Barrymore and Bristol Exhibit
January 6 - February 12, 2026
Visit Linden Place this winter for a special exhibit honoring the lives of Ethel Barrymore and her daughter Ethel Barrymore Colt Miglietta.
The exhibit will be on display in the Mansion and is included with the price of admission to the museum.
A series of vignettes in the mansion reflect a slice of American history told through the lens of these two extraordinary women who had a profound influence on Bristol and the American arts scene.
Special Events
Join us for special events to complement the exhibit. Details and registration information for each event will be posted shortly.
Exhibit Sneak Peek: Tuesday, January 6
Film Screening: View Ethel Barrymore's Academy Award-winning performance in None But the Lonely Heart at Rogers Free Library on Saturday, January 10
Author Talk: Join author Kathleen Spaltro for a discussion of her new Ethel Barrymore biography on Sunday, February 1
Concert: Three talented singers will present the concert "Songs of the American Theatre" inspired by Ethel Miglietta's theatrical and operatic career on Thursday, February 12
In the early 1900s, Ethel Barrymore became an American idol. Nicknamed "The First Lady of the American Theater," her career spanned five decades with more than 60 theatrical productions and more than 35 films. An Academy Award winning actress, Barrymore married Russell Colt, son of Colonel Samuel P. Colt, in 1909. In the early years of their marriage, Ethel and Russel often visited Linden Place with their three children, Samuel, John, and Ethel. Her enduring legacy includes the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ethel and Russell's daughter, Ethel Colt Miglietta, also made a name for herself as an acclaimed actress and singer, appearing in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and the televised production of Die Fledermaus. In 1960, Ethel Miglietta inherited one quarter ownership of Linden Place. While in residence, she taught lessons in the parlor on her grandfather's piano, sang with the choir at Mt. Carmel Church, and helped establish the Bristol Art Museum.
Thank you to our partners!
We are grateful for the partnership and support of Blithewold, the Bristol Art Museum, Bristol Historical and Preservation Society, and Rogers Free Library is the creation of this exhibit and its related programming.