Dedicated in 1884, this is an absolutely beautiful monument. It is a stunning 48 feet tall. It has…read moreornate and incredible detailed sculptures on all sides. I saw an old grizzled exhausted soldier sitting to catch a few minutes of rest. A grim looking citizen soldier holds his rifle in his right hand while his left hand is clenched in a fist of fury. A seated woman holds a book while two children crowd around her. A blacksmith stands tall and proud. The monument is capped by a Greek goddess holding her crown of laurels. There is artwork everywhere- sculpted panels and lamp posts made of rifles. And of course, there are inscribed plaques with the flowery language of the day. One reads: In honor of the patriotism and to perpetuate the memory of the 900 brave men who went forth from this town to fight in the war for the union. This monument has been erected by their townsmen that all who come after them may be mindful of their deeds, and fail not in the day of trial to emulate their example. 1861-1865 Another one reads: Brave men, who rallying at your country's call, Went forth to fight - if Heaven willed, to fall! Returned, ye walk with us through sunnier years, And hear your nation say, God bless you all! Brave men, who yet a heavier burden bore. And came not home to hearts by grief made sore! They call you dead and lo ye grandly live. Shrined in the nation's love forevermore! 1865-1885 So many of Connecticut's old towns have a monument or two like this. They are so easy to overlook, so easy to drive by without even realizing what they are. Look at the statues, look at the sadness in the faces. These are treasures.

Bizarre with a capital "B"…read more There is a Timexpo Museum in Waterbury that tells the story of the Timex company, and the history of watches and time. But as important as that might be, they are nothing when compared to the totally cool 40' tall Easter Island Moai statue that graces a strip of grass in front of the museum. What exactly this statue has to do with the history of time, I don't know. What I do know is this- I pity the poor drunken fool who might be unfortunate enough to be stumbling down Union Street when he glances up and sees this 40 foot tall beast blocking his path. I think that would sober up our poor guy pretty fast.

Discover the Easter Island Moai…read more Forget your bucket list. Don't wait till you can't climb the hill at the quarry to one of the world's most amazing places, Rano Raraku on isolated Easter Island. A giant Moai is waiting to be freed from a thousand years of captivity. What was the last carver's thoughts as he walked away from his final creation? Take a flight or a cruise to French Polynesia and visit Easter Island. Sign up with Tiare Edmunds of Easter Island Guides for a one or two or day tour and see what time left behind. Tiare is the only Rapanui native guide with direct descendents to the original natives. She leads you on an adventure back in time in her air conditioned vehicle. Easter Island is situated on a triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific over 2,000 miles from Tahiti and Chile. It's a living outdoor museum and Tiare has the E ticket pass. We were picked up at the pier and spent two incredible days exploring and learning about what might of happened to a thriving culture that almost lead to extinction. While historically no one knows exactly what happened to leave behind over 900 massive Moai, Tiare will help you understand the culture and the people. She also brought along a picnic lunch on both days of arugula from her garden on fresh sandwiches and olives and Rapa Nui locally brewed beer. What a treat. Looking out over the ocean, drinking a cold beer, having a great lunch and talking with a real local historian about her family's history. A truly memorable time. Don't wait.

On November 22, 1963, I was nine years old, and learned about it from a school crossing guard as we…read morewalked home from Public School 95 in the Bronx. I was the only kid in the group who knew that our Vice President's name was Lyndon Johnson. But he wasn't our Vice President any more. As we approach the 50th anniversary of that terrible day, I want to remember the wit and charm and charisma of JFK. When he was running for President, he made a campaign stop in Waterbury on November 6, 1960. A crowd of over 40,000 packed the Waterbury Green at 3:00 AM to welcome him to Waterbury. He was elected President two days later. In 1962, Kennedy returned to Waterbury. This marker commemorates those historic days when the President visited. A JFK quote from that second visit (there was no third visit although it was promised) is inscribed on the plaque: "I must say, having been here at three o'clock in the morning and now at six-thirty in the evening, that Waterbury is either the easiest city in the United States to get a crowd in, or it has the best democrats in the United States. In any case, our meeting here two years ago at three in the morning was the high point of the 1960 campaign, and we will meet at three o'clock in the morning the last week of the 1964 campaign and see what's going to happen then." The second inscription reads: This plaque is presented to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Library By the townspeople of Wolcott, Connecticut, In gratitude to the only president in history to honor the Waterbury area by his continued promises to return His pledge was fulfilled in the fall of 1964 by the late president's brother Robert F. Kennedy Who has accepted this plaque on the anniversary of that promise. We hope that his library and the examples set therein, Will serve as an "Eternal Flame" By which future generations of Americans will be guided Presentation made at The Kennedy Memorial Library Ball State Armory, Waterbury, Conn. The plaque is not in the best of shape and is rather faded. It's located at the base of an exterior wall at the Hotel Elton building, and is very easy to miss, which is a real shame.

This site is Most sacred to USA history. In October 1962 President Kennedy made an early morning…read morespeech from the balacony here. After his speech,he said ,that he " would be back" after reelection in November 1964, We All know what happened ,on November 22,1963. I am a well known portrayer of past US Presidents,in Living History and TV. I hope to reenact this moment in time in the near future,2022?

The Palace Theater is registered as a National Historic Treasure. It opened on January 28, 1922…read more The Palace Theatre showcases Broadway tours, rock concerts, educational programs, family entertainment, and other events. The theater is beautiful, with crystal chandeliers and gold detailing. On this day, I went to the Palace Theatre to graduate with my second college degree in Early Childhood Education. The graduation was beautiful as it was in this stunning building. I would definitely come back to see a show.

Beautiful, historical theater. We were able to snag metered parking on the street just a block away…read moreduring a matinee show. Beautiful interior and ceilings. I'm not a fan of the doors being open, but the doors to the actual theater remaining closed. The bar/lobby area, while beautiful, is incredibly crowded with nowhere to go, and super long bathroom lines. The show also was starting 30 minutes late but no announcement of that was made. The actual theater itself is beautiful.

It was settled way back in 1674, and twelve years later it became the 28th town of the Connecticut…read moreColony. It's name acknowledges the many streams that empty into the Naugatuck River. The waters led to energy from water power that fueled local industry and Waterbury's celebrated brass industry. Now we know why the town's shopping mall is known as the Brass Mill Center. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located indoors -in the front lobby of the Chase Municipal Building at 236 Grand Street. . The marker was dedicated in 1974 and is in excellent condition

I had to walk past City Hall on the way to Library Park, which was unmarked and closed due to it…read morebeing Columbus Day, but the building on it's own struck me as such a grand place with all of it's granite, fountain and statue of Columbus, I just had to stop and take pictures. I read on the City of Waterbury website that it was dedicated in 1915.