Hartford Attractions

The Ancient Burying Ground is Hartford's oldest historic landmark. The oldest gravestone is from 1648 and there are about 6,000 graves as it was Hartford's only graveyard until the early 1800's.

Bradley International Airport is located 12 miles north of Hartford. Flights from this airport service the USA, Canada, and parts of Central America.

The New England Center for Art displays contemporary American and Chinese paintings and sculptures.

This 37 acre park, located next to the Capitol grounds, is noted for being America's first public park. It contains the Civil War Memorial, the Pump House Gallery, the Israel Putnam statue, and a 1914 Stein and Goldstein carousel.

Built in 1782, Butler-McCook Homestead is the oldest house in Hartford. On display here is a collection of art, antiques and other household items. Also of interest is the Victorian garden which was designed by Jacob Weidenmann.

Roaring Brook Nature Center, originally known as the Canton Children's Nature Museum, covers 115 acres and features trails and an interpretive center with an Indian longhouse replica. In 1973, the Nature Center became affiliated with The Children's Museum (formerly the Science Center of Connecticut).

Charter Oak Cultural Center is housed in a former synagogue that was built in 1876. There is a large gallery and performance area. Temporary exhibits are regularly presented.

Located in a Collins Co. building, the Canton Historical Museum displays antique tools, farm equipment, toys, dolls, vehicles, wedding gowns, and other historical items.

The Connecticut Historical Society Museum displays changing exhibits on the history of Connecticut, as well as a permanent display of furniture and decorative arts. There is also a research library.

This was the family home of Captain Nathan Hale. The house was built in 1776, the same year he was hanged by the British for being a spy. The house contains some of the personal items of the Hale family.

The Old Newgate Prison Museum is a former Revolutionary War prison built in mine tunnels. Used as a copper mine in the early 1700's, it began to house criminals in 1773.

The Historical Society maintains a three building complex featuring the 1761 Makens Bemont House, the 1820s Goodwin Schoolhouse, and the 1850s Burnham Blacksmith Shop. Guided tours through these buildings are available through the Historical Society during summer months.

The Connecticut Fire Museum displays antique fire equipment and vehicles dating to the late 1800s.

The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor displays trolleys and rail cars dating from 1894 to 1947. Visitors can take a short ride in an antique trolley car.

This land was willed to the city of Hartford by Charles H. Pond, who asked that it be used as a horticultural park and that it be named for his wife, Elizabeth. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The park encompasses 102 acres and contain more than 15,000 plants with 800 varieties of roses. In the winter the park is open for ice skating.

This is the restored house of author Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was built in 1871 and was occupied by the author from 1873 to 1896. The kitchen design is based on the kitchen described in her book "The American Woman's Home". On display are a number of person items of Mrs. Stowe, including her paintings and furniture.

The Hartford Stage Company presents a variety of productions ranging from classical to contemporary. They have launched 54 world and American premieres.

Holley House deals with 18th and 19th C history, 1870s kitchen exhibit and the role of women.

Litchfield History Museum displays early American paintings, furniture, decorative arts, and exhibits on the history of the area.

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Part of the collection is moving to the UConn Health Center.

The museum is housed in the 1910 State Library and Supreme Court Building. It features a gallery with portraits of Connecticut Governors as well as historical artifacts and documents, including the 1662 Royal Charter, the 1639 Fundamental Orders, and the 1818 and 1964 State Constitutions.

Kellogg-Eddy House was built in 1808 and was furnished by the Newington Historical Society.

Located on Main Street, Kelsey House was built in 1799, and is operated by the Kelsey Historical Society.

The Old State House is built on the site of the former Hartford Convention and the first Amistad trail. Built in 1796, this National Historic Landmark is one of the nation's oldest state houses. Visit the Museum Store at the Old State House. Experience the interactive audio tour, Hartford Begins Here: Connecticut's Old State House exploring the magnificient historic rooms.

