News Release

Weir Farm NHP 2024 Year in Review

News Release Date: January 2, 2025

2024 By the Numbers

• 34,246 Park visitors
• 9,853 followers on Instagram
• 6,334 followers on Facebook
• 6,097 viewed exhibits in the Visitor Center
• 4,852 visited the Weir & Young Studios
• 3,056 toured the Weir House
• 2,932 hours contributed by 91 volunteers
• 2,136 Junior Rangers were sworn in
• 1,887 created art with Take Part in Art supplies
• 840 visitors attended an art class, paint-out, guided hike, lecture, or special event
• 786 K-12 students and teachers participated in education programs
• 490 people learned about Weir Farm NHP at a community event
• 312 plein air painters brought easels and were inspired by the landscape
• 71 works of art were submitted to the virtual Art in the Park Contest
• 14 projects invested in historic preservation and conservation
• 6 Artists-in-Residence continued the artistic tradition and created contemporary art
• 4 youth interns gained hands-on job experience through paid internships

2024 Highlights

Department of Interior Museum in Washington D.C. Acquired Work by Former Weir Farm Artist-in-Residence:
A painting by Weir Farm Artist-in-Residence Alumni Alissa Siegal was selected for the Department of Interior Museum Collection. Her piece, Tree Looking Towards Burlingham House, was selected for its artistic merit and representation of Weir Farm and National Park Service Artist-in-Residence programs.

Inflation Reduction Act Funds Natural Resource Projects:
Two park projects were funded at Weir Farm NHP for over $800,000 for forest and grasslands restoration over the next several years. The work will be done by local organizations. In addition, the park was able to hire two new staff members with additional IRA funds just for personnel.

Youth Intern Natural Resource Projects:
Weir Farm NHP hosted two youth interns through the National Park Service Traditional Trades Advancement Program who worked on several natural resource conservation projects, including deer monitoring, tree pruning, and several habitat restoration projects. One project involved reclaiming a 2,358 square foot ridge in the Truants Meadow by removing invasive vegetation and implementing native plant design, including planting native perennials that also serve as pollinators, help control erosion, sequester carbon, and serve as habitat and food source for local wildlife.

Service and Art Projects with Bridgeport Youth:
Weir Farm NHP collaborated with Groundwork Bridgeport to host a series of art and service projects for 11 youth. The youth helped restore and maintain the Weir Pond trail and created paintings during an Impressionist Plein Air painting workshop with Master Impressionist, Dmitri Wright.

Weir Farm Artist Collective: Facilitated by local artists, for local artists, the Park established a community of practice through the Weir Farm Artist Collective. This year the program expanded to include monthly paint-outs and a group exhibition at the Wilton Library in September.

Restoring Historic Causeway:
This fall, Master Craftsman Neil Rippingale, assisted by National Park Service staff and volunteers, installed 38 large granite slabs to restore this historic causeway, creating a new path that leads from the visitor parking lot to the Weir Pond trailhead. Stone causeways are common landscape features in Southwestern Connecticut, historically built by farmers to cross boggy areas to access their fields. The Weir Farm causeway was built before Julian Alden Weir bought the farm in 1882. The causeway will serve as the gateway to the new Wagon Road Trail, providing increased access and recreation for visitors.

Mahonri Young Works Added to the Museum Collection:
A collection of art and objects were donated to the park by one of Mahonri Young’s grandchildren this fall. The donation included several small sculptures, a stunning watercolor of Weir Farm, sketchbooks, and loose sketches by Young. Be sure to stop by the park during the 2025 season to see some of these treasures, which will be on exhibit in the visitor center gallery May – October.

Thank You Park Supporters and Partners!

Thank you to all park supporters, with special recognition to the dedicated corps of Weir Farm NHP Volunteers and the park’s authorized philanthropic partner, the Friends of Weir Farm. To learn more about the many partners of the park, or how you can support Weir Farm NHP, please visit www.nps.gov/wefa/getinvolved.

About Weir Farm National Historical Park
Weir Farm National Historical Park is a National Park for Art, a place that has been inspiring artists since 1882 when America’s most beloved Impressionist, Julian Alden Weir, made this his summer home. Today, artists and visitors of all ages come to the park to enjoy the stunning landscape, walk in the footsteps of American masters, and create art! Learn more at www.nps.gov/wefa and visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeirFarmNPS, YouTube www.youtube.com/WeirFarmNHS, and Instagram @WeirFarmNPS.

About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.