One of the best museums in the entire country, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art houses some of the finest collections of European art. The museum walls are lined with Renaissance and Modern art, including work by Caravaggio, Lorrain, Picasso, Degas, Cézanne, van Dyck, Monet, Van Gogh, and more. One of the most outstanding collections at the museum is that of the Hudson River School and late 19th Century oil and watercolors from local artists. Open since 1842, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest public art museum in the United States.
Take a break from your hectic schedule and enjoy a few moments of relaxation at Elizabeth Park Conservancy. Operating since 1897, this beautiful park has been a place of interest for the locals as well as the tourists due to its charming gardens. The property spans an area of 102 acres (41 hectares) and is home to a heritage rose garden, horticultural garden, shade garden and four other gardens. Besides the lush greenery, it features four century-old Greenhouses verdant pathways, lawns and many more things to do on a sunny day. It also provides facilities for recreational activities like tennis courts, basket ball courts, picnic groves and many others. All in all you are sure to enjoy your time here.
Built as a replacement for the Gothic-style church that burned down in 1956, the majestically modern Cathedral of St. Joseph built in was built in 1962. The cathedral is beautifully adorned with stained glass, elegant bronze bells and ceramic-titled murals that surround the altar of this impressive edifice.
This theater was built in 1930 in homage to local theologian Horace Bushnell and today it still remains as one of the Connecticut's best event venues. A must-visit for all culture lovers, the Bushnell has inspired audiences with its fantastic shows and plays a leading role in the Hartford's cultural vibrancy. It is a non-profit organization renowned for community programs and a leading educator and advocate of the arts. From Broadway shows to comedians, it's a great place to spend an evening.
Since the American Revolution, Connecticut has had three Capitols; built in 1878, this angelic-white structure is the state's third and last one. Designed by renowned American architect Richard M. Upjohn, the gold-domed building was erected in the Victorian Eastlake Movement-style and constructed using marble sourced from three different East Coast states. The iconic structure's stunning main facade is embellished with a series of carefully-crafted statues that bear likenesses to some of the most influential politicians and historic citizens to have come out of Connecticut. The capitol building is currently home to the state senate and the house of representatives, while also maintaining the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
This home on Farmington Avenue is where Mark Twain lived from 1874 until he moved to Europe (due to bankruptcy) in 1891. It is also the place where Twain wrote some of his most famous works, such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The estate is in constant renovation and the curating team is always looking to restore it as it was when Twain lived here. Nonetheless, the adjacent Museum offers an exclusive documentary about the writer by director Ken Burns and the home was one of the first 100 architectural sites to be registered as a National Historic Landmark in the United States.
Connecticut in all its glory is proudly displayed here at the state's official museum that highlights the history of America's Constitution State. From its inception as a place for nutmeg dealers at the ports of New Haven and New London to the present day, everything you wanted to know about Connecticut can be found on this museum's walls and shelves. A couple of the highlights include the Joseph C. Mitchelson coin collection and the Freedom Trail Quilts. It's a great place for those who want to know more about these 'Nutmeggers', or how residents of the state are called.
Sitting beside the Supreme Court Building, the Connecticut State Library is a repository for many historical materials that pertain to the state. It not only provides historical archives and documents, but it functions as a modern library that allows residents to access material and facilities. Also on-site is the Museum of Connecticut History, the institution that officially oversees the historical archives of the Constitution State.
Upholding the principles of equality, liberty, and dignity, the Connecticut Freedom Trail pays homage to the long-standing African American struggle which materialized in Connecticut. This heritage trail immortalizes the brave men and women who struggled against slavery before it was abolished in 1865. Established in 1996, the Connecticut Freedom Trail is spread throughout the state and is embellished with more than 130 historically-significant sites which are a reminder of the legendary struggle. The trail explores the journey of escaped slaves to avoid capture and the fight against slavery. The trail includes underground railroad safe havens, such as barns and homes, as well as locations where the freed slaves settled down and built communities. Some of the many sites embedded on to the course of the trail are African American Memorial, Chauncey Brown House, Lyman Homestead, Old North Cemetery and Mark Twain House.
Since the American Revolution, Connecticut has had three Capitols; built in 1878, this angelic-white structure is the state's third and last one. Designed by renowned American architect Richard M. Upjohn, the gold-domed building was erected in the Victorian Eastlake Movement-style and constructed using marble sourced from three different East Coast states. The iconic structure's stunning main facade is embellished with a series of carefully-crafted statues that bear likenesses to some of the most influential politicians and historic citizens to have come out of Connecticut. The capitol building is currently home to the state senate and the house of representatives, while also maintaining the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
William H. Mortensen Hall is one of the main venues of The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Equipped with world-class equipment, the venue boasts of an elegant lighting and seating arrangement. It is available for performing arts, concerts and private events like weddings and parties. The venue is a popular destination for touring concert and art groups and can accommodate up to 2799 guests for a single event.