I've been to many historic home tours all over the country and none are quite like the tour of…read moreHarriet Beecher Stowe's home. The tour is not just about learning information and seeing historic items, but also becomes a conversation about race relations then and now. My tour had two tour guides. Right from the start at the gift shop they asked everyone's name and what made us decide to visit the home. We are informed that the tour will be more conversational than other tours. Once we enter the actual home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, we are in a room in the home filled with quotes from people like President Obama and President Lincoln regarding Harriet and her famous anti-slavery book Uncle Tom's Cabin. When we finished reading we met the tour guides in the dining room. They asked which quotes did we find most interesting or which quotes may have touched us. That starts off the conversation. This process is continued throughout the tour. Learn about a room in the house, read something of your choice, and then a discussion. I image that some people may not want to discuss the topic of race with strangers, but I had a good small mixed group willing to talk. The tour is not all talk, as you also get to see the actual desk Harriet wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin on. The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is right next to the more famous Mark Twain House. My tour of that home was packed, and I wished more of the group had come next door to see Harriet's home as well. Although her home may not be as luxurious as Mark Twain's, it's the tour that ends up being more educational and memorable.

Stowe Center's website is very cluttered and confusing. It does not make it clear you HAVE to book…read morea tour and find available times before they will even allow you to watch an introductory movie in the visitor center. Open hours were not necessarily correct on trip advisor site. I had to correct myself for day of visit.

We had a living history tour with George, the butler. It was wonderful and I highly recommend it…read more He made life in the house come alive. It seemed as though the family was just out for the day!

Went on the living history living tour…read more It was really cool concept, but I wish there was more unique history, I felt like it would be really good with kids and might be more geared towards that.

I want to express my gratitude for the wonderful experience we had during our Mother's Day cruise…read more As visitors from the Hudson Valley, we were unfamiliar with the area and found Mystic quite crowded. We initially struggled to find parking, which was a significant concern as my wife has disabilities. We were worried we would miss our departure, but the gentleman in your office was exceptionally helpful and kind. He assured us that he had coordinated with the captain to hold the boat, and he even ran out of the office to personally guide us to the dock. The captain and crew on the schooner were professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the sights around Mystic Harbor. I was a beautiful sunny day and, despite the wind picking up, it was a very relaxing, smooth and enjoyable sail. Thank you for your outstanding professionalism and for making sure we didn't miss the boat. We had a great time and highly recommend your cruises.

We took a sunset cruise on the Argia, which is the last commercial sailing ship left in Mystic,…read morewhen we were visiting Mystic with a couple of friends on the Fourth of July. The boat has different seating options - wooden benches and cushion seats without backrests. We reserved two of the cushioned areas and showed up ready to check in on time (they ask you to show up about 30 minutes before boarding to check in). You board at the dock just next to the bridge in Mystic, so it couldn't be more convenient if you're exploring Mystic for a day or a weekend. The Argia allows you to bring alcohol (wine and beer) on board (although they ask that you not bring large coolers - there's no room for them), so we brought a couple of bottles of wine bought from the great wine shop down the street. The sail is partly narrated. Our sail was two hours long, and the staff narrated for some of the sailing time - pointing out historic and interesting sites along the sail (islands with an interesting history, homes with interesting architecture, etc.). Between the gorgeous scenery, some narration of fun and interesting facts about Mystic and its harbor, the great wine we'd brought aboard, and great company - it was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours in Mystic. What a beautiful way to enjoy Mystic and its harbor!

We hosted a party here on Oct 13, 2019. We booked our engagement party on short notice (about 5…read moreweeks before) and Kaitlyn was so easy to work with from the start. We fell in love with her, the house, everything including the murder-by-mail story behind the house from the 1800s. About 2 weeks before the party we called Kaitlyn and told her it was going to turn into our surprise wedding! She continued to be so helpful and excited, giving recommendations for all kinds of vendors we'd need. The day of the party she was professional and hands-on, making sure everything got done on a quick timeline. She calmed nerves and had great suggestions on where things should go to make sure everything flowed just right. Our rental price included some tables and linens she had available, and some glassware too. It was so perfect from the start and we couldn't be happier!!

Came for an Open Doors RI tour. Online tickets were sold out but they were able to accommodate a…read morebunch of us at the door. Beautiful historic building who's tour guides added in a true life murder mystery of the lady of the houses death. This really added to the event as it was so my scene and absolutely fun. They also had a whiskey tasting since she was poisoned with whiskey which is ironically amazing. I would def host an event here because unlike the Newport mansions I could touch things and see things in the midst of being historically preserved since they're still restoring the house. Open Doors RI has found a new regular customer :)

I never realized how beautiful the CT River is until I went on a tour with my company group on his…read moreboat. We saw a bald eagle catch a fish! I'd highly recommend to EVERYONE who loves nature or just wants a unique experience. Learned a lot I never knew about the CT river and the history from Bill.

Morgan, Merry and Bill the Captain were are super friendly. Morgan was personable and gave us…read moreinteresting facts about the Connecticut river. We were able to see a Bald Eagle's nest, as well as a male and female bald eagle. There were blue herons as well. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon. I would definitely recommend giving them a try.

