School & Youth Programs
Who We Are
Welcome to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, a nonprofit museum dedicated to a hands-on approach to learning.
Centered in Noah Webster’s birthplace and inspired by his spirit of discovery, we help students create meaning from the past through participatory experiences and access to historical materials. Our dynamic programs are offered both on-site and in the classroom and meet many of the K-12 Connecticut Curriculum Standards in social studies, language arts, and other disciplines. See the chart for details.
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. Contact 860.521.5362 x 14 or e-mail education@noahwebsterhouse.org.
Deposits and Payment
A $50 deposit per program guarantees your reservation and is due by the first day of the month preceding your program. Once the deposit is received, we will send you a written confirmation and pre/post visit materials. The deposit will be deducted from your final balance. Payment is due in full 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.
Lunch Space
Bringing a bagged lunch? We can accommodate about 60 children on our gallery floor. Advance reservation is required for this space.
Chaperones
One chaperone/adult is required per group of students. For example: 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
Use Exit 43 (West Hartford Center) off I-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 side of the street. When you leave after your program, you will be able to drive straight ahead to another I-84 entrance.
Parking
School buses should park on the street in front of the museum between the signs that say “Authorized Parking Only” (on the far side of the driveway). Buses may not park in the parking lot under any circumstances.
Cars may park in the museum’s small parking lot. If it is full, you may park on the street in front of the house (it’s marked “Authorized” for our use). Alternately, you may park on Crestwood Road (right out of our driveway, then take your first left).
