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The Glass House, New Canaan, CT

Photo: Staib, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffDate Night

The Glass House

199 Elm St · New Canaan, CT

Why you should go…

Architect Philip Johnson built this steel and glass house in 1948 and 1949 and used it as his weekend home for 58 years. Tours start at the visitor center in downtown New Canaan, where a shuttle takes you to the 49-acre estate. Depending on the tour you choose, you walk through the Glass House, the restored Brick House, the Painting Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery and Da Monsta. The site is a National Trust for Historic Preservation property.

  • #modern architecture
  • #historic house
  • #guided tour
  • #philip johnson
  • #national historic landmark

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to The Glass House, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Fairfield

    Free

    A coastal Connecticut town with five miles of Long Island Sound shoreline and a walkable downtown, about 50 miles from NYC.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Westchester County

    Free

    Official tourism guide to Westchester County, NY, covering outdoor trails, historic sites, and Hudson Valley attractions.

    17 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

    Under $25

    See red pandas, Amur leopards, maned wolves and Andean bears, then ride the historic carousel and walk the rainforest building.

    17 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

    Free

    Tour Theodore Roosevelt's Long Island home and walk the grounds of his former Summer White House.

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    The WaterFront Center

    $25–$50

    Nonprofit waterfront center in Oyster Bay offering sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and harbor tours.

    19 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    New York Botanical Garden

    $25–$50

    Walk 250 acres of gardens, a Victorian glass conservatory and a 50-acre old-growth forest in the Bronx.

    28 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor