Waterford in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Harkness Memorial State Park

— A Gateway to the Connecticut Blue Heritage Trail —

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 21, 2023

1. Harkness Memorial State Park Marker

Inscription.

Harkness Memorial State Park. . , The Connecticut Blue Heritage Trail links important sites of Connecticut's marine environment and maritime heritage. , Place of Health and Wealth , Throughout the 19th and into the 20th centuries, the Connecticut shore transformed from a place considered unstable, smelly, and sickly to a place of health and leisure, where city dwellers could go to sea-bathe, recuperate, and have fun. Edward and Mary Harkness left their New York City home for the Connecticut coast from May through September each year. , Edward Harkness married Mary Stillman, daughter of wealthy New York attorney Thomas E. Stillman, in 1904. Mary's maternal grandfather was Thomas S. Greenman, a shipbuilder who co- founded the George Greenman and Co. shipyard in Mystic, CT, now the site of Mystic Seaport Museum. Edward inherited his wealth from his father who had invested in Standard Oil. The couple shared an interest in philanthropy, eventually making gifts totaling more than $129 million (over $2.42 billion in 2020). , In 1907, they bought Harkness Estate, including the recently completed Eolia Mansion named for the mythical island governed by Aeolus, the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology. The mansion included both fresh and salt water plumbing, as salt water was thought beneficial to health. Mary took a portion of the estate to start Camp Harkness in 1920 for children with polio. She left the property to the State of Connecticut in 1950, specifying the grounds be used for the purposes of promoting good health. It became part of the State Park system in 1952. Camp Harkness is managed by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services for dedicated use by individuals with disabilities along with their families, one of a handful of such facilities in the United States. , EXPLORE Follow one of the many scenic and historic walking, biking, driving, or boating trails, augmented by physical signage and virtual content hosted on our website blueheritage. maritimestudies.uconn.edu and on the IZI.TRAVEL app. , LEARN Immerse yourself in Connecticut's marine environment and maritime history, economy, and culture. The Blue Heritage Trail is composed of gateway sites that act as portals to trails. , SHARE Send us your stories, memories, and images of these places. Forge your own path and let us know what you find! , VISIT blueheritage.maritimestudies.uconn.edu , https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Connecticut-State-Parks-and-Forests. , , ( photo captions ) , , Exterior view of Harkness estate through a wrought- iron gate. Einar G Chindmark, May 25, 1953 Source Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library , , Kite aerial photograph over Harkness Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park, PostMan1107, November 6, 2006. Source: Wikimedia Commons , , Beach at Harkness Memorial State Park Photo by Syma A. Ebbin

The Connecticut Blue Heritage Trail links important sites of Connecticut's marine environment and maritime heritage.
Place of Health and Wealth
Throughout the 19th and into the 20th centuries, the Connecticut shore transformed from a place considered unstable, smelly, and sickly to a place of health and leisure, where city dwellers could go to sea-bathe, recuperate, and have fun. Edward and Mary Harkness left their New York City home for the Connecticut coast from May through September each year.

Edward Harkness married Mary Stillman, daughter of wealthy New York attorney Thomas E. Stillman, in 1904. Mary's maternal grandfather was Thomas S. Greenman, a shipbuilder who co- founded the George Greenman & Co. shipyard in Mystic, CT, now the site of Mystic Seaport Museum. Edward inherited his wealth from his father who had invested in Standard Oil. The couple shared an interest in philanthropy, eventually making gifts totaling more than $129 million (over $2.42 billion in 2020).

In 1907, they bought Harkness Estate, including the recently completed Eolia Mansion named for the mythical island governed by Aeolus, the keeper

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of the winds in Greek mythology. The mansion included both fresh and salt water plumbing, as salt water was thought beneficial to health. Mary took a portion of the estate to start Camp Harkness in 1920 for children with polio. She left the property to the State of Connecticut in 1950, specifying the grounds be used for the purposes of promoting good health. It became part of the State Park system in 1952. Camp Harkness is managed by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services for dedicated use by individuals with disabilities along with their families, one of a handful of such facilities in the United States.

EXPLORE Follow one of the many scenic and historic walking, biking, driving, or boating trails, augmented by physical signage and virtual content hosted on our website blueheritage. maritimestudies.uconn.edu and on the IZI.TRAVEL app.
LEARN Immerse yourself in Connecticut's marine environment and maritime history, economy, and culture. The Blue Heritage Trail is composed of gateway sites that act as portals to trails.
SHARE Send us your stories, memories, and images of these places. Forge your own path and let

Photographed by Michael Herrick, March 21, 2023

2. Harkness Memorial State Park Marker

us know what you find!
VISIT blueheritage.maritimestudies.uconn.edu
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Connecticut-State-Parks-and-Forests.

( photo captions )
— Exterior view of Harkness estate through a wrought- iron gate. Einar G Chindmark, May 25, 1953 Source Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library
— Kite aerial photograph over Harkness Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park, PostMan1107, November 6, 2006. Source: Wikimedia Commons
— Beach at Harkness Memorial State Park Photo by Syma A. Ebbin

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 41° 18.183′ N, 72° 6.898′ W. Marker is in Waterford in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It can be reached from Great Neck Road (Connecticut Route 213) east of W Neck Road, on the right when traveling east. Located in Harkness Memorial State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waterford CT 06385, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline,

in Greater New London, in Mystic and the Eastern

Paid Advertisement

Shore,

and in the Thames River Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Golf Course (within shouting distance of this marker); Chapin and Rumrill Mansions (within shouting distance of this marker); Eolia Mansion (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Water Tower & Cutting Garden (about 500 feet away); The Carriage House (about 500 feet away); Italian (West) Garden (about 600 feet away); The East Neck Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Monte Cristo Cottage (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterford.

Also see . . .
1. Blue Heritage Trail. (Submitted on April 21, 2023, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Harkness Memorial State Park. (Submitted on April 21, 2023, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. Friends of Harkness. (Submitted on April 21, 2023, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2023, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 183 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2023, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.