Stonington — The Stanton-Davis Homestead Museum will hold a tour of its 354-year-old home and the hundreds of acres of farmland that surround it for potential donors Saturday.

The tour is part of the organization's continuing effort to preserve the Osbrook Point farm and turn it into a museum. The Greenhaven Road home, which dates back to 1660 and was added onto in 1760, is thought to be in its original condition, something that makes it extremely rare.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to preserve an unaltered structure. They just don't exist anymore. It may be the only remaining unaltered New England plantation home," said Bill Langman, the group's vice president. "I believe it has the potential for national landmark status."

He pointed out the property has significance for colonial, Native American and African-American history. Many artifacts have been found on the property and in the house.

The house was built by Thomas Stanton, one of the town's founders who was an Indian interpreter. It is believed that both Uncas, leader of the Mohegan Tribe, and Cassacinamon, an early Pequot leader, may have visited Stanton at the house.

The fields helped supply the Continental Army, and archaeologists have found traces of Indians who may have been on the land as long as 5,000 years ago.

The organization's mission to protect, maintain and preserve the home and create a museum and educational center began in 2000, when John "Whit" Davis gave the house and its contents to the museum.

Many of the hundreds of acres of fields and salt marshes around the house have been preserved by conservation easements. At an upcoming town meeting, residents will be asked to use $200,000 from the town's open space fund to help preserve an additional 168 acres of the farm from development.

Langman said Saturday's 3 p.m. event is the first one in a few years.

"We're trying to get out to the public that the house is being saved and restored," he said.

Langman said the organization is not only looking for monetary donations but also in-kind services. He said a group of New England architects are also expected to be on hand Saturday. They have been invited along with potential donors.

He said the organization began a project in March to stabilize and restore the "skeleton of the home." The museum has obtained private donations to cover the work.

"We would have had a serious failure if we had not started the work now," he said.

Langman said those connected with the house continue to make discoveries inside, such as the recent find of a hidden chamber that led from the basement to the attic but which was enclosed by the 1760 addition. Found inside the living space were children's and men's shoes and paintings on the wood.

Langman said the home is a rich resource for those researchers studying the architecture of the period. Any changes were laid over the original features, which still exist.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas