Weir House

Take a tour of the Weir House.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Weir Farm National Historical Park

Amenities

10 listed

Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Audio Description, Benches/Seating, Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Tactile Exhibit, Wheelchair Accessible

Weir Farm was home to three generations of artists, beginning with Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir in 1882, when he fell in love with the landscape and his “little house among the rocks.” Today, the wildly artistic Weir House contains many original paintings, furnishings, and decorative objects.

History:

Julian Alden Weir was looking to build a home in New York’s Adirondack Mountains when Erwin Davis, an art dealer, offered him a farm in Branchville, Connecticut, for a painting he owned plus ten dollars. After a visit in 1882, Weir agreed and acquired the 153-acre farm.

The original structure of the Weir House was built between 1760 and 1780. However, Weir built several additions onto the structure over the years. The house was often filled with family and friends. The Branchville farm was a popular artistic retreat for Weir’s closest friends. The first-floor bedroom, described by Dorothy Young Weir as the "Ryder Room", was often housed by artist Albert Pinkham Ryder. Julian’s three daughters, Caroline Alden Weir Ely, Dorothy Weir Young and Cora Weir Burlingham were also raised in the house.

After Julian’s death, Dorothy moved into the Weir House with her husband Mahonri Young. Dorothy converted one of the bedrooms on the second floor to uses as a studio. The last residents of the house were artists Sperry and Doris Andrews, good friends of Mahonri Young. Today the house is restored to circa 1940 to tell the stories of all three generations of artists. 

Flash photography, tripods, food, drink, strollers, or umbrellas are not permitted in the Weir House. The Weir House is wheelchair accessible.

The Weir House is open seasonally, Wednesday through Sunday. Check the Basic Information Page or Current Conditions page for the current tour offerings.

Explore the Weir House on your own in this virtual tour!