For starters, I think Connecticut has one of the best state capitol buildings I’ve seen. While many state capitols have architecture similar to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, Connecticut’s looks more like a European castle than a government building. The current State Capitol was completed in 1878 and is pretty impressive, with elaborate architecture, statues, and artwork depicting historic events. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
One thing that surprised me about Hartford was just how important the insurance industry is to the city. Hartford has long been known as a major center for insurance companies, with several large firms maintaining headquarters or major offices here. On the left is the Travelers Insurance tower, while the building on the right was occupied by ING when I visited. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Downtown Hartford is home to Bushnell Park, one of the country’s oldest publicly funded parks. The park provides a large green space right in the city, with places for picnics, a carousel, monuments, and festivals throughout the year. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
The museum above is the Wadsworth Atheneum, the largest art museum in Connecticut and one of the oldest public art museums in the United States. Founded in 1842 and opened a few years later, its collection includes works from many famous American and European artists. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Hartford has an interesting mixture of old and modern architecture. Above is the Webster Memorial Building alongside the much newer Connecticut Science Center, a nine-story interactive museum that opened in 2009. Below are two more examples of older architecture in the city. I’ve come across plenty of historic buildings during my travels around America, but it wasn’t really until Hartford that I realized how much I appreciated this style. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Above are two more Hartford landmarks. The Municipal Building serves as Hartford’s city hall, while the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch honors the thousands of Hartford residents who fought in the Civil War.
This cemetery is Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground. It contains the graves and memorials of some of Hartford’s earliest residents, including founders Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone. The gate was locked when I visited, but I was able to stick my camera through the fence and read several of the tombstones. Annoyed that the gate was locked during daylight hours while I was visiting, I seriously considered climbing the fence, and maybe I should have. The photos above show a large obelisk honoring several prominent Hartford citizens and a memorial to Samuel Stone. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Burials here date back to the 1600s, more than a century before the United States became a country. The oldest grave I came across during my visit was this one on the right from 1682. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
During my first visit to Hartford, I had somehow explored most of the city without coming across or even knowing about Elizabeth Park. I’d be surprised if there were a nicer city park in the state! It’s a fairly large place with beautiful gardens, greenhouses, a few short walking trails, and tennis courts. Above are some photos from the center of the park, with two more below showing the pond and a heron I found on the far side. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Elizabeth Park is surrounded by an upscale neighborhood with some of the biggest houses I’ve ever seen. These giants photographed above were all found within a few blocks of the park. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
An important place to visit in Hartford is the Mark Twain House, photographed on the left. Normally when I go to museums they’re closed because I’m visiting on a national holiday. This place was open, but I actually refused to go inside because I thought the admission price was crazy! Adding to the insult was the fact that photography was banned. Even museums in Iran and North Korea allowed me to take photographs! In hindsight, I probably should have just gone inside, but at the time I wasn’t feeling it. Plus, I’ve visited other Mark Twain sites before. The photo on the right was taken across the street and shows Immanuel Church. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
