Hartford – the State Capital of Connecticut
Beautiful Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut and one of the charming cities in New England. The city exudes royalty and is closely linked to state pride and representation. Hartford, situated on the banks of the Connecticut River, serves as the governmental and administrative hub of the state.
- The Capitol building at the heart of Bushnell Park is the iconic and well-known structure in the city
- Near the Capitol Building, there are quite a few museums, historical sites, and churches that are also worth visiting.
- Mark Twain made the city his home in 1870, and it is where he wrote his most significant works. The artist's unique house is now a museum and one of the city's most popular attractions.
How long to spend in Hartford?
It's advisable to dedicate between half a day to a full day for a trip to Hartford, depending on your pace.
It's highly recommended to find accommodation in Hartford as part of your trip to Connecticut.
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6 Must-See and Do Things in Hartford
- An engaging architectural and literary experience at the Mark Twain House.
- The royal Capitol Building of Connecticut in the charming Bushnell Park.
- The Center Church and the ancient cemetery.
- The history of New England at the Old State House of Connecticut.
- High-level art at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
- The spectacular Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park
Click here for all the information about traveling in Connecticut…
What is Hartford?
- The city of Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut
- It is located in the heart of the small state on the banks of the wide Connecticut River
- The city has about 120,000 residents and is the fourth largest in the state
- Hartford is the largest and most important urban center in the northern part of Connecticut, with over a million people in its metropolitan area
- The city is a famous base for insurance companies and is dubbed the insurance capital of the world
- The city was established in 1635 by English settlers from Massachusetts
How to get to Hartford?
- Logan International Airport in Boston – BOS, is the main gateway to New England and the closest major airport to Hartford.
- There are quite a few direct flights from Ben Gurion to Boston, operated by both El Al and Delta.
- The airport has about four terminals, with Terminal E serving international flights. The drive from Logan in Boston to downtown Hartford is only about three and a half hours.
- You can also reach Hartford by driving from New York, which takes a little more than two hours. New York has two main airports – Kennedy in East Brooklyn and Liberty Airport in Newark.
The highways that reach Hartford are I-91, the highway that connects I-95 from New Haven in the south to the outskirts of Montreal in the north. This road runs north from Hartford to the New Hampshire and Vermont border.
On the east-west axis, the I-84 highway connects Hartford with Boston to the east and continues to eastern Pennsylvania in the west. Hartford sits on the main travel route between New York and Boston, with a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston and two hours from New York.
How to plan a trip itinerary in Hartford?
- Hartford is not a large city and most sites and attractions are located right in its center
- The downtown area stretches west from the bank of the wide Connecticut River. The river isn’t really part of the visit to the city, serving more as a transportation feature with Highway 91 running alongside it.
- The heart of the city is Atheneum Square, where Center Church and the ancient graveyard, the Old State House of Connecticut, and of course, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art are located.
- West of Atheneum Square, Bushnell Park begins, home to the Capitol building, the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, and the city's historical museum.
- Heading west from downtown, you’ll find the Mark Twain House Museum and the stunning rose garden in Elizabeth Park.
Click here to plan a travel itinerary in Hartford and get professional advice…
Map of Hartford, Connecticut
Hotels and Lodging in Hartford, Connecticut
Accommodation in Hartford is divided into two categories:
- There are some really nice hotels right in the heart of the city, especially on the lively streets north of the Old State House, with Main Street leading the way. On these streets, you'll find restaurants, shopping, and even a big city feel (relatively speaking).
- On the other hand, staying in motels, the second lodging option in Hartford, is much more convenient in the city. Due to the proximity of Interstate 91 to downtown, there are quite a few good motels located right in the heart of the city. These motels, of course, have parking available. They are located near the downtown exits and include the major chains like Super 8, Travel Inn, Candlewood, and Holiday Inn by IHG, among others.
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Everything there is to see and do in Hartford
Center Church and the Ancient Burial Ground
Center Church is located in the heart of Hartford's historic core. This beautiful church from the early 19th century is renowned for its impressive facade and elegant white bell tower. Next to it to the east is the impressive Travelers Tower, a skyscraper whose tall spire echoes the church's bell tower.
Inside the church, you can see five unique stained glass windows by the famous American stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. In the churchyard is the city's ancient cemetery, with graves of the city's founders from the mid-17th century.
Address: Gold St. 60, Hartford
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
The Wadsworth Art Museum is housed in the impressive Atheneum building to the left of the entrance to Center Church, in the regal heart of Hartford, Atheneum Square. The museum is considered the first art museum to open in the USA, and it was founded in 1844.
