Nestled between Wilton and Ridgefield lies a site that blends natural beauty with a rich history. Weir Farm National Historical Park (which is Connecticut’s only official National Historical Park) preserves the artistic legacy of Julian Alden Weir, but according to park ranger Jessie Whelpley, “most people don’t even know who the Weirs are”. Indeed, Wilton high school senior Abbie Fang admitted that she knew “literally nothing” about the site despite living nearby, and neither did I until I started volunteering there.
During the past few months of helping with Weir Farm’s “Take Part in Art” program, however, I’ve not only familiarized myself with the area’s history, but also the community that works to preserve it. Ultimately, despite its small size, the cultural heritage that this park protects is too invaluable for it to go unnoticed by the Wilton High School community.
So, who are the Weirs?
Born in 1852, Julian Alden Weir expressed an early interest in art. This interest was supported by his family, and Weir studied art at the National Academy of Design and then the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Weir received a traditional education in the arts and initially rejected the radical impressionist movement that had taken Europe by storm in the late 19th Century. In fact, in a letter written to his parents, Weir said of the movement, “I never in my life saw more horrible things…. They do not observe drawing nor form but give you an impression of what they call nature. It was worse than the Chamber of Horrors.”
Nevertheless, Weir gradually succumbed to the impressionist movement he once professed to hate. After purchasing a farm in Branchville, Connecticut, he got to work painting idealized renditions of the local Connecticut landscape. These paintings carry the signature trademarks of impressionist art; loose, visible brush strokes, close attention to lighting, and an emphasis on the beauty of everyday life. As Weir’s reputation grew, he befriended other talented artists including Albert Pinkham Ryder and John Singer Sargent, inviting these painters to visit his property in Connecticut.
The family’s artistic legacy endured even after Weir’s death in 1919; Weir’s daughters, Dorothy Weir Young and Cora Weir Burlingham, were accomplished artists in their own right. Dorothy worked in various mediums and married a sculptor named Mahonri Young, who found the local landscape just as idyllic as the countless artists before him had. When she wasn’t busy painting or experimenting with new printmaking techniques, she was transcribing her father’s letters and maintaining the farm. These efforts culminated in a book titled The Life and Letters of J. Alden Weir, which was published thirteen years after her death in 1960. Although Dorothy never lived to see Weir Farm transformed into a National Historical site, her dedication and research paved the way for the park’s preservation in the first place.
Weir’s other daughter, Cora Weir Burlingham, played an equally important role in shaping the park’s landscape–quite literally. Cora was a botanist who adored the family farm, embellishing it with stone walls and flower gardens. Most notably, she designed an innovative sunken garden on the property which was featured in a 1956 publication of Treasury of American Gardens. When the farm risked development in the 1960s, it was Cora who organized Citizens to Preserve Weir Farm, and it was Cora who donated nearly 40 acres of her own property to the Connecticut branch of the Nature Conservancy.
As impressive as Weir’s artwork is, Dorothy and Cora’s contributions to Weir Farm are just as admirable, especially since these contributions paved the way for the park’s success.
Weir Farm in 2025
To this day, Weir Farm prides itself on being a “National Park for Art”, preserving Julian’s creative legacy in a number of ways. For example, between May and October, Weir Farm welcomes a new “Artist in Residence” every month. These artists, who live on the park grounds during their stay, utilize a variety of different mediums and depict several different subjects ranging from the traditional to the abstract. Furthermore, the park hosts Impressionist Art workshops for the public to participate in, and even inducts dogs as “B.A.R.K. Rangers” after visitors paint portraits of their fuzzy friends.
Of course, I can’t forget “Take Part in Art”. This program, which runs on the weekends from May to October, provides guests with free art supplies that they can take into the park and use. Whether somebody is visiting Weir Farm for the first time or the hundredth time, Take Part in Art gives them the chance to walk in the footsteps of countless artists before them. My role as a volunteer consists of cleaning and restocking these watercolor kits—seemingly repetitive tasks—but as an artist myself, the small role I play in fostering creativity as this site makes my service feel extra rewarding.
Because Weir Farm is part of the National Parks Service, the visitor center and art studios are currently closed to visitors due to the government shutdown, and these buildings close for the season after Halloween. However, the grounds are open year round, so people can still take advantage of the site’s natural beauty and go for walks by Weir Pond or in the Weir Preserve.
Take a Walk through History
It’s hard to believe the depth of the history that has occurred in a town as small as Wilton, and it’s even harder to believe that Weir Farm is only a 10-15 minute drive away from many Wiltonians’ houses. If Weir Farm’s rich history, idyllic scenery, and accessible art programs don’t make you want to visit, then the people definitely should. The employees at Weir Farm are truly devoted to bringing this part of American culture to life; when I asked rangers Jessie Whelpley and Connor Nordmann what their favorite thing about their jobs was, they expressed an immense passion for the past and the people they meet.
“I really like having the opportunity to explain the history of three different generations of people through artwork and stories,” Whelpley said. Nordmann, who was originally a volunteer at Weir Farm, reiterated this point and added that, “Each day we get people from all around the country and even some people from overseas. A lot of them say this is their favorite place they’ve ever been to.”
When the park opens to visitors in May of 2026, I implore my fellow Wilton High School students to pay a visit to this landmark site—You certainly won’t regret it.
