthals even. Paper birch trees in winter. NETN Species Spotlight - Serviceberry Though it goes by many names, the serviceberry tree is much loved by people and birds alike. Learn more about one of spring's first bloomers and why you should plant one in your yard. Serviceberries ripening. NETN Species Spotlight - American Woodcock The American Woodcock is a quirky bird. Learn about their habits. and why they are a welcome sight (and sound) each spring in the Northeast, An American Woodcock walks on the forest floor. Species Spotlight - Puffballs Puffballl mushrooms offer many joys - from stomping on them as children to eating them fried with butter. Learn more about this natural history of this fascinating fungi. Puffball emitting spores. National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate. Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map Series: Creative Teaching with Historic Places: Selections from CRM Vol 23 no 8 (2000) These articles are a selection from a special issue of CRM Journal, "Creative Teaching with Historic Places" published in 2000. They provide examples of teaching using historic places both in and out of the classroom, helping students connect with history using the power of place, as well as how to prepare lessons making those connections. Teaching with Historic Places is a program of the National Park Service. Cover of CRM Journal "Creative Teaching with Historic Places" The Importance of the Bass Family to Life on Weir Farm There were many people that worked the land during the time that J. Alden Weir and his family lived on Weir Farm. Each left their mark, but none more than the Bass Family that worked the farm for 15 years between 1929 and 1944. During their time on the farm, George and Bessie Bass raised all nine children and will always be remembered. A family of four: mother, father, and two young boys standing next to one another outside. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. farm building The Knoche Family, Builders of Stonewalls for Weir Farm When Julian Alden Weir and his family moved to their Ridgefield farm there was only one neighbor. This neighbor was Joe Knoche, Sr., a German immigrant who had come to the United States when he was 14 years old. Old Joe, as he came to be called, was an extremely hard worker who was a master of construction, especially in regard to stonewall building and housing. Today the park pays tribute to Old Joe’s work by giving stone wall tours. A sketch of a building building a stone wall with two other stone masons. Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Weir Farm National Historical Park Planning a visit to Weir Farm National Historical Park? Plan like a Park Ranger and follow these ten tips to ensure you have a fantastic day! A red building next to green trees and a blue sky with white clouds overhead. Species Spotlight - Cecropia Moth Cecropia moths are the largest moth in North America. Their fascinating one-year life cycle is one of the most amazing transformations known to nature. Face of a male cecropia moth. Fat Book Week You've heard of #FatBearWeek...now get ready for #FatBookWeek! In honor of the 10,000+ books in the Longfellow family collection, we called on other literary-minded sites to submit the fattest book in their museum collections for a tournament-style bracket of 10 heavyweight tomes. Check out the bracket, then visit @LONGNPS on Instagram each morning from October 6-12 to vote for your favorite bulky book! Graphic of a bear with a paw on a stack of books. Text reads "Fat Book Week October 6-12, 2021" Invasion of the Biome Bashers Invasive plants are a concerning and growing issue for eastern national parks. Learn what is spreading, and how some parks are seeing success in managing them. Glossy buckthron Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Deer Impacts A healthy forest needs to have enough tree seedlings and saplings to regenerate the forest canopy after a disturbance. Analysis of NPS I&M and other long-term datasets makes it clear that many eastern national parks lack adequate tree regeneration due to decades of over browsing by white-tailed deer. Deer impacts I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Species Spotlight - Eastern Phoebe The return of Eastern Phoebes early each spring is a soul-satisfying, calendar-turning event after a long northeastern winter. Eastern Phoebe Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration Species Spotlight - Deer Tick Deer ticks are an increasing problem in the northeast. Learn more about why they are increasing, the way they spread Lyme disease, and how to prevent getting a tick bite. And there are also lizards. Warm lizard. Species Spotlight - Dragonflies Dragonflies have incredible powers of flight and vision. Learn how they use these to catch just about anything they want on the wing. Dragonfly nymph. Species Spotlight - White Ash White ash trees are an integral part of the forests of the Northeast, and they are under grave threat of ceasing to exist as a mature canopy species in the near future. The culprit is a tiny invasive insect called the Emerald Ash Borer. Learn more about the current state of ash trees in the region, and learn how to help slow the spread of this destructive forest pest. White ash seedling Species Spotlight - Oaks Oaks appear so often in the story of humanity that it could scarcely have been written without them. Learn more about this amazing trees