Madison, Connecticut Attractions
-
Allis-Bushnell House
, 853 Boston Post Road, Now home to the Madison Historical Society, the Allis-Bushnell House, which was built in 1785, has also been home to a series of prominent local families, including that of Cornelius Bushnell, a founder of the Union Pacific Railway and chief financier of the USS Monitor, the first iron-clad warship, which was commissioned during the Civil War. Here, history comes to life, thanks to a series of downstairs rooms carefully appointed to illustrate colonial days, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War era, and the Colonial Revival — as well as the Docents, whose colorful stories of what it was like way back when are vivid and engaging. The House is opened on occasion throughout the year for special events, talks, and exhibits. Public tours are given on CT Open House Day in early June and on the fourth Saturday in November following Thanksgiving. Please visit the website for complete information. , 203-245-4567 , www.madisonhistory.org/allis-bushnell-houseLenny & Joe’s Flying Menagerie Magical Carousel
, 1301 Boston Post Road, The handmade 10-rider carousel at Lenny & Joe’s in Madison is a delight at any age, and the proceeds — roughly $1.3 million since 1999 — have all gone to charity. Give it a whirl! , 203-245-7289 , www.ljfishtale.comHammonasset Beach State Park and Meigs Point Nature Center
, 1288 Boston Post Road (off the Boston Post Road at exit 62 of 1-95 ), What draws residents and visitors to Hammonasset Beach State Park? Well, it’s the state’s longest public beach, with two miles of direct shorefront, as well as nearly 1,000 scenic acres. There are boardwalks and pavilions and picnic shelters that encourage folks to explore a little and relax a while. A campground, playing fields, a nature center, walking trails, and bike paths extend an appealing invitation for longer stays. And Meigs Point Nature Center, with its fresh and saltwater aquariums, a marine touch tank, and live amphibians and reptiles, offers all who visit a peek at what lives beneath the waters of the Sound and within the nearby marshes. The park is open daily year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. The campground is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. And the Meigs Point Nature Center is open between late April and September 30th. Please visit the website for complete information. (Alcohol is not permitted.), 203-245-2785 , www.stateparks.com/hammonasset.htmlSusan Powell Fine Art
, 679 Boston Post Road, Voted Best Gallery to Buy Art, Susan Powell Fine Art represents 50 nationally known artists and has more than 40 years of experience creating private collections, with art for all budgets. Exhibitions present talented artists whose landscapes, marines, seascapes, still lifes, New York City scenes, Madison Shoreline landscapes, and abstract paintings have won both coveted awards and devoted followers. Please visit the website for complete information., 203-318-0616 , www.susanpowellfineart.com
