Hartford, Connecticut

You're looking at what was once the heart of the horseshoe nail industry! This complex was built by the Capewell Horse Nail Company after a fire destroyed their previous factory. In 1881, George Capewell invented a…

Samuel Clemens lived in this elaborate Victorian Gothic home from 1874 to 1891, writing his greatest works here.

Home of the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the novel that Abraham Lincoln reportedly said started the Civil War.

Samuel Colt's revolutionary armory pioneered interchangeable parts and assembly line manufacturing, crowned by its iconic blue onion dome.

Imagine a world revolutionized by mass production – that's the legacy of Coltsville. Samuel Colt, a name synonymous with firearms, established his manufacturing empire here in the mid-1800s. He wasn't just making guns;…

You are passing the Mark Twain House at three hundred fifty-one Farmington Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. Samuel Clemens lived here with his wife Olivia and their daughters from eighteen seventy-four to eighteen…

Ever wonder how grief can inspire incredible beauty? This church is proof. After Samuel Colt, the famous firearms inventor, died in 1862, his widow, Elizabeth Jarvis Colt, commissioned this stunning Episcopal church.…

Think of the Bulkeley Bridge as Hartford's steadfast handshake across the Connecticut River, a connection that's lasted for over a century. Back in 1908, when cars were still a novelty, this bridge was built to carry…

Right here, along the Connecticut River, Samuel Colt built more than just firearms; he built an industrial empire. Colt's Armory, established in 1855, became famous for its mass production of revolvers. Colt used…

Step back in time as you pass the Old North Cemetery, a silent city holding Hartford's past. Established in 1807, it became the final resting place for many of Hartford's prominent citizens. For decades, this was the…

Right here, on Mahl Avenue, stands a house that was once home to a remarkable woman who made a real difference in Hartford. Marietta Canty was a talented singer and a passionate advocate for the African American…

Imagine a love story so powerful, it turned a private estate into one of America's most beloved rose gardens. This is Elizabeth Park. Banker Charles M. Pond owned this land in the late 1800s. When his wife, Elizabeth,…

Welcome to the Old Center Burying Yard, West Hartford's oldest cemetery, a silent witness to the town's earliest days. Established in 1719, this was the only burying ground for the town's first seventy years. Many of…

Ever wonder where the American dictionary got its start? It was right here, near the boyhood home of Noah Webster. Noah Webster, born in 1758, spent his formative years on this very land. He went on to become a lawyer,…

Right here, in 1781, George Washington and French General Rochambeau finalized the strategy that would ultimately lead to victory at Yorktown. In May of 1781, Washington arrived at the Joseph Webb House in Wethersfield.…

Imagine a world where the speed of light wasn't a constant. That's what Edward Morley helped disprove right here in West Hartford! From 1906 until his death in 1923, Morley lived in this house on Westland Avenue. He was…

Imagine stepping back nearly four centuries! Old Wethersfield is where Connecticut's European history truly began. Back in 1634, colonists from the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a settlement here, initially known…

Step inside the home of Silas Deane, America's first foreign diplomat, who secretly secured French support during the Revolution. In 1776, the Continental Congress sent Silas Deane to France to solicit aid. He…

Pull over for a sec, because you're about to see a piece of living history! This is the area of the Loomis Homestead, one of the oldest timber-frame houses *still* standing in America. It all started when Joseph Loomis,…

Dating back to 1664, this is one of the oldest houses in Connecticut. That's when Deacon John Moore built the original portion of the house you see at 37 Elm Street in Windsor. He was a prominent figure in the early…

Right here, at the Kimberly Mansion, two sisters made a stand that echoed around the world. Abby and Julia Evelina Smith lived here and spearheaded a fascinating protest against taxation without representation. In 1873,…

Imagine hosting lavish parties with breathtaking views from your own private tower. That was the life of Gilbert Heublein, a Hartford spirits magnate, who built this iconic tower. Construction began in 1914, replacing a…

Imagine being surrounded by Monet, Degas, and Manet masterpieces in a stunning Colonial Revival mansion. That's Hill-Stead Museum. Built in 1901, this wasn't just another grand estate. It was a collaboration between…

Pull over for a second – this unassuming house is older than you think! Dating back to 1675, this is the John Hollister House, the oldest surviving colonial structure in Glastonbury. John Hollister was one of…

Imagine a night out in New Britain a century ago, all dressed up for the theater! This spot, where you're driving now, was once home to the New Britain Opera House, later known as the Palace Theater. Constructed in…

Imagine a town built entirely by silk! That's essentially what you're driving through near the Cheney Brothers Historic District. In the mid-1800s, the Cheney Brothers, a family of industrialists, established their silk…

Pull over for a minute! You're about to see the home of a Founding Father who helped shape the United States as we know it. This is the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, built in 1781. Oliver Ellsworth was a lawyer and…

Pull over for a peek at a little piece of Connecticut history! This unassuming brick cottage at 130 Hayden Station Road might not look like much, but it tells a story about early American craftsmanship. Likely built…

Known as the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge, this charming bridge is more than just a pretty face. It's a testament to enduring engineering and community spirit. Built in 1892, the Drake Hill Road Bridge originally…

Built in 1890, this hall stands as a memorial to Windsor Locks' Civil War soldiers. After the Civil War ended in 1865, towns across the nation sought ways to honor those who served. Windsor Locks decided to erect…