species and how it has shaped cultures across the world. A white oak branch with acorns Species Spotlight - Flying Squirrels Tiny and cute, flying squirrels are efficient gliders with a few surprises tucked away under their furry sleeves. A Southern Flying Squirrel. Species Spotlight - Red Fox Legendary for their cunning cleverness, red fox are equally at home in the trackless wilderness as they are in a tract-housing development. It has established itself world-wide, and it's very particular set of skills makes it a nightmare for hapless meadow voles. A Red Fox. Species Spotlight - Black Bear Bears have endured a paradoxical reputation for centuries. At once being associated with cuddly teddy bears and the helpful Smokey Bear, as well as a ferocious, blood-thirsty beast. As we learn more about their mind-boggling biology however, they may start to occupy a new niche in the popular mind - that of a natural marvel. A sitting black bear Species Spotlight - Woodland Box Turtle Box turtles have evolved the familiar turtle shell to near perfection, holding the ability to close of its head and legs within its hinged under shell. A turtle supports the Earh on its back The Devoted People behind Big Data in National Parks Citizen science volunteers collect massive amounts of crucial scientific information. They gather it from sources as varied as oceans, mountainsides, and historic archives. Smart new tools are making their contributions even more powerful. Two smiling women stand in front of a national park sign. Species Spotlight - Moose Moose have long been revered animal by native peoples. In recent decades it has been suffering from a combination of warming winters, parasitic brainworms, and winter ticks. Biologists across its range are working on ways to hwlp. A moose in thick forest. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Project Profile: Restore Eastern Grasslands The National Park Service will restore up to 4,000 acres of agricultural fields and degraded lands across 37 parks in 15 states. This landscape-scale restoration project will expand the range and connectivity of native grasslands across the eastern US, restore biodiversity and critical ecosystem functions, reduce pesticide use, benefit people and wildlife, and create employment opportunities for diverse early career youth. A park manager and others standing amidst a grassy landscape. Project Profile: Landscape Stewardship Corps Pre-Apprenticeship Program In collaboration with the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, the Historic Preservation Training Center is launching the Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps, a nationwide internship program aimed at inspiring youth. The program focuses on providing hands-on experiences and training in cultural landscape preservation, preparing the next generation to become stewards of the National Park Service. Two people working with seeds Species Spotlight - Water Striders Water striders effortlessly float and skate over the surface of water bodies around the world. Learn how they do it, and how they can be a good sign of water quality. A floating water strider Project Profile: Managing Resilient Eastern Forests The National Park Service will improve the ecological health of eastern forests in 38 parks using an array of management techniques. The NPS has selected forest ecosystems of high ecological and cultural value across multiple parks from Virginia to Maine that are at greatest risk of forest loss due to chronic and interacting stressors. Person gazes up at a tall tree Inventory & Monitoring Partnerships Aim to Improve Park Forest Health from Coast to Coast From coast to coast, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division is helping park managers improve the health and function of forest ecosystems. From promoting resilient forests in the Northeast, to conserving whitebark pine in the West, to protecting Hawaiian forest birds from avian malaria, scientific partnerships are helping parks to share information, leverage funding sources, and work together for outcomes that extend beyond what any park could accomplish on its own. Four people, one in NPS uniform, stand in a forest. Three look upward through binoculars. Hidden in Plain Sight: Old Growth Remnant Grasslands During 2024 scouting for a large eastern grassland restoration project funded by IRA and BIL, several old growth remnant grasslands were identified in National Capital and Northeast Region parks that were previously unknown. These remnants preserve the genetic integrity of the original grassland flora of the eastern US and are true unexpected treasures that in some cases, were hidden in plain sight. a grassland landscape with distant trees Rise and Fall of Foliage Fall foliage in the Northeastern U.S. is a spectacular natural event, bringing millions of tourists and billions of dollar to the region each autumn. But climate change threatens to permanently dullen it if immediate action is taken. Fall colors blanket the hillsides “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. Species Spotlight - Tree and Plant Communication From underground mycorrhizal networks to ultrasonic sound emissions and chemical signaling through the air. The plants and trees of the forest have a language and ability to communicate that science is only beginning to understand. A tree with roots that go deep into the soil

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