A rare opportunity to see inside the historic 1864 Lyman Homestead and hear highlights from the family's heritage on the land since 1741 will be offered by Lyman Orchards on Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 8th at 11:30am and 1pm.

The guided homestead tours are sold out. Walk-ins are available from 2pm-3pm.

Free guided tours of several rooms of the Homestead will include a brief overview of eight generations of Lymans, with a focus on David Lyman (1820 - 1871), who used a fortune earned from manufacturing washing machines and wringers in Middlefield to build the grand Homestead at 3 Lyman Road.

These tours will take place at 11:30am and 1pm, and last about 60 minutes. They will be guided by historian, Diana Ross McCain, author of six books on Connecticut history, including Thy Children's Children, a historical novel based on the true story of the first five generations of the Middlefield Lymans. The Homestead will also be open for free from 2pm-3pm for walk-in visitors.

Copies of Thy Children's Children will be on sale for $24.95 at the Homestead on Open House Day. McCain will autograph copies from  2pm-3pm. Refreshments will include cold apple cider and apple cider donut holes.

The 24 - room Lyman Homestead is on the National Register of Historic Places and on Connecticut's Freedom Trail. It was home to Lyman family members from 1864-1999, and today is available to rent for private events.

Reservations are required for the tours, which will be limited to 15 people each.