One of the best places to go in the Hartford area. It has an amazing collection of classic artwork…read moreand rotating collections of modern art. I've been many times and somehow I'm still surprised by some of the pieces on display (Van Gogh, Monet, Dali, etc.). They run various events and community days, and membership costs are very reasonable. Support the Arts!

Went back here after a decade, the employees were incredibly friendly and helpful during the…read moreticketing/admission process and were more than happy to answer questions about where certain pieces were (even if they weren't currently residing within the Wadsworth).

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is located in Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT. From May to…read moreOctober, Thursdays from 12-1:30, they offer free tours, weather permitting. This beautiful Gothic style brownstone arch was designed by a Hartford architect named George Keller; his ashes and his wife's ashes were buried in the East tower. In 1886, the monument was dedicated to the 4000 citizens from Hartford who served in the Civil War; of those 4000, 400 died. There are scenes on the sculpture from the Civil War, terra cotta angels, and 8 foot statues; these 8 foot statues depict the type of people who served in the war; from farmers, students, freed slaves, etc. There's a bronze plaque honoring the 128 African Americans from Hartford who fought in the war. I saw this arch from afar and up close. It is a magnificent work of art. It's grand and a great symbol to honor the people who fought in the war. It's a historic landmark and I really appreciate the intricate work and history behind it. I highly recommend a visit and can't wait to visit it and go on a tour next time.

Must visit spot in Hartford, Connecticut. What an amazing monument. If you are around the area, if…read morethere is one spot you should visit, it is this arch. Very much enjoyed it. I am glad a monument such as this exists in Hartford, CT.

Connecticut's Old State House is a historic government building and museum that was built in…read moreHartford, Connecticut in 1796. It was designed by New England architect Charles Bullfinch. Housing all three branches of the Connecticut state government, the Old State House was built to replace an earlier State House that had been built at the same site in 1720 and was damaged in a fire. Some of Connecticut's most important stories of freedom, democracy, and civic action, from the Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials, to the landmark Constitutional Convention of 1814, took place here. Since 1701, Hartford had served as co-capital of the state along with the southern Connecticut city of New Haven (which had its own State House). Following a vote in 1875, Hartford was declared the sole capital of Connecticut. A new Connecticut State Capitol building was completed in 1878, and the Old State Houses in Hartford and New Haven were closed. The New Haven building was eventually demolished, but Hartford's building was repurposed as the Hartford City Hall until 1915. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and reopened as a museum in 1996 following a major restoration. Over the years, the building has developed a haunted reputation and was even featured on an episode of the Sci Fi Channel TV series "Ghost Hunters". I have visited the Old State House a number of times since it first reopened as a museum in 1996. My most recent visit was this past summer when I took my older son with me. We started on the basement level of the building. There's an exhibit dedicated to the history of Connecticut, however most of the artifacts are specifically connected to Hartford. Highlights for us included an old-fashioned Hartford fire engine and some penny-farthings (old-fashioned bicycles). We then moved up to the upper floors which are dedicated to the history of Connecticut's government. Both the Senate and City Council chambers have been beautifully restored. My son really enjoyed learning about voting with some help from an old-fashioned voting machine; anyone my age will remember these. Our favorite room was on the third floor: the Joseph Steward Museum of Curiosities. Originally opened in 1797 by local painter Joseph Steward, this small attic museum is full of all sorts of "natural and artificial curiosities", including a two-headed calf, a two-headed piglet, and an 8 1/2-foot alligator. If you're interested in the history of Connecticut, government, or strange and unusual things, then head to Connecticut's Old State House.

This historic structure was built in 1796 and located in Hartford, CT. It was the meeting place of…read moreall three branches of the state government from 1796 to 1878. Now, it is managed by the Office of Legislative Management of the Connecticut General Assembly. A new Capitol building was built near Bushnell Park because of the open space; this is why it is deemed the Old State House. Currently, it is a history museum. There is another museum on the third floor called the Museum of Natural and Other Curiousities. There are historic rooms and exhibits within the building. Tours can be purchased, check the website for details. I look forward to going back for a tour. They also have a number of events. There was a holiday shopping event on the Saturday (12/7/24) we went. The building is small compared to other states capitols I've seen, but it was magnificent nonetheless. There is a large lawn in front. There were some plaques in front of the building with some historic information. If you like history, I recommend a visit either by walking around the property or doing the paid tour.

Today's lunch at Gather 55, the latest Hands on Hartford food experience, offered up a truly…read morewonderful meal. The place was packed but the front of the house rep found us a perfect table against the rear wall with a view of the dining room. The gentleman who fixed/adjusted our table did a super job; hate those wobbly tables I always manage to find. The menus were clear and the ordering was super easy. The end product went way above our expectations. My dining partner ordered the Chicken Salad plate with a pasta side included. The chicken was fresh, tender and delicious [I stole a piece] and the penne pasta was just right while the celery and walnuts added crunch. I had the Salmon Wrap with spinach, avocado and ginger vinaigrette. The wrap was huge and the salmon perfectly cooked while the added ingredients made the dish even better. The crowd was lively and the atmosphere was full of love. We will return! Want to try the breakfast.

The food and service were very good and the service was great. I had a walnut cranberry salad that…read morewas fresh a d tasteful with a light vinegrette dressing. I took what was left from lunch home and had two more meals from it.