Introduction
Hartford, Connecticut is a city rich in history and culture. This charming New England town offers so many fun things to do that you’ll never run out of things to do here!
1. The Mark Twain House & Museum
Not only is Hartford, Connecticut the birthplace of Mark Twain, but it was also where he spent most of his adult life—from 1874 to 1891. The house features original furnishings and has a great view of the river. You can tour the house (it’s free), shop for gifts in their gift shop, or dine in their cafe.
2. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
At the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, you can see over 45,000 pieces of art from around the world. This museum is located in Hartford, Connecticut and it’s one of the oldest art museums in America.
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum Of Art is open to everyone. It’s free to visit!
3. Hartford Stage
Hartford Stage is a professional theater company located in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the oldest theater in the United States and one of the largest theaters in New England. The company produces a wide range of plays and musicals featuring both new works and classics by well-known playwrights such as Shakespeare, Shaw, and Goldoni.
4. Connecticut Science Center
The Connecticut Science Center is a great place for anyone who wants to explore and learn about science. The center has over 150 exhibits, including the famous “Explore It!” exhibit that lets kids use their hands to learn about biology and physics. There are also several different programs, like an interactive space show that teaches kids about the solar system, planets, stars, and more with help from an astronaut!
The museum is open every day except Tuesdays from 10 am-5 pm with extended hours until 8 pm on Thursdays during the summer months (June 1st through Labor Day weekend). Admission fees are $14 for adults ($10 if you’re 62+), $12 for seniors (65+) and students/members get in free with ID; children ages 2-11 years old enter for free but must be accompanied by an adult at all times while visiting here!
5. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s papers and memorabilia. It is located in the West End of Hartford, Connecticut, and offers tours, lectures, literary events, book signings, and more.
6. Connecticut State Capitol
The capitol building itself is one of the best places to go if you want to learn about Connecticut’s history. The current building was built in 1878 and features many architectural styles, including Greek Revival, Victorian Gothic, and Beaux-Arts.
But before that, other capitol buildings stood on the same spot. The first one was built in 1796 and lasted until 1835 when it caught fire and burned down. A new building rose from its ashes only to burn down again in 1893! After this final fire, Hartford decided to build something bigger and better: a stately granite structure that still stands today as one of the oldest capitals in America (and also looks pretty nice).
7. Bushnell Park
Bushnell Park is a popular park in Hartford, Connecticut that’s home to the Bushnell Park Carousel, which is one of the oldest carousels still operating. It also has several other attractions including the Connecticut State Capitol and the Connecticut Science Center.
Bushnell Park is located close to the Connecticut Convention Center and offers plenty of space for events like weddings or festivals while also providing an opportunity for picnics and recreation on its 13 acres of land.
8. Bushnell Center for Performing Arts
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center in Hartford, Connecticut. The center opened in 1994 and serves as the centerpiece of downtown Hartford. It is located at 166 Capitol Avenue and was built in 1927 as the Hartford Times Building. The building was designed by architect John M. Dwyer with an exterior created by Henry Bacon, who also designed sculptures for the Lincoln Memorial. The Bushnell Center hosts more than 300 events each year with eight venues: The Kleinert/James Black Box Theater; Mark Twain Hall; The Albertus Magnus Theater; Mortensen Hall (which houses three galleries), Barbara B. Mann Concert Hall (2,700 seats), Torrey Pines Recital Hall (400 seats), Shubert Theatre (1,800 seats), Gail Silverman Gallery and Carole Weinstein Gallery.”
9. Dunkin’ Donuts Park
Dunkin’ Donuts Park is located in Hartford, Connecticut. It is located on the other side of I-91 from downtown Hartford and sits near I-84, so it’s easy to get to.
The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people and has held concerts such as Taylor Swift, Kid Rock, and more! There are also lots of baseball games held at Dunkin Donuts Park throughout the year.
10. Cathedral of St Joseph
This downtown Hartford cathedral is home to the Connecticut Diocese, which consists of all the Roman Catholic churches in Connecticut. The cathedral was built in 1882 and has since been added onto several times to make it its current form—a large church that has seating for about 1,000 people.
The Cathedral is located at 10 Asylum Street, so if you’re looking for something fun to do as a family or with friends in Hartford CT, consider stopping by this beautiful cathedral! You can find more information about visiting hours on their website at www.ctcathedral.org
11. Real Art Ways
Located in downtown Hartford, Real Art Ways is a non-profit contemporary art center that offers a wide range of visual arts programming. Inaugurated in 1974 as the city’s first alternative art space, Real Art Ways offers contemporary art exhibitions, film screenings, and educational programs. The museum also features an extensive collection of works by artists from Connecticut and surrounding states as well as international artists.
The museum has two galleries: The Riverfront Gallery which showcases up-and-coming artists and the permanent collection displayed at The Annex Gallery which features established artists from the region.
12. Connecticut Convention Center
A lot is going on in Hartford, Connecticut. While you’re there, make sure to stop by the Connecticut Convention Center—you won’t regret it. The convention center has five different meeting rooms that can be used for various events and conferences (trade shows, concerts, and more). The largest room holds 5,000 people and costs $3,000 per day to rent out.
