Isham-Terry House, Hartford
The Isham-Terry House is a historic house museum located on High Street in Hartford. Built between 1852 and 1856, it stands as one of the few surviving 19th-century mansions in what was once a fashionable residential neighborhood. The house is a striking example of Italianate architecture, with a distinctive three-story corner tower, decorative brackets under deep eaves, and porches with arched openings and ornate woodwork.
Originally built for Ebenezer Roberts, a prominent Hartford banker and businessman, the house reflected the early affluence of Asylum Hill and helped establish the area as a desirable enclave for Hartford鈥檚 elite. In 1896, the property was purchased by Dr. Oliver Isham, a physician and member of the influential Isham and Terry families. He lived and practiced medicine in the house, and the family undertook careful restoration work in the early 20th century.
The interior remains richly decorated, featuring lincrusta wall coverings, ornate woodwork, and glass chandeliers, offering visitors a well-preserved glimpse into Victorian-era life. The house was gifted to Connecticut Landmarks in the 1970s by surviving Isham family members and now operates as a museum, offering guided tours and facility rentals.
Today, surrounded by the remnants of urban renewal and positioned near I-84, the Isham-Terry House is a rare survivor of a once-grand residential corridor. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and continues to serve as a cultural and architectural landmark in Hartford.
Originally built for Ebenezer Roberts, a prominent Hartford banker and businessman, the house reflected the early affluence of Asylum Hill and helped establish the area as a desirable enclave for Hartford鈥檚 elite. In 1896, the property was purchased by Dr. Oliver Isham, a physician and member of the influential Isham and Terry families. He lived and practiced medicine in the house, and the family undertook careful restoration work in the early 20th century.
The interior remains richly decorated, featuring lincrusta wall coverings, ornate woodwork, and glass chandeliers, offering visitors a well-preserved glimpse into Victorian-era life. The house was gifted to Connecticut Landmarks in the 1970s by surviving Isham family members and now operates as a museum, offering guided tours and facility rentals.
Today, surrounded by the remnants of urban renewal and positioned near I-84, the Isham-Terry House is a rare survivor of a once-grand residential corridor. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and continues to serve as a cultural and architectural landmark in Hartford.
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Isham-Terry House on Map
Sight Name: Isham-Terry House
Sight Location: Hartford, USA (See walking tours in Hartford)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Hartford, USA (See walking tours in Hartford)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Hartford, Connecticut
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