Hartford Connecticut
Skyline of the capital city along the Connecticut River
American Gothic-style Mark Twain House, former home of author Samuel Clemens
Hartford City Hall, a 1915 Beaux Arts-style building with a glass roof
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, dedicated in 1886, in Bushnell Park
State Capitol dome glistening above foliage surrounding the city
Stone bridge in historic Elizabeth Park, opened in 1897
Crews competing in the Dragon Boat Festival on the Connecticut River
Grand staircase inside the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, open since 1844
- Major Airports:
- Bradley (BDL)
- John F. Kennedy (JFK)
- LaGuardia (LGA)
- States:
- Connecticut
History, arts and culture in Connecticut’s capital
An Ode to the Past
Visit the Mark Twain House & Museum, where the beloved American author raised his family and wrote some of his most famous novels, including “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Harriet Beecher Stowe, the American writer and abolitionist, penned her seminal work “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in Hartford; stop by the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for an inspiring look at her life. An array of interesting exhibits tells the state’s story at the Connecticut Historical Society.
The Arts
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the oldest public art museum, houses a collection of 50,000 works of art spanning an impressive 5,000 years. Look for works by Warhol, Dalí, Van Dyck, Jackson Pollock and countless others. Catch a play or musical at Hartford Stage or TheaterWorks, where intimate atmospheres guarantee a good seat every time. Bushnell Center for Performing Arts offers a year-round roster of symphony, Broadway shows, stand-up comedy, concerts and family programming.
Food, Drinks and Nightlife
Catch an alternative rock concert at the Webster Theatre. Take in dinner and a show at the Infinity Music Hall & Bistro. Enjoy great drink specials in a college atmosphere at popular local Irish pubs. You can even eat Southern-style: everything from chicken and waffles, fried green tomatoes, fall-apart barbecue and more is a part of the eclectic culinary scene here.
Fun Fact
In 1647, Alse Young was the first recorded person to be convicted of witchcraft in the original U.S. colonies and hung at what is now Hartford’s Old State House.