A private tour of the Glass House
A private tour of up to three hours of Philip Johnson's 49-acre estate in New Canaan, Connecticut: the Glass House of 1949, the Brick House, the painting and sculpture galleries and the landscape, by appointment.
The Glass House, 199 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
Why it is on the list
Philip Johnson built the Glass House between 1947 and 1949 and lived on the estate until he died there in 2005. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997 and belongs to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.1 The 49 acres hold 14 of his structures, a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture and a collection of Bauhaus furniture.2 The site is seen only on a tour; the private one is arranged around your interests and gives the most time with the buildings, the collections and the landscape.3
It is the wrong day for children under eight, who are not taken to the site, and for anyone who cannot walk a mile over grass, gravel and hills.4 For a day of sculpture in open country, take the weekday at Storm King Art Center instead.
How to get it
Write to the development office at ghdevelopment@theglasshouse.org and ask for a private tour; it costs $250 a person and lasts up to three hours.3 Private tours run year-round by appointment, including outside the public season of mid-April to mid-December.2 The site is closed to public tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.2
Every tour starts at the Visitor Center at 199 Elm Street, New Canaan, across the street from New Canaan station on the Metro-North New Haven line; off-peak trains may need a change at Stamford.3 Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early; a late arrival can shorten the tour.4 A staff shuttle covers the 2.5 miles to the site in about ten minutes.2 There is no parking at the Visitor Center; the town lot at 244 Elm Street is five minutes' walk.4 Tours run in rain; severe weather can delay or cancel them, and the house then offers another date.4 Ask in advance for a ramp or a staff-driven cart if walking is hard.2
Discretion
No one drives to the house: every guest goes out and back with staff in the shuttle, and cars, taxis and ride-hailing arriving at the gate are sent back to the Visitor Center.4 Photographs for personal use are allowed; flash, tripods, selfie sticks and drones are not, and nothing may be published without the house's permission.4
Sources
- Glass House (New Canaan, Connecticut). en.wikipedia.org, read 24 September 2026.
- Faq's — The Glass House. theglasshouse.org, read 24 September 2026.
- The Glass House — Visit. theglasshouse.org, read 24 September 2026.
- Visitor Policies — The Glass House. theglasshouse.org, read 24 September 2026.
Last checked 24 September 2026, against the venue's own pages. The next check is due by 23 December 2026.