13. Cedar Hill Cemetery
Cedar Hill Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut. Established in 1848, it was designed to be an open park-like area with winding pathways and lush landscaping. The cemetery is located at 830 Albany Avenue and is open daily, year-round.
Being that this cemetery is located in Hartford, you can expect to see some famous people buried here! You’ll find the grave of Noah Webster (the dictionary-maker), William Wirt (America’s first lawyer), Roger Sherman (one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence), and many more notable citizens from the city’s past.
If you visit Cedar Hill Cemetery during late summer or early fall when it’s warm out but not too hot yet then I highly recommend picking up some snacks from one of my favorite spots in a town called Farmington Farms Market before heading over there so that once we get there we can sit on a bench or two while eating our goodies together while reflecting on how far we’ve come since starting our day off at breakfast together earlier today…
14. Ancient Burying Ground
The Ancient Burying Ground is one of the oldest cemeteries in Hartford, Connecticut. It was founded in 1640 and is the final resting place of many of Hartford’s early settlers. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means that it is officially recognized as an important part of the country’s history and culture. This cemetery has been preserved well over the years, so it’s worth visiting if you’re interested in finding out more about how people were buried back then!
15. TheaterWorks
TheaterWorks is a non-profit theater company that has been producing and presenting new works since 1973. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, it offers two programs: Mainstage and NextStage.
Mainstage features classic and contemporary plays by such writers as David Mamet, Luigi Pirandello, William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and others. The productions are performed at TheaterWorks’ mainstage venue (the Zachary Scott Theatre) located in downtown Hartford. Tickets range from $5 – $20 depending on what night you attend.
NextStage presents shows by emerging playwrights which take place at the smaller Monroe Studio Theatre upstairs from the mainstage venue (the Zachary Scott Theatre). Tickets range from $5 – $20 depending on what night you attend too!
16. Bushnell Park Carousel
One of the most popular things to do in Hartford is riding the Bushnell Park Carousel. The carousel was built in 1914 and was originally located at the Connecticut State House. It was moved to Bushnell Park in 1921, where it has been ever since. The carousel is over 100 years old and one of the largest in the country. It’s open from May to October each year so you have plenty of time to go check it out!
If you love art, visit The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art or one of Hartford’s many other museums for some culture on your trip!
17. Connecticut Historical Society
The Connecticut Historical Society is a museum and research library in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1822, it has a collection of over 1.5 million artifacts and archival materials documenting the history of the U.S. state of Connecticut and its people from prehistory through the present day. The society’s building was designed by McKim Mead & White architects at the request of Clarence King, who was at that time president of both the society and Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). The building is considered one of their masterpieces; it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 for its architectural significance as well as for its central role in American cultural history as a repository for much material relating to westward expansion during Reconstruction through World War II.
18. Connecticut’s Old State House
Connecticut’s Old State House is the oldest capitol building in the United States, built-in 1796. It served as the seat of the Connecticut General Assembly until 1873 and was restored to its original condition in 1932. Once you’re done exploring this historic site, head over to The Mark Twain House & Museum (also listed on this list) for some insight into another famous Hartford resident.
19. Butler-McCook Homestead
The Butler-McCook Homestead is a great place to visit for anyone interested in learning about Hartford’s history. This historic house is located in Bloomfield, Connecticut. It was built between 1787 and 1810 by Zachariah Cheney, who was an early settler from Massachusetts. The home still stands today and has been preserved by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America since 1927. The house includes many rare original artifacts including furniture, tools, and art pieces that were used by the Cheney family while they lived there over 200 years ago!
The Butler-McCook Homestead is open daily from 1 pm to 4 pm except for Tuesdays when it’s closed all day long (sorry!). Admission costs $5 per person; children 6 or younger get in free with an adult ticket holder!
20. Mortensen Riverfront Plaza
If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy some green space, Mortensen Riverfront Plaza is the place for you. With its large fountain and sculpture, this park is also a popular venue for concerts and festivals.
With its vast open spaces, Hartford residents can come here to walk their dogs or just enjoy the view of Connecticut’s capital city from afar. If you want to take in some culture with your daily dose of nature, there are free events held throughout the year that are open to all residents of Hartford and surrounding towns.
21. Infinity Music Hall & Bistro
Infinity Music Hall & Bistro is a live music venue located in Hartford, Connecticut. It hosts bands, DJs, and comedy shows seven days a week. Their rooftop bar has great views of the city skyline, which makes it perfect for summer nights out with friends or dates.
Takeaway
You’re in Hartford. You have a few days to spare, and you want to explore the city. You have some friends who live here and they’ve given you the lowdown on some of their favorite spots. But what should you do?
Here are 21 fun things to do in Hartford Connecticut:
- Go for a run through Bushnell Park or Goodwin Park
- Check out one of the many museums located in downtown Hartford, including the Wadsworth Atheneum and Connecticut Convention Center
- Ride Metro North from New Haven into Grand Central Terminal in NYC (and back again)
- Visit Colt Manufacturing Co., where Samuel Colt invented his first revolver
- Visit Sturbridge Village, an outdoor living history museum that takes visitors back to 1800s America with costumed reenactors and historical buildings
Conclusion
And that’s it! These are 21 fun things to do in Hartford Connecticut. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends on social media by using the buttons below. Thanks for reading!
