Hartford is a city that is often overlooked. This is thanks to cities like New Haven, which is home to the world-renowned Yale University, and even places like Foxwood Resorts, which holds the record for being one of the biggest casinos in the world.
Despite the local competition Hartford, the state capital stands proud. And with so much history, the city is definitely well worth visiting.
Hartford is the heart and soul of Connecticut and is also known for being one of the oldest cities in the United States. Hartford also produced literature legends such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain, who used their talents to voice their abolitionist opinions, as did many of the other residents.
Despite Hartford’s ups and downs over the years, the city remains a significant historical site to visit with a vibrant cultural scene, beautiful parks and a healthy collection of art galleries and museums.
With a youthful and robust influence present in the city, the feeling of creativity and inspiration is infectious. Hartford’s modern-day style fused with history and exciting architecture creates a truly unique city worth exploring.
Here are a few of our top things to do when in Hartford, Connecticut, including some of their best galleries, museums and dining experiences.
At A Glance
Mark Twain house and museum
Known for novels such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, Mark Twain is considered the greatest American writers of all time. He challenged racism, imperialism and was pro-labour unions. He never was afraid of pushing the boundary or giving his opinion.
Visitors to the city can take a tour of his American Gothic House, where he lived for 17 years with his family and wrote some of his most famous novels. The beautiful building was built for the family in 1873 and had plenty of nifty gadgets and systems hiding within the walls of this Romanesque-inspired house.
The building is a marvel in itself. The burnt-orange bricks used to build the house’s structure hold up an ornately patterned roof made up of various shapes and folds. Edward Tuckerman Potter created this masterpiece for the family on Nook Farm in Connecticut as per the author and his wife’s request.
You can tour the house and explore all of Mark Twain’s personal belongings and of course wander around his magnificent library with its fireplace imported from India and handcrafted panels. His study is situated at the very top where he would write his novels and entertain any guests of the house.
A treasured part of Hartford’s history, the house can be toured at night on one of their many ghost and murder mystery tours or enjoyed at one of the silent writing sessions.
Connecticut Science Center
This attraction is perfect for any touring family. With over 100 exhibitions for your kids to interact with across 6 levels, this is the ideal place to let the kids run free and have some fun all while learning plenty of new things. The centre covers the cosmos, audio and visual, energy, the surrounding nature, humans and gravity.
Perhaps the centre’s most attractive feature is the Butterfly Encounter located in the in-house tropical greenhouse at the breath-taking rooftop garden. They also have a fantastic movie theatre for screening movies and festivals.
The museum often exhibits well-known shows such as Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions of an actual human body preserved with “plastination” pieces. The attraction is fun and educational for the whole family.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
An anti-slavery icon, Harriet Beecher Stowe lived in a property west of downtown Hartford on Forest Street. Known for her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe often portrayed the struggle and hardships African Americans had to endure at the time.
She was the people’s voice and still has a special place on the shelf as a historical figure. Her work had a powerful ripple effect on the world and attitudes surrounding slavery. She was an integral part of abolishing slavery, and some say she played a crucial role in building the foundations of the Civil War.
Visitors can go on a guided tour of the house built in 1973 and then pop into the visitors centre for more information. There, you’ll find an extensive collection of memorabilia and materials relating to the author and her work as a revolutionist.
Great River Park
Hartford has plenty of beautiful parks for you to visit, but the Great River Park is one of the most spectacular. The park is located on the East Hartford bank of the Connecticut River and consists of luscious greenery that hugs the river around every bend.
The park is 2 miles long with various break-away trails leading into the magical woodlands and surrounding landscape. Throughout the park, there are art installations, picnic areas and the large amphitheatre used in the summer to host the Sounds of Summer concerts.
Do you need a snack? Then visit nearby Toasted for an energy-boosting sandwich.
Toasted
For an excellent, rustic dining experience, Toasted is the place to go. The shiny red food truck will educate you on how to assemble a sandwich correctly, and of course, you can eat it.
Once you’ve eaten a Truck sandwich, you’ll feel as if you’ve been missing out on the authentic sandwich experience all your life.
Choose from their legendary sandwich combination menu including 3 types of bread, several kinds of cheese, a variety of meats, and the most essential – their list of delicious sauces. Once you’ve tasted this toasted delicacy, nothing else will do.
Cathedral of Saint Joseph
Another piece of modern-day Gothic Architecture in Hartford is the spectacular Cathedral of Saint Joseph. This historical monument is more modern than most other architecture in Hartford because of a fire in the 1960s.
The church took on a design and build programme changing the aesthetic to magnificent effect with concrete and white limestone.
The entrance is marked by massive bronze doors opening up into a magnificent display depicting various biblical scenes. With unique modern ecclesiastical art on display surrounded by the breath-taking stained glass from Paris, this cathedral is incredibly detailed from the floor to the ceiling.
The cathedral is an art piece inside and out and deserves a trip the next time you visit Connecticut.
