West Hartford's Webster House Raising Funds For Exciting 2026

WEST HARTFORD, CT — On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, the town's most historic site and top tourist attraction is hoping for some fiscal help to allow it to achieve major goals in 2026.

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is amid its annual, year-end appeal, where it hopes the community can help it in its quest to educate and entertain.

Located at 227 S. Main St., the museum is the birthplace of Noah Webster, considered the nation's architect for the modern English language (Webster's Dictionary).

As it does every year, the folks behind the attraction are embarking on a year-end annual appeal to help it reach financial goals for the next year.

"The birthplace of Noah Webster, Jr. began as a simple farmhouse, constructed in the summer of 1747 and located in the quiet farming community known as the 'west division' of Hartford," wrote museum officials in their appeal letter.

"Centuries later, this National Historic Landmark-designated site is managed by Noah Webster House, Inc., a non-profit organization that was established in 1965. We exist to serve as an educational resource for regional schoolteachers, to preserve the buildings, and to champion the incredible life and legacy of an American icon."

After an active 2025, the museum has some major plans for 2026.

For example, the museum seeks a major benefactor to help it launch a Summer Teacher Institute in 2026, which just happens to be the 250th birthday of the United States.

"We will invite Connecticut high-school teachers of United States History for five days of study, and access to the Noah Webster-related resources at both Yale University and Amherst College," wrote officials.

"Topics will include Connecticut’s role in the American Revolution, the formation of American government, and Noah Webster’s role in helping to shape it."

Teachers will be tasked to create lesson plans for their students and have access to primary source materials to use in their classrooms for years to come, wrote the museum.

Those plans come after the museum was able to complete some facility improvements in 2025.

For example, officials said, this past summer brought the completion of exterior restoration efforts with a new roof on the visitor center, wood siding repairs and fresh paint for the historic house.

The project was funded by the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development, with additional support from the Town of West Hartford.

In May 2025, the newly updated archive/collection storage spaces were rededicated as the Tracey M. Wilson West Hartford History Center.

"Efforts are now underway to provide online access to researchers anywhere in the world who seek information about our unique collection," wrote the museum. "This long-hoped-for goal will be accomplished in 2026."

Ultimately, the museum's annual appeal is about preserving more than just history; it's about preserving what the museum offers.

Said the Webster House: "This homestead is an American treasure, and it is up to all of us to safeguard it for the next generation."

For more information on the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, including donation information, click on this link.