Holy Mackerel !! I…read morehad no idea that this treasure chest of art, creativity, and history existed. Shame on me for not exploring the Hartford Riverfront earlier. In 2005, Lincoln Financial donated a $500,000 grant to the Greater Hartford Arts Council to design a Sculpture Walk along the Connecticut River in both Hartford and East Hartford. They announced a nationwide competition for accomplished artists around the country and selected 16 works for this permanent public art exhibit representing the life, accomplishments and values of President Abraham Lincoln. I looked at three of the sixteen statues today as part of my wandering around the Riverfront during the Dragon Boat and Asian Festival. Sculpture Three: Lincoln Meets Stowe (Bruno Lucchesi - 2006) This bronze sculpture commemorates the 1862 meeting of Abraham Lincoln and Hartford author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Upon meeting, Lincoln purportedly quipped, "So you're the little lady who started this big war." Sculpture Four: Toward Union Lines (Preston Jackson - 2007) This sculpture represents a young woman walking north toward Union lines. The accompanying plaque describes the plight of "contrabands" or escaped slaves. Sculpture Five: Frontier Life (Neil Goodman - 2008) This sculpture represents Lincoln's Indiana boyhood years living in a log cabin and growing up to be a skilled ax-man and rail splitter. I can't wait to see the other 13 exhibits. Riverfront Recapture offers a walking tour of all sixteen stations and additional artwork on the very impressive Hartford riverfront.

Perfect place for a little jog or fast pace walk during lunch or after dinner as a romantic…read morehistorical journey under the beautiful bridges meant for holding hands and taking selfies. Keep walking until you get to the restaurant on the river and have a quick cocktail.

Excellent landmark. There are others must see and/or must visit spots around the area such as parks…read moreand monuments. If you are around the area, it is a must visit landmark in Hartford, CT.

I've always wondered whose statue this was until the other day when me and some of my fave Yelpers…read morewere walking around Hartford and we walked by it. Pretty awesome statue for sure.

The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial is located on a small rectangular block in front of the…read morestate armory where the Connecticut Army National Guard is based. That's a decent location and it is a very nice memorial. A granite colonnade structure with five columns, one for each branch of military service. A semi-circular granite wall with the engraving "honoring those who served" frames the columns. There are a couple of benches and a few parking spaces with limited parking. [Review 15176 overall, 678 of 2021, number 30 in Connecticut.]

Very nice and pretty spot to walk around. There are other landmarks and monuments nearby. If you…read moreare around the area, give this spot a visit. Very much enjoyed it.

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.

On September 19, 1916, Robert Kappenberg was directing traffic when he noticed a car driving the…read morewrong way on Main Street. As he tried to correct the problem, he was struck by a second vehicle and passed away from his injuries. On May 18, 1934, Gene Callahan was riding on his motorcycle when a parked vehicle in front of him pulled away from the curb to make a U-Turn. Callahan drove into the truck and passed away a few years later. On January 23, 1999, Brian Aselton responded to a noise complaint that was actually a home invasion and robbery. He was shot to death at the site. What do these three men have in common? All three were members of the East Hartford Police Department. All three were killed in the line of duty. And all three are honored on this 2008 memorial. The memorial consists of a black stone monument flanked by two gray monuments. The center slab is topped by an eternal flame and the sides are inscribed with two quotes. The one on the left reads "In Valor There Is Hope". The inscription on the right reads: "The Wicked Flee When No Man Pursueth But The Righteous Who Are Bold As A Lion". That awesome quote is from Proverbs 28:1. The reverse has the EHPD crest, the three names, and an inscription honoring all the men and women who "protect and serve us". The EHPD crest is dated 1783, which is a long time ago. But the roots of the EHPD go back almost 100 years earlier. One cool fact I uncovered while researching this blog was that law enforcement in East Hartford goes way, way back to 1699 when a gent by the name of Daniel Bidwell was named "Constable for Hartford, East of the River".

If you're downtown in the vicinity of the Wadsworth Atheneum, you'd be excused if you did a…read moredouble-take upon seeing this very cool orange-red abstract statue of a stegosaurus. It sure does grab your attention. It sits in a courtyard between office buildings, and man oh man - is it huge ! It's a whopping 32 feet tall and has a footprint measurement of 50 feet by 32 feet. It's 40 tons of steel -a crazily creative work consisting of forty-five arced steel plates bolted in the shape of a stegosaurus. And that color ! Super bright red-orange that commands your respect. It was dedicated in 1973 as a tribute to Alfred E. Burr, the founder of the Hartford Times newspaper.

This sculpture sits on the grounds of the Wadsworth Atheneum, and it's the best work of art that…read moreAlexander Calder made.

