The science center is always such a fun time when guests from out of town are visiting. I don't…read morethink people comprehend how big this place is until they're headed up the elevator. My favorite exhibits have to be the Made in CT room and the butterfly exhibit. It's so cool to see all of the things that were created right here in the nutmeg state. The room has a lot of fun and interactive modules as well. The butterfly exhibit is such a great time, especially when it is sort of empty. The butterflies love, floating around and landing on you which makes for great photos. It's definitely worth the additional few dollars.

The Science Center has a lot of interactive exhibits. There is plenty to read, if you want to, but…read morehonestly, the children I saw were jumping in and participating in the many hands-on exhibits. Some of the favorites were the air cannons where they tested their skills keeping a ball aloft while moving it toward a 'hoop' to drop the ball through. The interactive downhill ski machine was also visited often. The day we visited, a group of high school students were there with a display on aerodynamics. They had visual displays of air moving objects and then the children were allowed to build their own paper airplane, put it into a wind tunnel and see how well their design flew. They very much enjoyed that. There is a huge megalodon static display with a wide open mouth to show just how much one could eat in a bite. All the kids wanted to crawl inside, which of course is not allowed, but it was certainly large enough to swallow all of them whole! The shark exhibit had lots of information and a video game they could use to make a shark eat a squid. They enjoyed that as well. The admission is quite expensive, which I understand as everything is quite expensive these days and there are plenty of staff on hand in each exhibit to answer questions. Then there's maintenance, electricity, etc. At one time the Science Center offered passes through the libraries for half off admission which would certainly be helpful to families straining to live within a budget. Camp groups were in house during our visit so perhaps they choose to focus their giving back to the community in that way instead of offering the library passes. A sandwich shop and an ice cream shop are on the first floor along with the gift shop. The gift shop has a variety of items from games to jewelry at a variety of price points. Some exhibit spaces have restrooms and water fountains. Ask a staff member for directions. Very long, steep staircases lead between exhibits and you have to exit the exhibit on the correct side to access these stair cases. An elevator bank runs from the lobby to each floor as well. They do have a parking garage, which was full when we visited. The Convention Center parking garage is just across the street and a short walk away.

Booked the Living History Tour which lasted ~70 minutes and was led by a costumed actor. Even…read morethough it was raining, we enjoyed this experience. Our actor/tour guide portrayed Katie, one of the servants in the house. She told interesting stories and facts about Mark Twain, his family and the house. Pictures were not allowed during the tour except at the last part/basement and outside the house. Parking was not a problem as there was a lot before entering the museum which can lead to Mark Twain's house. There's a 20+ minute introductory video (separate from the tour) that you can see in the museum. The gift shop has magnets, t-shirts, other clothes, books, toys, pins, snacks, etc. There's also a cafe in the museum. This house/museum is about 20 minutes away from Bradley International (Hartford) airport. Would recommend this tour!

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.

9/23/26 Visit: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum for my 700th Review! A Must See Museum!…read more The outside of the museum looks like an old castle. We arrived at 12 PM for the 1230 *Museum highlights tour. Unfortunately, we were told that the tour was canceled. A Jewish Artists tour was scheduled for 2 PM. So we had time for lunch. We asked the staff where was the best place for Pizza. They recommended, "The Brownstone". It was about a 10 minute walk. The pizza was delicious! Back to the Museum! Susan was our wonderful docent for the Jewish Artists tour. She encouraged a lot of group participation. On the Jewish Artists tour, some of the more well known artists were Marc Chagall and Camille Pisarro. In addition, Susan pointed out other highlights in the museum. Many thanks to Susan!! The rest of the museum staff were wonderful too! After the tour, we wandered around the museum. The museum has a wide variety of old and modern paintings and sculptures. The Wadsworth has a wonderful gift shop upon entry. The museum does have a small café with indoor and outdoor dining. Street and mostly garage parking is within walking distance of the museum. Thanks for the read and viewing my photos.

This museum is stunning and a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. The collection is beautifully…read morecurated and there's something for every type of art lover. The pieces are also rotated so everytime I visit I feel like I'm seeing something new! Right now, there's a gallery of local artists show casing some wonderful talent. Plus, the museum is free to Hartford residents and UConn Students. Staff is friendly and passionate. Visit if you haven't!

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!!

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 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.

The tour definitely offers energy and participation from the tourists in every room. Step into the…read moreshoes of men like Josiah Henson and Harriet's father and all that shaped Harriet's world as the tag team guides bring it all into focus.

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.