The Connecticut State Hero, Nathan Hale, lived on this property until his execution in 1776. The home on the grounds was built in that same year and is the second structure to be built there. Schoolchildren from around the state enjoy field trips to this beautiful property, honoring the man who proclaimed, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Events are held on the property throughout the year and the home is open for tours from June through the month of October. Check the website for varying dates.
Built in 1752, the Joseph Webb House is a historic Georgian-style house in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Joseph Webb, a renowned and successful merchant built this home post his marriage to Mehitabel Nott in 1749. It was the venue of a vital five-day military conference that was held during the American Revolutionary War. The house has an enormous history. After Joseph sold it in 1790, it was purchased by a group of entrepreneurs to start off a library. Further, it underwent extensive refurbishment and Wallace Nutting installed painted murals to open it as a sales area and studio. A visit is a great deal of a historic experience.
One of the nation's oldest state houses, Hartford's Old State House dates back to 1796. A Federal-style building designed by famed architect Charles Bulfinch, the Old State House has been restored on numerous occasions and has been on the list of National Historic Landmarks since 1966. The state house bears an assemblage of architectural influences, where a Federal Styled-facade gives way to a Victorian chamber and a courtroom awash in Colonial Revival style. Home to the Museum of Natural and Other Curiosities, this regal, brick-hued edifice overlooks a pristine lawn, and lords over the sleek cityscape of Hartford. Even though it has not served the Connecticut government since the construction of the new State Capitol building, the Old State House is a stirring canopy lending insights into the history of the state.
Take a walk by the lake, have a picnic, or ride on the vintage 1914 carousel that is housed in one of America's first municipal parks. Since the mid-1850s, Bushnell Park has offered citizens a comfortable place to unwind away from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Hartford. On the registry of National Historic Landmarks since 1970, the famous Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch dedicated to those in the Civil War is one of the major highlights as well as the Horace Wells Monument and the Corning Fountain.
Riverside Park is one of Hartford's oldest public parks and its location on the waterfront invites all for a relaxing stroll or bike ride next to the water. The series of four, 148-acre parks on both sides of the River are popular picnicking and excursion spots for Hartford's residents and the many people who work Downtown during the week. Visitors can use the boathouse for rowing along the Connecticut River, get permits to go fishing or during the summer months, and even attend one of the numerous events at the riverfront venue, Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.
The Springfield Armory, located in the heart of the city, is the location of one of the country's first armory and is also where the U.S. military arms were manufactured during most of the 18th Century. This significant national site is featured on the National Register of Historic Places and preserves the largest collection of historic American firearms in the world.