This seemingly quiet island hummed with industry, helping shape the nation. The J. R. Montgomery Company complex, nestled between the canal and the river, was a key player in Windsor Locks' manufacturing history.…

Imagine a bustling colonial village rising from the footprint of an ancient Native American settlement. That's Indian Hill Avenue. This area in Portland, Connecticut, was home to Native Americans long before European…

Imagine the lives of Connecticut's earliest settlers right here! This is the White-Overton-Callander House, one of Portland's oldest homes. Built around 1710 by Nathaniel White, one of Middletown's first landowners, the…

Ever wonder where the stately brownstones of Brooklyn and Boston came from? Chances are, they came from right here. Beginning around 1846, the Portland Brownstone Quarries boomed. For decades, thousands of workers, many…

You're about to cross a rare piece of history: the Town Bridge, built way back in 1895. This bridge isn't just any old crossing. It's a pin-connected Parker truss bridge, a design that was popular in the late 19th…

Imagine the footsteps of Rochambeau's infantry as they marched toward the decisive battle of Yorktown. This unassuming spot in Bolton, Connecticut, known as the Fifth Camp, was a vital pause on their grueling journey.…

Imagine being trapped underground, not for days, but for years. That was reality for many at Old New-Gate Prison. Originally a copper mine, operations began here in 1707. By 1773, the mine had become Connecticut's first…

You're driving through what was once the heart of a bustling colonial port! Middletown's Main Street has been the center of community life since the earliest days of settlement. Middletown rose to prominence as a major…

Pull over here and imagine weary travelers, and perhaps even a prison warden, seeking respite! Viets' Tavern, right across from Old Newgate Prison, offered a welcome break in colonial Connecticut. Back in the 1700s,…

Ever wonder where French soldiers marched to help win the American Revolution? You're driving right by it! This stretch of Bailey Road is one of the best-preserved sections of Rochambeau's historic march. Imagine…

America's first chartered copper mine, converted into the nation's first state prison in 1773, used to hold Loyalists during the Revolution.

Feast your eyes on this masterpiece! The Samuel Russell House, a stunning example of Greek Revival architecture, stands as a testament to a bygone era of global trade and ambition. Built in 1828, this mansion was…

Pull over here for a minute; you're looking at a seriously rare piece of history. This is the Samuel Hayes II House, and it's one of the only middle-class colonial homes with a hip roof still standing in the whole…

Pull over, because you're driving on a piece of living history right now! This very stretch of Hutchinson Road was a vital artery for Rochambeau's army during the American Revolution. It’s part of a network that led to…

Imagine a life marked not by milestones, but by a number on a stone. That's the reality for those buried in the Connecticut Valley Hospital Cemetery. Established in 1878, this cemetery served as the final resting place…

Prepare to be transported back in time as we explore the history of mental health treatment at Connecticut Valley Hospital, once known as Connecticut General Hospital for the Insane. The hospital's origins trace back to…

Get ready to step back in time and take a spin on one of the oldest carousels in the country! This isn't just any ride; it's a beautifully preserved piece of amusement park history designed by the legendary Charles I.…

Imagine Southington bustling with the energy of its largest employer, a factory that shaped the town's identity.The Peck, Stow & Wilcox Factory, or Pexto as it was known, started here in 1870. It grew into a sprawling…

This park is more than just a pretty view; it's a testament to one man's vision and generosity. Walter Hubbard, a local businessman, began acquiring land here in the late 19th century with the goal of creating a public…

Ever wonder where that beautiful glass bottle came from? You're driving through a place where secrets of glassmaking were forged! This quiet stretch of road, once the bustling Boston Turnpike, was home to the Coventry…

Pull over for a moment, and imagine growing up right here. This is the Nathan Hale Homestead, home to one of America's most famous, if perhaps misunderstood, patriots. Nathan Hale was born in 1755 right here in…

This house was once the last stop for people with nowhere else to go. The John Fuller House served as Suffield's 'poor farm,' a place where the town's needy could find shelter and support. Built in 1824, the house…

This unassuming spot whispers of a time when water powered Connecticut's industry. Likely built around 1851, the Terryville Waterwheel harnessed the Pequabuck River to drive machinery, probably for a local clockmaker.…

Nathan Hale grew up in this house in Coventry, one of twelve children in a devout Puritan family. He graduated from Yale at 18, became a schoolteacher, and by all accounts was a well-liked, athletic young man. When the…

Ever wonder where motorcycle tycoons went to relax? This is Hilltop Farm, established in 1913 by George Hendee, co-founder of the Indian Motorcycle company. He envisioned it as a gentleman's farm, a place for recreation…

Ever wondered what it's like to drive right over a buried piece of history? You're about to! Up ahead, you're literally cruising above a 150-year-old railroad trestle, the remarkable Lyman Viaduct. This isn't just any…

This rare wrought iron bridge is a testament to engineering ingenuity. It's known as the Red Bridge, and it has stood here for over a century. The Red Bridge was built in 1891 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. Its…

Stop and stretch your legs at Comstock's Bridge, a charming piece of Connecticut history! This covered bridge connects East Hampton and Colchester, offering a glimpse into the past. The first bridge here was built…

This unassuming spot holds a story of boys deemed in need of reform. The Hampden County Training School, established in 1916, aimed to rehabilitate young boys through agricultural and vocational training. The school…

Imagine a hidden village, tucked away in the woods, acting as a secret guide. That's the story of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse. In the 1700s and 1800s, this area, now part of Peoples State Forest, was a small community.…