Photo Travel Essay of Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
"A Little Bit of Newport in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut"

Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn. (photo by Eric H.)

Article and photos by Eric H.

So, it's no surprise that one of the main attractions in the Quiet Corner is not an amusement park, water slide, or an oulet stores shopping center but, instead, the Roseland Cottage in Woodstock. This Gothic Revival home -- built in 1846 and painted in coral pink with black trim -- was once a summer cottage to wealthy New York City businessman Henry Bowen. He and his family spent time here as a relaxing getaway as well as a place to entertain friends and politicians, including former United States presidents Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes and Ulysses S. Grant! 

The Roseland Cottage might sound a little like one of the mansions in Newport, R.I., but this grand home that is now a touring museum has its own look and a rural setting that obviously differs greatly from the coastal Newport scene.

Located across from the Woodstock village green, the Roseland Cottage is a place that, I'm sure, many would dream of as being "home" with its steep gables and stained glass, boxwood parterre garden, a bowling alley, garden house, aviary, carriage barn, ice house, various outbuildings and some beautiful landscaping.

The Roseland Cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992. It is indeed a beautifully maintained home worth visiting as part of your travels to the Quiet Corner.

The Roseland Cottage is open from Jun 1-Oct. 15. For information on admission and hours of operation, we suggest logging onto the HistoricNewEngland web site.

Related articles:

The Inn at Woodstock Hill, Woodstock, Conn.

Vanilla Bean Cafe, Pomfret, Conn.

Antique shopping in Putnam, Conn.

The Quiet Corner: a classic New England vacation without the crowds