An alcove on the second floor of the Carousel Museum, it has a few examples of Greek art (slowly…read morebeing displaced by the ever expanding collection of carousel animals). My first visit here had more items on display than my second. However, it's an interesting break from the horses.

A fun tiny glimpse into one man's collection of Greek artifacts. Done tastefully. Needs more donorsread more

Free is always good and free in Hartford is even better. Great event at Bushnell Park, especially…read morefor families. We rode the carousel for free and walked around the market place and stage which was playing some funky music while we were there.

You can get the full tour of downtown Hartford for free if you come on this one Saturday in…read moreSeptember. EnvisionFest is a terrible name but a great idea. Just about everything you want to see downtown is here: free museums, historic buildings, plus a big dose of music, shopping and food trucks. You can really speed along, too, going from a grounded hot air balloon to the top of the Travelers building to watching bands in under an hour. Plus, the Governor's Footguard roams downtown in their wool reds with marching band. Kid-friendly activities abound, from face-painting and sidewalk chalk to giant puppets roaming the park. Word of advice: park at your closest Fast Trak station so you don't have to bother with parking downtown. Way smoother experience. Free Museums The Wadsworth Atheneum, the Connecticut Science Center, the Butler-McCook House & Garden and the Old State House. Plus, the Bushnell stages 20-minute selections of their current show on an outdoor stage (we saw two numbers from Cinderella, which was impressive to hear up close and personal, even if it was sans costume). Don't pass up the free antique carousel in Bushnell Park, which is worth the embarrassment of imaginary riding next to four-year-olds to touch these gorgeous hand-painted horses while the ancient Wurlitzer plays piano. An easy highlight. Free Music & Dance Music is being made wherever you turn. We caught the Hartford Steel Symphony playing Calypso-inspired tunes outside of the Old State House. Two main stages, one in Bushnell Park and one on Gold Street, play host to musicians, dancers and other acts. Inside the Wadsworth, Hart students arrived en mass to take over the Great Hall, and the Connecticut Lyric Opera belted out selections from a Gertrude Stein opera over the entry balcony. Food Trucks The food trucks converge along Bushnell Park for easy pickings. We saw artisanal grilled cheese at the Whey Station, fresh guacamole at Agave Canteen, pressed sandwiches at Toasted, vegan cakes at Amor and the Ben & Jerry's truck. Open Historic Buildings Wander City Hall or tour the original Tiffany glass windows at Center Church, which comprise their own 14-window museum. Take the elevator 34 floors up to the top of the Travelers Building for scenic panoramas, or climb the spiral staircases to the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, that fairy castle arch peaking out above the trees in Bushnell Park. The ancient burying ground on Gold Street makes peaceful if eery spot to rest your tired feet.

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.

We celebrated my son's 2nd birthday here, and they we so accommodating! The room was already set up…read morewith tables and tablecloths. We were able to bring in our own food and dessert. The staff was very friendly and very easy to deal with. We were a little worried about going over the limit for guests, but everyone was able to get a Trolley ride! They even let all the children pull the whistle, which they absolutely loved! The price was very reasonable, and they even opened up the museum part so the children could play and take a bunch of great photos! This children all received party favors of one free future Trolley ride. My advice is to get a membership for an even more amazing deal! Our party guests exclaimed that this was the most fun they've ever had at a birthday party! Great job!

My family and I recently took a drive up to the Connecticut Trolley Museum to experience their…read more"Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights". The museum is run by the Connecticut Electric Railway Association which was founded in October 1940. It is the nation's oldest incorporated organization dedicated to the preservation of the trolley era. The museum operates a 1.5 mile heritage railroad on an original portion of the Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Company's Rockville Branch. The museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year that are themed around dinosaurs, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. 2023 marks the museum's 45th year hosting Winterfest. The museum and property are decorated inside and outside with over 15,000 lights. Guests have a choice of riding closed trolley cars or an open air 'electric sleigh' down the tunnel of lights for approximately 25 minutes. We chose the latter option, but be sure to bring plenty of layers and blankets as it can get very cold. Afterwards we headed into the Visitor Center where we saw multiple model train layouts and vintage trolleys decorated with holiday lights. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was playing on an endless loop in the theater room while children were writing letters to Santa. Cookies, hot chocolate, and other light refreshments are available to purchase. Guests also have the option to take family photos with Santa Claus himself! Winterfest continues until December 30th, so get your tickets while you can!

Great Displays. Friendly greeter. Great War theme. The storyboards are interesting and the…read moreposters are neat. A visit to Norfolk is a must-do and on the weekends this is a must-see. There is jail in the basement. Hopefully they open it one day. No fee required but donations are welcome. There is no parking adjacent to the property. But there is free parking downtown and all of a 5 minute walk. The Green in front is very nice too.

The Norfolk Historical Society is a tremendous resource and a asset to the town of Norfolk, showing…read moreoff the diverse and fascinating history of the town, once a thriving industrial center and now a destination for artists, musicians, writers, sculptors, photographers, and a group of townspeople who support the arts and new business ventures in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. Executive Director Barry Webber is a warm and knowledgeable host who makes you feel welcome as he explains how Norfolk has grown and changed. Worth seeking out-- their hours are limited, and Fridays are the best day to check out their exhibits. Highly recommended.

This museum is outstanding. Marianne and Gary have put together a tremendous display of…read moreeducational information about these brave men who fought for our freedom. Come visit....you'll learn a great deal!

Wow! What a great tribute to our ww2 veterans. So much history to see and learn about.read more

The Japan Society of Greater Hartford holds an annual Japan Summer Festival for its 11th year. The…read moresquare is filled with vendors highlighting the Japanese culture, goods, snacks and food. Event though it's on its 11th year, the festival itself is not very big. There is sure is enough activities to try for an afternoon though. The general info tent were selling shirts and another one next to them had a yukata experience where you can try one for free. Always feel free to buy if you like it. The was a book author in the library which was followed by an origami activity. That was a challenge and definitely required patience. As for food, one table sold sushi which were kept in coolers since it was a hot day. I didn't recall seeing it being prepared on sites and other tables sold snacks and things. Since the event was in Blue Back Square, there are a number of options to dine in. They had both Pikachu and Hello Kitty on-site for pictures!

The Japanese Festival is a free event that takes place in Blue Back Square; right near Noah Webster…read morelibrary. There is dancing, martial arts, drumming, good and vendors. I saw people dancing, there was a sushi vendor, and origami. The event was small but it was busy. It's nice to see these type of events, love the diversity.