CT Science Center is located in Hartford and is a hands on science museum. There are many exhibits…read morein all the science fields that you can explore; it's also for all ages too. My favorite was the butterfly encounter; there is a room just for butterflies and they do land on you. There is a parking garage available. There are 4 levels open to the public. My family and I enjoyed the exhibits. There were plenty to keep us all busy. My children enjoyed the play kitchen, dinosaurs, and butterflies. Blue Chip Creamery is also located there. I highly recommend it and can't wait to go back soon.

This place is so big that definitely should have started at 10am. We went at noon and did not…read moresee/participate in all activities they had. Kid loved it. It was overwhelming in the negating, some exhibitions are geared towards older kids (older than 8yo) but every floor had something for every age.

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.

Visited the adult home of this famous child of the Mississippi River, during the final days of our…read moretrip to Connecticut. It was a very enjoyable experience. My wife and I were flying out of the Hartford airport (Bradley International) to go back home, so decided to spend the day before in the area. A popular tourist attraction is the Mark Twain (two fathoms or 12 feet deep) House & Museum, so decided to center our day around that. Maps will take you right to it, passing by large and beautiful homes from the turn of the (19th) century. The end destination was a large parking with plenty of spaces on a Friday afternoon. Daily hours are 9:30 - 5:30, with seeing the house only available through guided tours, so it was recommended to pre-reserve slots online. There are two versions of the tour, both guided but with the less frequent Living History Tour being led by a cosplay actor. We arrived at 11:20 and was able to get tickets for the 11:30 normal tour (on this day, the normal tour had hours at 9:45, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, and 4:15). Because the tour lasts about an hour, there were multiple groups in the house at the same time, but it is big enough to absorb the three concurrent groups, all seeing different parts of the home. The entire home is maintained only by ticket admission ($28 adult, $26 senior, $15 children). This was the home where he spent the most productive 17 years of his life, raising his three daughters with his wife, and writing his classics, including Huckleberry Finn. The house tour included all four stories of his home, with complete restoration being just completed in 2016. Rules: no photos or videos inside the house; don't touch anything, stay in same room as guide at all times, and no food/drink. The house was built with forced air vents, and the AC was working well within the house this day. Upstairs on the second floor was the living area, and the 3rd story attic was where Twain had his offices. The basement were the servant quarters. The entire house was fully furnished with either originals or faithful reproductions. We later learned that much of it had been given away initially, but the restoration brought much of it back. There are no elevators in the Twain home. In the visitor center, anybody could enjoy a 20 minute version of Mark Twain documentary by Ken Burns. The most celebrated Mark Twain actor was Hal Holbrook (he played a mean Lincoln too), and his very familiar voice could be heard quite a bit throughout. The souvenir shop in the visitor center had a variety of things related to his life, but to the hobby of reading for pleasure in general. There were distinctive wallpaper patterns inside the house (our favorite was that of a honeybee colony), and the same patterns could be purchased as paper in the gift shop. Because the main house is on elevated ground, one story above the visitor center, there are two parking areas. The main one near the visitor center is what Maps will guide you to, whereas the much smaller one south of the house at the same elevation is meant for handicapped spots and being much smaller, will fill up. We did see if we could walk from this parking area via local roads, but found it was much easier to just go back from where we came. We spent about 2 hours here, and saw what we wanted to see. We both felt it's well worth visiting.

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).

I have come here twice to see this documentary "No Other Land" because it isn't streaming or…read moreplaying anywhere else. I'm grateful that we have a theater like this in Hartford! I am not a member yet but I intend to become one. There is also an art gallery which I have not explored yet. I took a star off because the popcorn was not great. I only got it once. Maybe it wasn't fresh. I'm going back tomorrow to see the movie one last time before it's gone and will check out the art gallery and try the popcorn again!

We had the pleasure of attending the opening of " MIDAS."…read moreThe theatre was perfect in size and the chair not tight fitting! The staff were great in directing us to the evening's event and activities. We will return!!

We arrived just before the closing time of 4. I expected to be turned away, but a woman standing…read moreoutside whom I'd assumed was there to deliver bad news instead enthusiastically started a thorough, enlightening tour. Lots of history packed in this charming house, tied to the broad, rich history of this charming colonial old town.

"Now when he was a young man, He never thought he'd see…read morePeople stand in line to see the boy king. King Tut" (Steve Martin) You all know his name, and maybe that goofy Steve Martin song, but if you want to know more about King Tutankhamun, you have until October 15 to check out this impressive exhibit at the Hartford Convention Center. He became a King at age 9, and served until his death at age 19. He died in 1323 B.C., and in 1922 a team of British archaelogists discovered his tomb with over 5,000 artifacts and displays of over-the-top opulent wealth. What is the National Geographic Beyond King Tut exhibit? Think of it as a cross between a fantastic museum and an IMax theater. Similar to last year's Van Gogh event, this is an "Immersive Experience" with high quality projectors showing imagery on the walls, floor and ceilings. There are nine galleries to stroll through, and some of them are huge, so the super-sized imagery is jaw droppingly cool. The show started off with a short introductory video, but I didn't care at all for the tour guide's shlocky banter. Pricing is on a two-tiered basis with "Peak" and "Off Peak Pricing". The Peak Pricing levels are Adult (Ages 16+) is $39.99, Child (Ages 5-15) is $28.99, Student/Senior/Military is $34.99, Premium Flex (enter whenever you want to) is $53.99, VIP (enter whenever you want to PLUS an VR Experience at the exit) is $79.99. A Family 4 Pack is a flat $34.99 price per ticket. Off Peak pricing is $10 less for adults and $5 less for kids. Of course, parking is extra, and if you haven't spent enough money, no worries because there's a bar and gift shop at the exhibit.

What an incredible experience this is! I've been obsessed with Egypt since I was 5, and being able…read moreto go into an interactive exhibit like this was like a childhood dream come true. Each room is unique, with historical facts, and always something interesting to see or do. The room with the boat and the projections was just absolutely incredible. I could probably just sit there all day if I could just taking everything in that I possibly could. What an amazing adventure, I want to go back already!

Fun little spot for a quick stop if you're already in the area. It's a FREE museum of sorts that…read moretouches on Wethersfield history, and had two main exhibits when we were there. First one delves into the broad history of the area, second is a related to the Connecticut State Prison that used to be on the Wethersfield Cove (and is now a park, though most of the buildings are gone). If you're in downtown Wethersfield for a visit or happen to live there and want a brief history lesson, it's worth a stop. Then you can go to one of the great local businesses afterwards! Good quick "Day Activity" bundle deal...? Combo this with a trip to the Cove/CT River so you can see the real thing and compare to the photos here!

My wife and I wanted a simple but historic place to have our wedding and reception....we got both…read moreat the Keeney Center...Jill Fletcher was outstanding in her role as manager of the centers ballroom area. She was very flexible in allowing us access to the hall to get everything set up for the big day. Everyone at our wedding marveled at how beautiful and historic the center was. There was plenty of parking behind the center and its location in Old Wethersfield provided the perfect backdrop. The sound system was excellent and allow us to plug right in and play music. There's a small area to set up a bar and plenty of rooms to get ready in. Jill and her team were outstanding hosts and I highly recommend renting from them for any event you have planned.

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.

Most visitors pass by this house after touring the Twain mansion next door. Don't pass up a tour…read moreof this little gem of a museum! The guides were very knowledgable and they spend a lot more time with you as opposed to the rather rushed tours next door. I loved everything here! You can take photos, ask questions, and really dive into the history of Harriet Beecher Stowe and her writing. You will not regret visiting this place!

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.