On the second floor is the Steward's Museum with paintings and miscellaneous collections.

The Plainville Historic Center is housed in the 1890 Town Hall. The center displays items related to the history of the region, including the Farmington Canal (1828-1848), agricultural exhibits, antique toys and dolls, and displays on American Indians.

Real Art Ways is a center for contemporary arts featuring a variety of art forms including film, performing arts, poetry, and music.

Dinosaur State Park contains one of the largest Jurassic fossil track sites in North America. Some of the tracks are contained within the Exhibit Center's geodesic dome. Also located on the grounds is the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum.

Attraction closed until new home is found.

The museum displays a variety of American Indian artifacts. The collection includes clothes, dolls, pottery, beadwork, pipes, and primitive stone tools. There is also a teepee and birchbark canoe on display.

The Barnes Museum displays local historical items, including photos, documents, clothing, and other artifacts dating from the 1800s.

Located on Capitol Hill overlooking Bushnell Memorial Park is the 1879 State Capitol. It contains the State Senate Chamber, the Hall of the State House of Representatives and the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of the State.

Located within this building are the State Library agency, the State Archives, and the Museum of Connecticut History. The museum contains a collection of firearms, portraits, and other historical items.

The main portion of the Hatheway House was built in the 1760s with further additions and alterations done in 1794. Some of the rooms are still decorated as they were in the late 1700s, including original French wallpapers.

There are a number of interesting towns and attractions within a short distance of Hartford.

The Lock Museum of America displays a collection of locks, including door locks, padlocks, handcuffs, safes, vaults, and others from various time periods. One of the oldest locks in the collection is a 4,000 year old Egyptian made pin tumbler lock.

The Mark Twain House & Museum is the site of Twain's Hartford home, where he and his family lived from 1874 to 1891, when he wrote his most popular works, including Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. In addition to providing tours of the restored home the institution offers programs that underscore Twain's legacy.

This Victorian Gothic mansion is a National Historic Landmark.

The Thomaston Opera House offers a full season of performances each year.

The 1856 prison displays farm tools, Indian artifacts, and other historical items. The Warden's home was built in 1893 and is furnished in period.

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House is a Victorian mansion with displays of antique furnishings, glassware, porcelain, Oriental rugs, and art by Connecticut artists. There is also a working machine shop and museum with local historical items.

The Trash Museum in Hartford provides details regarding solid waste management and recycling.

The Unionville Museum features three exhibits a year, all of which are related to the history of the area. Displays include photographs, letters, vintage clothing and tools that were either owned by Unionville residents or manufactured in the town.

The Vernon Historical Society collects and displays local historical items. Highlights of the collection include paintings and etchings from Charles Ethan Porter and Gustave Hoffman.

The Wadsworth Atheneum has one of finest American arts collections, particularly works of the Hudson River school. It is the oldest free public museum in the United States and is housed in a Gothic-style building.

Major donors including J.P. Morgan have left good collections of Greek and Roman bronzes, Meissen porcelain, early American furniture, decorative arts and paintings.

The Windham Textile Museum is located within the old mill complex of Willimantic Linen Co. The store, library, and store warehouse were built in 1877. The museum depicts the history of the textile industry in southern New England during the Industrial Revolution.

Built in 1640, Fyler House is one of the oldest remaining frame dwellings in Connecticut. The home has been restored and contains period furnishings.

The New England Air Museum is spread throughout two large hangars with more than 70 aircraft. On display are helicopters amphibians, jets, WWII aircraft, and others.

Noden-Reed Park Museum is a 22-acre park that contains an 1840 house and an 1826 brick barn. This was also the site of Connecticut's first Christmas tree.

This 1846 Gothic Revival style summer house is also referred to as Roseland Cottage or The Pink House. On the grounds are an icehouse, a barn with an indoor bowling alley, and a garden house.

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The Photomobile Model Museum displays a variety of solar electric vehicles