Municipal Building (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hartford Municipal Building
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 Location in Connecticut
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| Location | 550 Main Street Hartford, Connecticut, United States |
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| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Davis & Brooks; Palmer & Hornbostel |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000536 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 1981 |
The Hartford Municipal Building, also known as Hartford City Hall, is a very important historic building in Hartford, Connecticut. It is located at 550 Main Street. This building was finished in 1915.
It is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style of building design was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Hartford Municipal Building is the third building to serve as the city's main office. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This means it is recognized as a special historic site.
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History of Hartford City Hall
Hartford's first city hall was built in 1827. It was a Greek Revival style building. This building was located at the corner of Market and Kingsley Streets.
In 1897, the city offices moved. They moved to the Old State House. The state of Connecticut made this building available. This happened after the current Connecticut State Capitol was built.
Why a New City Hall?
The Old State House soon became too small for the city's needs. So, a competition was held to design a new building. The current Hartford Municipal Building was completed in 1915.
Davis & Brooks were the architects who won the design competition. They were local architects from Hartford. They had also designed an addition to the high school. They worked with Palmer & Hornbostel from New York and Pittsburgh. However, Davis & Brooks did most of the work on the project.
J. Pierpont Morgan's Gift
The land for the new building was a gift. It was donated by J. Pierpont Morgan. He was a very famous banker. Morgan wanted the land to be used for something important. It was next to a wing he had given to the Wadsworth Atheneum.
About the Building
The Municipal Building is located south of downtown Hartford. It is surrounded by Main, Arch, and Prospect Streets. The Burr Memorial Mall separates it from the Wadsworth Atheneum. This mall used to be a road. Now it is a walking area.
Building Materials and Design
The building is made of brick. It is covered with white granite from Bethel. The roof is made of copper and tile. The doors are made of bronze.
Inside, there is a large central area called an atrium. This atrium is about 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide. It is also about 150 feet (45.7 meters) long. The atrium is decorated with special panels. These panels show pictures of Hartford's history. The basement level has cool arched ceilings. These are made with special Guastavino tiles.