Elizabeth Park
Another must-see park is Elizabeth Park which is spread across 100 acres of the City of Hartford’s land. Elizabeth Park is an Olmsted and Son project landscaped at the beginning of the 20th century when financier Charles M. Pond gave the land to the city.
The park is named after his wife and features vast open spaces filled with bountiful vegetation, wildlife, gardens, ponds and bridges. Two greenhouses sit on the property, and there are various walks one can go on when exploring.
The well-reviewed Pond House Café is the perfect spot for refreshments after you’ve walked around the grounds.
The daffodils are out in Spring and attract thousands of visitors, but The Rose Garden is at its best in late-June. If you’re visiting in Autumn, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing the beautiful dahlias.
For Hartford’s impressive skyline of historic buildings, you’ll need to head over to the Overlook for a breathtaking landscape of the city.
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Known for being the oldest art museum in the entire country, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art recently had a face-lift.
Located at 600 Main Street, this art museum’s turrets are not the only impressive thing about this magnificent building.
Displaying pieces from the French and American impressionism periods, Baroque era and various other valuable art pieces from locations around the world such as Egypt, Greece and Rome, this museum is an essential piece of art history that anyone interested in art should visit.
The establishment was inaugurated in 1844 and features pieces from art heavyweights such as Caravaggio, Monet, Dali and Ernst. There are also exhibitions featuring Pre-Columbian pottery, Meissen porcelain, Italian majolica and costumes from Ballets Russes.
All this culture is given a modern-day feel with interactive touch screens available to help explain the exhibits.
Situated in the heart of town – no trip to Hartford would be complete without a visit to Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Is all that culture making you hungry? Then visit Bear’s Smokehouse.
Bear’s Smokehouse
Bear’s Smokehouse is a carnivore’s dream, with delicately smoked meats and the smell of a steak hinting at smoked hickory guaranteed to make you hungry.
Chickens rubbed in unique spices and roasted until perfection; you’ll have a hard time averting your eyes from the sizzling hot stovetop, where the artistry takes place.
The meat is perfectly charred and falls off the bone instantly. Covered in the secret sauce created by Chef Jamie (The Bear) himself, you’ll be licking your fingers, plates and the cutlery by the end of the meal.
Choose from his vast selection of cuts sourced from various animals, from briskets to pork and chicken, turkey and sausages. Then comes the sides! It’s all so delicious you’ll have a hard time choosing.
This smokehouse is designed for feasting and flavour, and you’ll find both those things when you book a table. This place is certainly a must during your visit.
Connecticut State Capitol
When travelling through Connecticut, you’re bound to come across the impressive gold-plated dome structure that sits in Bushnell Park. This building replaced the Old State House in the 1870s and resembled something from the Eastlake Movement.
The ceiling of this enormous building covers the Connecticut General Assembly seats, the State Senate, the House of Representatives and Connecticut’s governor’s office.
Visitors can walk the grounds for free from Monday to Friday with or without a complimentary accompanying guide.
Connecticut’s Old State House
The original Capitol building, the State House is a mix of various architectural styles featuring a Federal exterior, Victorian interior and Colonial halls. Famously known for birthing democracy for the state, the Old State House marks a significant moment in history. It exhibits a vital piece of the past that deserves to be seen.
The third floor features Joseph Steward’s Museum of Curiosities, perfect for the kids and anyone interested in all things peculiar. This part of the building displays rarities such as a two-headed calf and a “unicorn’s horn.” Perhaps that’s a little random for an Old State House but it only adds to the charm of Hartford.
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza
This park sees many visitors throughout the year. The plaza features the Riverfront park system’s centre and has its own grand stage for performances, festivals and concerts. There’s seating for more than 2500 people with beautiful grass terraces surrounding it.
Many come to the plaza stairs for exercise and relaxation as the boats come up and down the river. The same river that hosts the annual dragon boat festival and the plaza is the perfect viewpoint for anyone interested in watching the race and cheering the contestants on.
The plaza offers trails in every direction, boat tours and walks through the city or along the Founders Bridge. The Plaza is a vital part of the Hartford community and is the perfect location for getting to know the city and the people who live there.
On20
For a more sophisticated dining experience, On20 is a restaurant located below the 20th floor of One State Street, looking across the river. Attend a romantic dinner for two here and marvel at the elegant decor that seems to accompany the flavours of food so well and enhance the overall experience.
Led by young French-trained Executive Chef, Jeffrey Lizotte, the food is innovative and exciting, consisting of fresh local ingredients and mouth-watering flavour combinations and textures.
This restaurant represents the young minds living in Connecticut and their new way of looking at things. The menu perfectly represents the city of Hartford and the fusion between old and new.
Hartford is a worthy destination for anyone travelling in the United States. The city is rich in history and perfectly exhibits the contrasting qualities between the past and the present and how today’s youth help create the perfect emulsion of the periods.
From the food to the art to the history deep-rooted in the abolition of slavery, this city is an essential part of modern America and a united society.
ith so many things to do in Hartford, it’s definitely one to be added to the bucket list!
