Greenwich Historical Society, in partnership with Untapped New York, invites the public to step into the past and compare it with the present through Rediscover Greenwich Avenue, an interactive exhibition launching Thursday, May 1, alongside the Greenwich Arts Council’s Art to the Avenue. Through July 31, visitors can explore four archival-photo murals installed at 69, 116, 301 and 362 Greenwich Avenue, each paired with QR codes that unlock deeper stories of the street’s cultural and commercial evolution.
Guided walking tours, led by Justin Rivers, chief experience officer of Untapped New York, and Christopher Shields, director of library and archives at the Historical Society, will be offered on: Sunday, May 4, 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 18, 10:30 a.m., Sunday, June 15, 10:30 a.m.; and Sunday, July 27, 10:30 a.m.
Advance registration is required at greenwichhistory.org/rediscover-greenwich-avenue. Self-guided exploration is available anytime via the mural QR codes.
“Rediscover Greenwich Avenue transforms historic buildings into open-air galleries,” noted Aaron Asis, artist-in-residence with Untapped New York and creator of the exhibition. “With the installation of the large-scale murals, which we’ve incorporated archival images and quotes drawn from the Historical Society collections, Rediscover Greenwich Avenue explores the Avenue’s architectural, social, business and even personal history throughout the years.”
During May, tours conclude at the Greenwich Arts Council for Two Way Street, a companion installation by Asis on display through May 31. An opening reception will be held Sunday, May 4, 4:00–6:00 p.m. at 299 Greenwich Avenue.
“Rediscover Greenwich Avenue and its companion exhibition Two Way Street, allow visitors to see Greenwich Avenue in an entirely new way,” said Debra Mecky, executive director and CEO of the Greenwich Historical Society. “Greenwich has almost 400 years of rich history with parts of town established as early as the 1640’s. Today, Greenwich Avenue is a mecca that attracts visitors from New York City and throughout the world to its shops, restaurants and cafes. By juxtaposing Greenwich’s vibrant scene today with its robust history through these immersive public installations and walking tours, we are connecting our community through generations of change to create a deeper sense of place.”
Rediscover Greenwich is a year-long Historical Society initiative that connects residents and visitors with centuries of local heritage. Its first phase, Re-Framing 95, launched in April on the Cos Cob campus and runs through June; additional guided tours are set for Saturday, June 28. Reserve a spot at greenwichhistory.org.
For more information on Rediscover Greenwich Avenue, to register for guided walking tours and explore Two Way Street at the Greenwich Arts Council, visit greenwichhistory.org and greenwichartscouncil.org
Greenwich Historical Society was founded in 1931 to preserve and interpret Greenwich history to strengthen the community’s connection to our past, to each other and to the future. The circa 1730 National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House witnessed slavery and the American Revolution and became the site of Connecticut’s first American Impressionist art colony from 1890 to 1920. Its landscape and gardens are restored based on documentation from the site’s Impressionist era. The campus also includes a nationally accredited museum, library and archives, a museum store, café and a community education center. Greenwich Historical Society educates thousands of school children annually and connects visitors to the history of this globally influential community through exhibitions, lectures, programs and events. It receives no town funding and relies on donations and grants to continue its work in education and preservation. Learn more at greenwichhistory.org.
Untapped New York is a tour and media company driven by a mission of discovery. Founded in 2009 and powered by a team of passionate New Yorkers, Untapped New York transforms how locals and visitors experience the city through behind-the-scenes events, expert-guided tours, and captivating stories that reveal the city’s overlooked hidden gems. Learn more at untappedcities.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook at @untappedny.
Greenwich Arts Council (GAC) was incorporated as a 501©(3) non-profit arts organization in 1973. The mission of the Greenwich Arts Council to promote the visual, performing and literary arts in the Greenwich community by encouraging artists and building audiences. The GAC was formed as a direct outcome of the 1971 Development Action Plan of the Town of Greenwich, which identified the need to develop greater encouragement of, and access to, the arts in the Town and surrounding area. Initially located in space at the Greenwich Library, GAC moved in 1980 to occupy the second and third floors of the Old Town Hall Building on Greenwich Avenue in the heart of the downtown business district where it created an Arts Center for its own programs and those of other arts organizations in Greenwich. To learn more, visit greenwichartscouncil.org or follow on Instagram and Facebook at @greenwicharts.
