The LiberTea Party at Stanley-Whitman House

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States at the Stanley-Whitman House “LiberTea Party.”

Join us on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 2:00–4:00 PM for a festive afternoon of tea, history, and community at the historic Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Connecticut.

This special event supports the preservation, care, and interpretation of our historic gardens and grounds—an essential and active part of the museum’s mission and visitor experience.

Traditional Tea Service
Enjoy tea with light refreshments, including scones and fruit, while reflecting on the role tea played in colonial resistance.

Living History Experience
Meet Martha Cowles, a Farmington woman charged with illegally serving British tea, and explore how local actions reflected the tensions of the Revolutionary period.

Guided Garden Tours
Explore plants essential to colonial life and consider how foodways, cultivation, and self-sufficiency were shaped by the disruptions of war and trade.

$25 per person
All proceeds directly support the Stanley-Whitman House gardens and grounds.

To reserve your place, you may:

• Register online through Eventbrite (credit card)
• Or reserve and submit payment by check to the museum

We encourage payment by check when possible, as it allows your full contribution to directly benefit the museum.

Stanley-Whitman House is a National Historic Landmark and living history center dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and interpreting the history and culture of early Farmington, Connecticut.

This is an intimate, outdoor gathering designed to be both engaging and relaxed. Guests will enjoy a leisurely afternoon moving between tea service, a short living history presentation, and guided exploration of the historic gardens.

At the Stanley-Whitman House, the gardens are a living collection—our “museum without walls.” They serve as active teaching spaces, bringing to life the agricultural practices, labor, and daily experiences of early Farmington.

Set against the backdrop of the Revolutionary era, the program explores how everyday acts—such as drinking tea—became politically charged, connecting local lives to the broader struggle for independence.

• Supporters of the Stanley-Whitman House
• Individuals interested in early American history and living history interpretation
• Garden enthusiasts and those interested in historic landscapes
• Community members looking for a meaningful and enjoyable summer event

In addition to attending, guests are invited to support one of the museum’s most vital interpretive assets—its historic gardens and grounds.

As a living collection and “museum without walls,” the gardens help us interpret how Farmington residents experienced the Revolutionary era through daily life, labor, and landscape.

Garden Bed Sponsor — $250 (10 available)

• One event ticket
• Recognition on a garden bed sign during the event
• Recognition in the event program

Additional Contributions
If you are unable to attend—or wish to give beyond the ticket price—you may make a contribution at any level. Every gift directly supports the preservation and interpretation of this living landscape.

At the heart of the LiberTea Party is a true story from Farmington on the eve of the American Revolution.

In March 1775, Martha Cowles publicly confessed to serving tea in violation of the Continental Association—a boycott intended to resist British trade. Her words, preserved in the town record, reveal the tension between daily life and political conviction:

“We…being fully sensible that the purchasing and consumption of India teas…was prohibited…have made use of that article…which conduct of ours we do…utterly disapprove of and condemn.”
— Martha and Solomon Cowles, Farmington, March 23, 1775

Through this episode, the LiberTea Party explores how ordinary choices—such as serving tea—became acts with political consequence, linking Farmington residents to the broader struggle for independence.

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Host or Publisher Stanley-Whitman House