A Perfect Spot of Tea

Afternoon tea with good company, interesting conversation, and lively music has been a tradition at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington house for over two hundred and fifty years. Local residents have been coming to the Porter-Phelps-Huntington house for tea since 1752, the year of the home's construction. Elizabeth Porter Phelps, a resident of the house from 1752 until her death in 1817, noted in her diary that she and her family would invite ten to fifteen couples for tea at least once a week. Travelers and friends would "tarry" a while over the beverage that "cheers but not inebriates." Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth, met her future husband, Dan Huntington, at one of these weekly events.

Once again this summer we extend the invitation for all to join us at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum for "A PERFECT SPOT OF TEA," a revival of the Colonial custom of afternoon tea. This summer's series will run on Saturday afternoons in July and August. Visitors are invited to linger on the Museum's breezy back veranda while enjoying a leisurely cup of tea, delectable pastries, and talented local musicians. This summer, as in the past, local restaurants, bakeries, grocers, merchants, musicians, and volunteers generously provide the tea, pastries, flowers, sundries, music, and service.

Admission for tea, pastries, and music is $10 per person, and seatings are at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Tours of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum are available on the half-hour for an additional fee of $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under.

This summer, as in past years, the tea, pastries, flowers, sundries, music, and service necessary for the success of “A Perfect Spot of Tea” are generously donated by local restaurants, merchants, grocers, musicians, and volunteers.

This is a smoke-free site.