Historic sites, museums and other venues across the state opened their doors to visitors Saturday, offering free or discounted admissions, and special activities as part of Connecticut Open House Day.

The annual event is sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, and it aims to highlight the state's "diverse world of history, art, and tourism."

At the Hempsted Houses in New London, the event coincided with a celebration of Juneteenth, the oldest known commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

First observed in connection with the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, Juneteenth events now mark the end of slavery in the South.

Aileen Novick, project manager at the Hempsted Houses, said Open House Day is a "great way" to get visitors to come to the site, including those who had never been there before.

The site was a fitting locale to host the Juneteenth celebration, which was co-hosted by the New London NAACP, branch President Jean Jordan pointed out, because the Hempstead Historic District is known historically as the center of the African-American community in New London.

It's important to reassess the past, Jordan said, otherwise "we're doomed to make the same mistakes in the future."

After several years of not holding the local celebration after longtime host Kente Cultural Center closed its doors in 2013, the NAACP brought it back last year at the Hempsted Houses.

"People are happy we're doing it again," Jordan said.

Attorney Lonnie Braxton, a juvenile prosecutor and community activist, spoke of the history of Juneteenth.

Braxton grew up in Mississippi.

In the South, you'd know it was Juneteenth because everybody was barbecuing, he said, and older generations would spend time explaining the significance of the day to younger generations.

"If we really make an effort to understand history, we can make quantum leaps in everyone's life," Braxton said.

At the Leffingwell House Museum in Norwich, there was a "good turnout" of visitors, many of whom paid extra to go on the full tour, said Christine Murtha, who serves on the museum's board of directors.

The museum was offering free tours of the first floor for Connecticut Open House Day.

Greg Farlow, president of the museum, said the site is intended to educate the public about the history of the house and the lifestyle during the 1600s and 1700s, "what it was like to live in a place like this."

Farlow said the Society of the Founders of Norwich, which owns and operates the museum, is the only historical group in Norwich that houses artifacts and antiquities related to the town.

It was the first time in a while that David and Maryann Walter of Norwich have visited the museum.

The couple, who are history buffs, served on the museum's board more than 10 years ago; David was the treasurer and Maryann was the secretary.

They both noted the "fantastic job" that had been done to maintain and preserve the history there.

The couple also have an interesting connection to the museum.

They live in Nathaniel Backus' homestead, and Backus' father, Stephen, sold the property where the museum sits to Thomas Leffingwell, Maryann Walter said.

j.bergman@theday.com