32 Acres
Historic parkland, gardens, museum buildings, and recreational space.
About Boothe Memorial Park
Discover the history, buildings, gardens, collections, and legacy of one of Stratford’s most unique historic places.
A Park Unlike Any Other
Boothe Memorial Park & Museum is a 32-acre historic park on the banks of the Housatonic River in Stratford, Connecticut. Once the family home and farm of David and Stephen Boothe, the property became a remarkable collection of buildings, gardens, artifacts, and curiosities that continues to welcome visitors today.
The park is both a place for recreation and a living museum. Visitors can walk the grounds, enjoy the gardens, explore unique historic structures, and learn the story of the Boothe family and their extraordinary vision.
At a Glance
Opened in 1955
The park officially opened to the public after the Boothe Brothers left the property to the Town of Stratford.
28 Structures
The museum sector contains a remarkable collection of buildings and outbuildings.
10,000+ Artifacts
The Boothe collections include thousands of catalogued artifacts displayed across several museum buildings.
National Register Site
The entire site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Public Park & Museum
Boothe Park combines town recreation with historic interpretation and museum experiences.
The Boothe Brothers
David and Stephen Boothe were born in the family Homestead after the Civil War and spent their lives on the Stratford property. Entrepreneurs, travelers, inventors, collectors, farmers, and showmen, the brothers transformed their family farm into a place filled with unusual buildings, artifacts, gardens, and stories.
David was known for his creativity, personality, and colorful presence in local parades. Stephen loved music, cooking, the arts, and travel, bringing back artifacts from around the world. Together, they created one of New England’s most unusual collections of historic structures and curiosities.
Read the Family Story
From Family Farm to Public Park
-
After the Civil War
David and Stephen Boothe are born in the family Homestead.
-
1929
The Boothe Brothers begin a large-scale building program that transforms the former farm into the complex now known as Boothe Memorial Park & Museum.
-
Late 1940s
The brothers leave their land and buildings to the Town of Stratford to establish a public park.
-
1955
Boothe Memorial Park & Museum officially opens to the public.
-
Today
The park continues to serve as a place for history, recreation, education, gardens, public gatherings, and preservation.
“We have enjoyed picturing in our minds the manner in which it could be laid out and beautified, so that it would be an attractive and restful place to which people could come and enjoy its extensive views, scenic beauty and pleasures…”
A Park with Two Identities
One of the most distinctive aspects of Boothe Memorial Park is its dual nature: it is both a public recreation space and a museum landscape.
Town Recreation
Visitors enjoy walking paths, picnic areas, playground space, scenic grounds, public gatherings, weddings, and community use.
Boothe Museum
The museum sector is concentrated around the Homestead and includes historic buildings, artifacts, exhibits, collections, and educational interpretation.
Buildings, Collections & Curiosities
The museum buildings range from early Greek Revival structures to Queen Anne, Shingle Style, and highly individualistic eclectic buildings developed by the Boothe Brothers. The park also includes distinctive structures such as the Miniature Lighthouse, Windmill, Trolley Station, Organ House, Ice House, Out House, Merritt Parkway Toll Booth, Blacksmith Shop, Clocktower Museum, and Technocratic Cathedral.
Historic Buildings
Explore preserved structures connected to the Boothe family, local history, architecture, and daily life.
Explore Historic BuildingsMuseum Collections
Learn about artifacts, exhibits, clocks, tools, Americana, transportation history, and family collections.
Explore Museum CollectionsLandmarks & Curiosities
Find the miniature lighthouse, windmill, trolley station, toll booth, and other distinctive park features.
Explore Landmarks & CuriositiesPartner Museums & Organizations
Meet the community groups and museum spaces that help make Boothe Park active and varied.
Explore Partner Museums & Organizations
Gardens, Grounds & Scenic Beauty
The grounds are landscaped with ornamental plantings, deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, open lawns, walking areas, and a formal Rose Garden. The park offers space for quiet walks, picnics, school outings, community gatherings, and seasonal events.
Rose Garden
A formal garden and seasonal gathering place cared for with volunteer support.
Walking & Picnicking
Open lawns, paths, trees, and quiet corners invite visitors to linger.
Playground & Family Visits
Family-friendly grounds make the park useful beyond museum tours.
Scenic Views
The grounds offer restful views, gardens, and historic buildings along the Housatonic River.
A Living Tribute
Today, Boothe Memorial Park & Museum serves as a living tribute to David and Stephen Boothe. Visitors, school groups, families, volunteers, and history lovers continue to experience the park as a place for learning, recreation, preservation, and community.
Historic Education
Tours and interpretation connect visitors to Stratford history, architecture, collections, and preservation.
School Programs
Students encounter the park as a hands-on setting for local history and community memory.
Community Gatherings
Events, ceremonies, seasonal programs, and informal visits keep the park part of civic life.
Organizations at Boothe Park
Beyond the core Boothe Museum collections, several independent organizations maintain buildings, exhibits, or an active presence at Boothe Memorial Park. Together, they add model railroading, veterans’ history, astronomy, amateur radio, chapel gatherings, and community programming to the park’s story.
Each group maintains its own schedule, programs, and visitor information.
Model Railroad Museum
Boothe Memorial Railway Society
An all-volunteer nonprofit model railroading group with layouts, railroad history displays, open houses, and community outreach at the park.
Visit BMRSVeterans History
Stratford Veterans Museum
A museum dedicated to telling the stories of Stratford veterans through exhibits, collections, self-guided tours, and educational resources.
Visit the MuseumHistoric Chapel
Putney Chapel
A historic non-denominational chapel and volunteer-run community space used for meetings, services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and special events.
Visit Putney ChapelAstronomy & Science
Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society
A community astronomy group connected to the park observatory, promoting astronomy and science education through meetings and public programs.
Visit BMASAmateur Radio
Stratford Amateur Radio Club
An ARRL-affiliated amateur radio club connected to W1ORS, supporting radio learning, mentoring, public-service communication, and local club activity.
View SARC ListingHelp Preserve the Park’s Legacy
The Friends of Boothe Park work to preserve the buildings, gardens, collections, and stories that make Boothe Memorial Park such a unique part of Stratford’s history.