For over two centuries the Bush-Holley House has stood overlooking Strickland Road  in the coastal village of Cos Cob.  From this location it witnessed the birth of a new nation and Connecticut’s first Impressionist art colony.  For its role in these significant events in American history, the Bush-Holley House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991 by the National Park Service.

  Most of what is now the Bush-Holley House was built in stages beginning with a one-room, two-story structure built between 1728 and 1730.  A few years later the main house was built and in 1738 Justus Bush, a wealthy farmer and town selectman purchased the house and surrounding property, but as far as can be determined, did not live in it.

Justus Bush’s son David Bush and his wife Sarah moved into the house in 1755 at the time of their marriage.  David became the owner of the house after his father’s death and between 1755 and 1777 significant changes were made to the house. 

David Bush’s son, Justus Luke Bush, built a storehouse next to the main house in 1805.  This building later became the Cos Cob post office and is now the site of the William Hegarty Gallery and visitor center.

New structures on the site are the William E. Finch, Jr. Archives (1987) and The Hugh and Clair Vanderbilt Education Center (2002), an addition to the mid-nineteenth century barn.