The Glass House

The Glass House, built between 1949 and 1995 by architect Philip Johnson, is a National Trust Historic Site located in New Canaan, Connecticut. The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. Tours of the site are available in April through December and advance reservations are recommended.

As a historic site owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Glass House serves as a catalyst for the preservation and interpretation of modern architecture, landscape, and art, and as a canvas for inspiration and experimentation. Consistent with earlier statements by the National Trust and the Glass House, and as an acknowledgement of the Johnson Study Group concerns, we assert without equivocation that racism and fascism do not reflect the values of our organization. With equal conviction, we believe that historic sites must serve as powerful spaces for learning, reflection, and truth-telling. The Glass House has and will continue to engage in frank dialogue and open exchange about all aspects of its history, including Philip Johnson’s own history, and to work diligently to expand inclusivity in all aspects of our programming and operations. There is much to be done in all of these areas at the Glass House, and the National Trust and the Glass House are committed to honestly exploring and discussing the multifaceted and sometimes difficult histories of places where art, architecture, and racial justice intersect—as part of our dedicated effort to tell the full American story.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places. The National Trust fosters a sense of community, commitment, and passion. Learn more about our values here.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation asserts without equivocation:

Black Lives Matter.
Black History Matters.
Historic places of all types and periods should be places of truth-telling and inclusivity.
Historic preservation must actively advance justice and equity for all people.
Historic preservation organizations have an obligation to confront and address structural racism within our own institutions.
We have much to do at the National Trust and in the preservation movement to align our work with these facts, and we must do it—and we will do it—with a sense of urgency.