The museum boasts an impressive collection of primarily European art, including paintings by masters and several important masterpieces. The collection is not limited by periods and includes early works from the Renaissance to the modern era and giants of the 20th century.
Notable works in the collection include “The Ecstasy of Saint Francis” by the Italian Baroque giant Caravaggio, the painting “Claude Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and paintings by Salvador Dalí, Piet Mondrian, and more.
Address: Main St. 600, Hartford
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Connecticut's Old State House
The Old State House of Connecticut is located next to Center Church. The building was constructed in the early 19th century, designed by New England's master architect, Charles Bulfinch, who also designed the Massachusetts State House in Boston, the prototype for the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.
The building's interior is very impressive and truly reflects the spirit of the founding period of the 13 original states of the USA. The building also housed the state federal court, where the 1839 trial of the rebellious slaves from the ship La Amistad took place. They killed the ship's captain and tried to return to Africa. In 1997, Steven Spielberg's famous and star-studded film about the trial was released.
Address: 800 Main St., Hartford
Bushnell Park
Nestled just west of Hartford's historic center is the charming Bushnell Park. It is the current home of the Capitol Building, the governmental center of the State of Connecticut. The park itself is a pleasant green oasis perfect for a stroll, featuring pathways, trees, and some beautiful sites.
At its center is the Corning Fountain, topped with a stag and surrounded by dancing Native Americans. Nearby, you'll find the impressive Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch in the park's main avenue. The park's most beloved attraction is the Bushnell Park Carousel, operating continuously since its construction in 1914. It's located at the western end of the Lily Pond.
Connecticut State Capitol
The current Connecticut State Capitol replaced the impressive Bullfinch building located in historic downtown Hartford. It opened in 1878, designed by Richard Michell Upjohn, the British architect who moved to America and founded the important American Institute of Architects. Surrounding the building is the charming Bushnell, serving as a backdrop to this majestically inspiring space.
The Capitol building is quite impressive, featuring a gold dome elevated over a tall tower space above the central hall. The building combines granite stones with marble, and the striking interior beneath the dome is considered one of the most beautiful among all Capitol buildings in the USA.
Address: Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Ave, Hartford
Click here to book a guided tour of Connecticut's Capitol Building…
The Museum of Connecticut History
The Connecticut Museum of History is another important royal institution in the state. It's located just south of the Capitol Building, on the southern corner of Bushnell Park. The museum opened in 1910 in an impressive neo-classical building. The museum's collection includes significant items owned by the state of Connecticut, such as the Royal Charter from 1662, in which the British crown officially allowed the establishment of the colony. The museum also displays the state's constitution from 1818. There are many items related to the city's history, including military and industrial artifacts from the mid-17th century.
Address: 231 Capitol Ave., Hartford
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The Bushnell Performing Arts Center
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is located on the southeast corner of the park's west lawn, close to the Connecticut State Capitol building. The impressive structure was completed in 1930 and has since become one of the most attractive buildings in the city. The eclectic building was inspired by Neo-classical and Romanesque styles, featuring an elegant Renaissance-influenced bell tower topping the building. Inside the Bushnell, as it is called, theater performances and musicals are held. The Mortensen Hall theater, the building's main hall, accommodates nearly 3,000 spectators.
Address: Capitol Ave. 166, Hartford
The Mark Twain House & Museum
Mark Twain, the pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is considered one of the great American cultural figures. Twain was a respected writer known for the sharp satire and humor deeply embedded in his works. Clemens was Southern by nature, born in the town of Florida, Missouri, although his family originally hailed from Virginia, with his grandparents being Southern by blood and slaveowners. He mainly focused on the landscapes of his childhood and the Mississippi-Missouri River but wrote from his home in Hartford, which he reached with his wife Olivia in 1870. Twain wrote his famous books about the characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in Hartford, as his memory wandered back to the almost wild lands of his childhood from his comfortable seat in New England.
Olivia designed their home in an almost fantasy-like style. To this day, its unique appearance, with 20 rooms, is one of the most beautiful in all of New England. Gothic decorative elements have been added to the structure, both inside and outside, and the entire house is a captivating visual experience. Today, the house serves as an official museum dedicated to the famous author, his life, and his works. The highlight of the house/museum tour is the billiard room in the attic, featuring Twain's desk where he wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Address: 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford
Click here for all the latest information on opening hours and museum visits…
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
Just a five-minute drive west from Mark Twain's home, on the western outskirts of Hartford, you'll find the impressive Elizabeth Park. The northern part of the park is open and features lawns, ponds, and a luxury restaurant. In the southern part, there's the huge rose garden, home to tens of thousands of rose bushes with nearly 1000 different varieties of the flower.
