School & Youth Programs

Who We Are

Welcome to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, a museum dedicated to providing unique, hands-on opportunities to connect with history.

Here at the birthplace of Noah Webster, we help students make connections with our past through participatory experiences and access to historical materials.  Our dynamic programs are offered both on-site at the National Historic Landmark boyhood home, or in your classroom.   Our  programs meet or exceed the new K-12 Connecticut Curriculum Standards, updated in October 2023, in several disciplines, including social studies and language arts.  We are happy to help guide your selection process as you determine which program best suits the needs of your students.

Schedule a Program

We recommend scheduling your program at least 4 weeks in advance. Please have ready: program name, requested date (with alternates), requested start time, total number of students, grade level, teachers’ names, and any special needs. Call 860.521.5362 x 210 or e-mail education@noahwebsterhouse.org.

Payment

Payment is due in full upon arrival on the day of the program.   Please adjust to reflect any absences or additions. We accept checks and credit cards.

Title 1 Schools

Our “History Explorers Program” offers free programs for Connecticut Title 1 Schools.   Contact the Education Department for more details and funding possibilities.

Chaperones

One chaperone/adult is required per group of 10 students.  Therefore, a class of 50 students divided into 5 groups would require five chaperones/adults in total, free of charge.   A $5 fee will be charged for any chaperones over the required minimum. The maximum total number of chaperones allowed per school visit is 10.

Visit Our Museum Shop!

What field trip is complete without a trip to the gift shop?
Our museum shop carries books, toys and reproduction artifacts. If you would like your students to use the shop, please let us know when making your reservation. For your convenience, we can also provide shop lists prior to your visit.

Directions & Parking Information

(Best Bus route) – Take Exit 43 (West Hartford Center) off Interstate 84.  Turn left at the end of the ramp.  At the second light, turn left onto South Main Street.  The Noah Webster House is less than a mile up South Main Street, on the right-hand side of the road.     When you depart, you will simply continue south (on South Main Street) to re-enter Interstate 84 at Exit 41.

Parking

School buses and chaperone vehicles should park on South Main Street in front of the Noah Webster House (don’t worry, it’s not metered!).

Buses should NOT park in our (very small) parking lot under any circumstances.

Cars can park in lot, on South Main, or on Crestwood Road (right out of our driveway, then take your first left).