If you find yourself walking across the outdoor plaza at the Travelers Insurance Company, you may…read morebe so taken by the sculpture of a giant red umbrella, that you might miss this gem of a monument, near the plaza entrance to the building. It commemorates the 1636 arrival of Hartford's earliest settlers, when 100 members of Thomas Hooker's congregation travelled from Cambridge, MA to found what became known as the Connecticut Colony, here in Hartford. You'll see a 6 foot tall and nine feet wide bronze statue on a granite base that depicts one of the families in that arrival -a Puritan family of four and their lamb. You can see the father kneeling in prayer with his head bowed and his hand on a Bible. You can see the mother cradling a baby in her left hand. You'll see a young girl holding a lamb on a rope. It's a great acknowledgement of the state's history, and a reminder of just how old this state is. The inscription on the base reads: THE SAFE ARRIVAL HE WHO BROUGHT US HERE SUSTAINS US STILL There's a plaque on the wall behind the statue that reads: {Qui Transtulit - Seal of Connecticut - Sustinet} In June 1636, about 100 members of Thomas Hooker's congregation arrived safely in this vicinity. With one hundred and sixty cattle, they had followed old Indian trails from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the Connecticut River to build a new community. Here they established the form of government upon which the present Constitution of the United States is modeled. Their deeply religious principles found expression in the emblem and the motto of the seal which the colony soon adopted. The Seal Of The State of Connecticut still bears the transplanted grapevines and the legend "Qui Transtulit Sustinet". This statue, honoring the spirit of all founders, is dedicated to The Founders Of Hartford. It commemorates the beginning of the second century of service by the Travelers Insurance Companies. April 1, 1964

This very cool statue of a World War I Doughboy stands on the library green at the corner of Main…read moreStreet and Central Avenue, in front of East Hartford's Raymond Library. He is in full uniform and sports the distinctive combat helmet of his day. The monument was dedicated in 1929 to the men and women, from East Hartford, who fought in World War One; both the survivors and those who didn't survive. The inscription reads: 1917-1918 In Honor of the men and women of East Hartford who answered their country's call to service in the World War. To the dead a tribute to the living a memory to posterity a token of loyalty to the flag of their country The plaque is starting to show streaks from water damage, but is still readable. The statue is in excellent shape.

The Connecticut River - New England's longest is soo beautiful especially in the fall. Blue waters…read morewith the sun bouncing off at places like sparkles from a fire cracker, and the sides lined up trees with all possible colors of leaves except green ! But....We were a week early so missed the fall color enchantment....the river was beautiful nevertheless. Another interesting historical piece, all those railroad bridges along. Some of them are rusty and defunct but make a great location for a pic. We stopped at one such bridge to capture some frame worthy memories. The Connecticut River is called a " Blueway" and is known for connecting Canada all the way to Long Island. Also known for its biodiversity, scenic beauty, and historic importance for indigenous trade. There was a little local store with Native Indian artifacts like pots and stuff. The colorful shop just popped up out of nowhere, that is, until I read that Native Indians played a very important role in New Hampshire history and still, very much live in these parts. Bought a few trinkets to carry home and left on our way. The River and its blue stayed with me

The Connecticut River was my route to Shangri-La as a boy. My dad and I would take our 18-foot…read moreoutboard motor boat across Long Island Sound at its widest part from Mattituck Inlet and follow the river north. There were lovely little side tributaries we'd explore, including Hamburg Cove and a really intriguing unnamed jungle-like stream which somehow left the river and then came back to it, so turning back wasn't necessary. Gillette Castle, high on a bluff, was always a great landmark to look forward to. And every few miles an automobile bridge or railroad bridge would cross over our heads. The construction of these bridges was always fascinating, as you'd view them from afar before eventually motoring underneath them. The trip always required an overnight stay on land somewhere, usually with a docking at Wethersfield Marina in Wethersfied Cove. We never would quite make it to Hartford, because my dad said the river wasn't navigable beyond there and our nautical chart ended prior to the capital city. Now I'm a resident of a small city in Massachusetts which brushes up against the banks of the mighty Connecticut. Mostly a coincidence, except I know that I wanted to live in this region based, in part, on those wonderful youthful excursions. To this day I get a thrill whenever I cross the river on any of the bridges above Hartford. You see, I can look out the car window and examine what I never got to enjoy while cruising its waters on our boat! If it were only navigable beyond Hartford, it would be a cinch for that extra star!

Had the BEST time at Hartford Taste's Nacho Contest with Van Hurd of Fox's Hell's Kitchen and…read moreSandra Pittman of Sandra's Next Generation in New Haven. Constitution Plaza was alive and thriving this Friday and Saturday. Looked so great to see all the food vendors. The second annual Hartford Taste is food/music/art festival to benefit local Connecticut restaurants and Connecticut Food Share with two sound stages highlighting the diversity of culture in the Capital region. Congrats to Van on the win with his Brisket Nachos! We also had Sandra's Oxtail Nachos and I made a Triple Decker Firecracker Shrimp Nacho. Thanks to the Wood N Tap - our food sponsor. I can't wait for next year to visit again. Cheers!

The current site for Taste of Hartford 2022 (June 9 & 10)…read more Plenty of vendors to choose from! There is so much space here and I hope they have more events like this in the future. It's also neighbor to the Riverfront.