A Visit to the Kate: A Cultural Landmark in Old Saybrook, CT

New England Museums Art Centers Culture & Live Music

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, affectionately known as “the Kate,” is nestled in the heart of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, on historic Main Street. This iconic venue is more than just a performing arts center—it serves as a vibrant cultural hub, offering an impressive array of artistic experiences, including film screenings, lectures, live performances, and children’s programming. A true gem for both the arts and history, the Kate is also home to the Katharine Hepburn Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to one of Connecticut’s most iconic and beloved residents.

Upon entering the museum, visitors are transported into the extraordinary life of Katharine Hepburn. The exhibits are carefully curated to provide a captivating glimpse into the personal and professional worlds of this Hollywood legend. Rare photographs, home movies, and clips from her illustrious career in film and television offer an intimate portrait of Hepburn’s journey. One of the most treasured items on display is her 1975 Primetime Emmy Award, an accolade that stands as a testament to her legendary status in American entertainment.

The Kate – Katharine Hepburn Museum and Performing Art Center Click the photo to enlarge the view.

The museum also showcases an array of fascinating personal artifacts, including wardrobe pieces worn by the star and the now-famous claw foot bathtub from Hepburn’s Old Saybrook cottage, which was destroyed during the devastating 1938 hurricane. However, the true highlight of the museum is a collection of several dozen personal letters that Katharine Hepburn penned to her family during the early years of her career. These intimate writings not only reveal the actress’s thoughts on pivotal career decisions but also offer candid reflections on world events and heartfelt expressions of homesickness for her family in Fenwick.

“Part of the Kate’s mission is to uphold Miss Hepburn’s legacy and share her story,” notes Brett Elliott, executive director of the Kate. “We are privileged to exhibit these remarkable pieces from our collection and look forward to welcoming visitors to experience them.”

One of the museum’s most popular features is its rotating special exhibits, which change every six months.

Visit the Kate is see popular exhibits like the one about Hepburn’s transformative role as Coco Chanel in the Broadway musical Coco.

On December 18, 1969, Katharine Hepburn stepped onto the stage of Broadway’s Mark Hellinger Theatre and, for the first time in her 40-year career, sang. With music by André Previn and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, the musical was an immediate success, playing to full houses for nine months and totaling 40 preview performances and 329 regular shows. Hepburn later reprised the role for a sold-out six-month tour across the United States and Canada in 1971. Astonishingly, despite the grueling schedule, she never missed a single performance—a testament to her unmatched professionalism and dedication.

The Katharine Hepburn Museum and the venue’s gift shop and box office welcome visitors from Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and remain open one hour before performances. A $5 suggested donation grants access to the museum, where you can further explore the legacy of this legendary actress.

New England Living Magazine encourages you to support the Katharine Hepburn Museum by joining or making a tax-deductible donation.

For more information about visiting the Katharine Hepburn Museum, or to explore upcoming performances at the Kate, visit www.thekate.org or call 860-510-0473. To Explore New England Museums, bookmark nelivingmagazine.com.

CATHERINE HEPBURN MOVIE CLASSICS

SHOP CATHERINE HEPBURN COLLECTIBLES

Title	Price	Buy
Tracy & Hepburn Complete Collection (DVD)	$37.50	On Sale
TCM Greatest Classic Legends Film Collection: Katharine Hepburn (The Philadelphia Story / Stage Door / Little Women / Morning Glory)	$40.49	On Sale
Bringing Up Baby (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]	$25.62	On Sale
Remembering Katharine Hepburn: Stories of Wit and Wisdom About America's Leading Lady	$16.95	On Sale
Katharine Hepburn Collection (Morning Glory / Undercurrent / Sylvia Scarlett / Without Love / Dragon Seed / The Corn Is Green) [DVD]	$24.99	On Sale
At Home with Kate: Growing up in Katharine Hepburn's Household	$6.98	On Sale
The Private World of Katharine Hepburn	$21.80	On Sale
I Know Where I'm Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography	$12.12	On Sale
E1 ENTERTAINMENT Katharine Hepburn Film Collection	$27.26	On Sale
Keeper of the Flame (1942)	$9.99	On Sale
Tracy & Hepburn: The Signature Collection (Pat and Mike / Adam's Rib / Woman of the Year / The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn)	$24.49	On Sale
The Films of Katharine Hepburn	$3.56	On Sale
Katharine Hepburn, Quote, Kate the Great, Vintage Hollywood, 8x10 Art Print by Wendy Hogue Berry	$20.00	On Sale
ART.COM Wall Photo Katharine Hepburn. c.1930s, 12" x 16"	$28.99	On Sale
Film still featuring Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart in The Philadelphia Story Photo Print (24 x 30)	$52.39	On Sale
Katharine Hepburn N(1907-2003) American Actress As Eleanor Of Aquitaine In The Lion In Winter 1968 Poster Print by (18 x 24)	$32.42	On Sale
Audrey Hepburn As Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's Classic Edition Barbie Doll -- NEW IN BOX	$121.28	On Sale
Katharine Hepburn 1930's pose holding telephone by bedside 24x30 inch poster	$39.99	On Sale