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 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.

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.

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

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.

It is totally appropriate that this statue is located in front of the Public Library in Hartford,…read moreCT. Because not only does the statue honor one of America's greatest authors, but it also acknowledges that for many years he lived in Hartford. He moved to Hartford in 1873 at the age of 38. What did he write as a Hartford resident? How about some of the best beloved works America has seen- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), The Prince and the Pauper (1881), Life on the Mississippi (1883), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889). Not too shabby! The bronze statue of Twain sits on a granite base and is located at the glass entrance plaza of the library. It was dedicated in 1994. The statue shows Twain's famous moustache. He holds a pipe in his right hand and is resting his left arm on a riverboats steering wheel. The statue's base has two inscriptions, including his glowing assessment of Hartford's splendor! They read: MARK TWAIN SAMUEL L. CLEMENS 1835-1910 One of the nation's most celebrated authors, Mark Twain lived in Hartford during the peak of his writing career, from 1871 until 1891 Of Hartford Twain wrote: "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief. You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here." A gift from the Hollander family Dedicated 30 November 1994

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.

He was a Polish count…read more He fought for Polish freedom from Russia He joined the Continental Army and became a friend of George Washington. He fought for American freedom from England He was an American patriot. He is known as "the father of the American cavalry". He was fatally wounded fighting for American independence in Savannah, GA on October 11, 1779. He was awarded honorary United States citizenship, and that has happened to only seven people. That is the amazing story of General Casimir Pulaski. This 12 foot high bronze statue honoring a hero of the Revolutionary war was funded by the Polish-American community of Hartford. It's a spectacular statue of Pulaski on a charging horse, holding the reigns in his left hand and a curved sword in his right hand. The statue was commissioned in 1973 and dedicated on July 3, 1976 for the Bicentennial. The statue rests on a pedestal Inscribed with the name: PULASKI On the front of the pedestal is a bronze plaque with the inscription: "I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it..." * General Casimir Pulaski * was born in Poland in 1748. he led the unsuccessful revolt of Polish Patriots against Russia. Upon arrival in America he joined General George Washington's Army. Having distinguished himself in the battle of Brandywine, Congress appointed him a Brigadier General. He organized the independent Corps of Calvary and Infantry, known as The Pulaski Legion. General Casimir Pulaski was wounded on October 9, 1779 at the siege of Savannah and died on October 11, 1779. The back of the pedestal has more inscriptions: "..I Have Passed Hither From Europe To Do Myself The Honor Of Being Among Worthy Citizens In The Defence Of Their Country And Their Liberty." Count Casimir Pulaski Who Offered His Life For Our Freedom. On This Bicentennial Of American Independence A Grateful People Commemorate His Enduring Contribution July 4 1976

This monument was sculpted by Granville W. Carter,NA, NFSS. He was a resident of Baldwin, LI. The…read morestatue was unveiled on July 4, 1976.