Palmer-Warner House marks Pride Month with weekly events

Palmer Warner House in East Haddam Connecticut — Palmer Warner House

Connecticut Landmarks invites visitors to learn about LGBTQ+ history during the Palmer-Warner House’s expanded open tour days this June in celebration of Pride Month. Commemorating the Stonewall Uprisings in June 1969, Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and communities, more deeply understand LGBTQ+ histories, and laud progress towards freedom and acceptance. Tours of the historic house museum will be held each Saturday in June from 1 pm–4 pm. After your tour, extend your experience in the Palmer-Warner Barn, where you will find “Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word” and an exhibition by photographer Samuel Avery Giardina. Before you leave, pause and reflect in the Progress Flag Field on display from June 14–July 12.

Each weekend in June, the Pride of Place tour will explore the lives of the Palmer-Warner House’s previous residents, preservation architect Frederic Palmer and his partner Howard Metzger, alongside the broader themes of identity, resilience, and legacy that define the LGBTQ+ experience. Through the Palmer-Warner House’s collections of letters and diaries, photographs, historic furnishings, and decorative arts that Palmer and Metzger assembled together, visitors can understand the wider arc of 20th-century LGBTQ+ history. Tour tickets are available here.

Frederic Palmer and his partner Howard Metzger in East haddam, Connecticut — Frederic Palmer and his partner Howard Metzger

“Connecticut Landmarks takes our responsibility to protect the legacies of Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger seriously through caring for their home—the Palmer-Warner House—and connecting their lives to the history of LGBTQ+ resilience and love. This is an important story to tell, and it is important to us that the Palmer-Warner House can be a place where people can come to reflect, celebrate, and feel safeduring Pride Month and all year long,” said Lynette Fisher, site administrator at the Palmer-Warner House.

From Saturday, June 7 to Saturday, August 23, “Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word” will be on display in the barn during the museum’s open hours. Placing the archival collections of the Palmer-Warner House into conversation with broader historical context, “Letters of Unity” explores the evolution of LGBTQ+ communication over more than a century, showcasing how love, resistance, and solidarity have been expressed through various mediums. From love letters to zines and personal diaries to protest flyers, these artifacts tell the stories of resilience, connection, and creativity that have sustained LGBTQ+ communities across generations. This display celebrates the power of written communication in shaping LGBTQ+ identity, activism, and community. Admission is included with the price of house tours or can be purchased separately here.

The first annual Progress Flag Field installation will take place at the Palmer-Warner House on Saturday, June 14 at 1 pm. The Progress Flag Field honors the legacy of Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a welcoming space for friends, family, and the LGBTQ+ community at their home in East Haddam. This installation serves as a place for reflection, with each flag representing the diverse identities within the community. It honors those who fought for equality and celebrates unity, resilience, and the importance of safe spaces. Each Progress Flag in the field represents a powerful act of love, remembrance, or hope. Whether you are celebrating someone’s journey, honoring a life lost, or standing in solidarity with those still seeking acceptance, your sponsorship helps build a visible, vibrant symbol of support. Dedicate your flag with a name, a memory, or a message — every story matters. Flags can be sponsored at https://114536.blackbaudhosting.com/114536/Progress-Flag-Field

Connecticut Landmarks is also proud to honor the LGBTQ+ community by welcoming visitors to explore “TRANSPARENT: Creating Advocacy Through Art” by Samuel Avery Giardina. This exhibition is free to the public and is open during the museum’s open hours through June 28. Located in the Palmer-Warner Barn, this exhibition explores personal identity, transformation, and the profound impact of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history. Samuel Avery Giardina is a 26-year-old photographer from Berlin, Connecticut. As a transgender artist himself, he has dedicated his career to raising awareness for his community through his work. He started taking photos in 2020, the year he started his transition, and has since then found a passion for telling trans stories through his photography. He’s been able to capture his own journey through his self-portraits while using them as a driving force in creating advocacy for the trans community. He then started documenting other trans people’s experiences through his editorial photography work. Discover Samuel’s work at www.samaverymedia.com.

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Palmer-Warner House marks Pride Month with weekly events