Springfield's Museum of Fine Arts includes collections of fine works by some of the world's greatest painters and sculptors. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Monet, Gauguin, Degas, Pissarro, and Renoir, 19th-and 20th-century Japanese prints, and modern artworks by O'Keefe. The Fine Arts Museum also boasts the only permanent collection of Currier & Ives lithographs.
One of the most unique public spaces in the country, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden has five different statues and sculptures of some of Dr Seuss' most beloved characters. A ten-foot tall Horton, plus the Lorax, Yertle the Turtle and the Cat in the Hat are some of the cartoon creatures that come to life in this playful garden. The largest sculpture is an enormous replica of Oh, the Places You'll Go!, and there is also a statue of Dr. Seuss sitting at his writing desk. Free and open daily, the garden is a great stop for anyone and everyone who loves Dr. Seuss.
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.
Forest Park is 785 acres of pure outdoor fun. With all kinds of entertainment, including a zoo, paddleboats, tennis courts, bocce ball, playgrounds and hiking trails, Forest Park has something for everyone. In the winter, the park is a great location for sledding and snowshoeing. Whether its summer, spring, winter or fall, Forest Park has got it all.
The Springfield Science Museum and Seymour Planetarium is dedicated to the natural sciences and artifacts found throughout New England. Children can explore and learn about the habitats of the Amazon rainforest, African savanna, a coral reef or the New England coastal areas. If a trip through time is more their thing, the Dinosaur Hall has replicas of Tyrannosaurus Rex as well as some dinosaurs native to the Connecticut River Valley. Tickets to the Seymour Planetarium (the nation's oldest) can be purchased separately, so sit back and check out over 7000 stars from our solar system.
Founded in 1959, the present facility of the Basketball Hall of Fame was opened in 2002 in a gorgeously modern building shaped like a basketball. Located on three floors, the museum houses a large collection of sports memorabilia, exhibits, and more dedicated to athletes and teams from around the world, as well as other innovators, coaches, commentators and referees. At the end of your self-guided tour, shoot some baskets on the regulation-size court at a variety of hoops, ranging from the wooden headboards of the 1890s to the fiberglass models of the 21st Century.
Trinity Episcopal Church is a charming church nestled at the heart of the city. This church dates back to the 1859 and was situated at a different location. The church was moved to the present address only in the late 19th Century. The church welcomes everyone for worshiping and regularly arranges masses and prayers. Besides being a religious place, the church is the meeting venue for people fighting against social problems.
The New England Civil War Museum in Rockville, Connecticut is located northeast of Hartford and is a wonderful small, volunteer-run museum dedicated to the role of New England and its inhabitants during the Civil War. It is housed inside of a lovely brick structure (the Memorial Building) built in 1890 to honor veteran Union soldiers. The museum houses three different collections: the Hirst Brothers Collection of the 14th Connecticut Infantry, the Weston Collection of the 4th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and the Thomas F. Burpee Collection of the 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Visitors can check out the exhibits on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
Mount St. Joseph Academy was established in 1905 as a Catholic girls school. The magnificent structure was built in the Colonial Revival style of architecture, and has been impeccably maintained to the day. While the school is no longer in operation, the facility has been converted to an assisted living home.
The beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, with its soaring tower and the steep, conical spire, has a vast history whose roots lay with that of the Colt family, whose entire estate is the Coltsville legacy. Built in beguiling Gothic Revival style, this church is not only a religious landmark, but a sight which carries forward the architectural heritage of Hartford. Commissioned by Mrs Colt in 1867 C.E., the Gothic style of architecture with the Portland freestone, the Ohio stone, the chestnut wood beams and hand-crafted windows are most enticing. All the elements symbolize an idea or another of Christianity.
Built in the early 20th Century by the industrialist George C.F. Williams in the Georgian Style of Architecture, the Connecticut Governor's Residence has been serving the state governors since 1945. It was added to a National Register of Historic Places in the year 1985. The structure has been restored to its original form and part of the interiors have been modified. You can visit the house with prior appointment.