National Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford, Connecticut facts for kids
Hartford, Connecticut, is a city full of history! Many of its special buildings, parks, and neighborhoods are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special list kept by the United States government. It helps protect places that are important to American history and culture.
There are over 400 historic places in Hartford County. Hartford city itself has 142 of these amazing spots. Seven of these are even more special, called National Historic Landmarks. These are places that are super important to the entire country's history.
About 20% of all the properties in Hartford, including more than 4,000 buildings, are considered historic. Let's explore some of these cool places!
Contents
- Famous Homes and Important People
- Important Buildings and Landmarks
- Connecticut State Capitol: A Golden Dome
- Old State House: A Historic Meeting Place
- Hartford Union Station: A Grand Train Hub
- Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Building: A Unique Shape
- Wadsworth Atheneum: America's Oldest Public Art Museum
- Colt Industrial District: A Legacy of Firearms
- Christ Church: An Old Gothic Church
- Engine Company 2 Fire Station: A Unique Firehouse
- Parks and Cemeteries
- Historic Districts: Whole Neighborhoods with History
- Images for kids
- Former Listings
Famous Homes and Important People
Mark Twain's House: A Writer's Home
One of the most famous homes in Hartford is the Mark Twain House. This was the home of the famous writer Mark Twain (whose real name was Samuel Clemens) from 1871 to 1891. He wrote many of his most famous books here, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It's a really unique house with lots of interesting details.
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Home: A Voice for Freedom
Right next door to Mark Twain's house is the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a very important writer and activist. She wrote the famous book Uncle Tom's Cabin, which helped change how people thought about slavery in America. Her home is now part of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, which teaches about her life and work.
Henry Barnard House: Education Pioneer
The Henry Barnard House on Main Street was the home of Henry Barnard. He was a very important educator who helped create the public school system in America. He believed that everyone should have access to good education.
A. Everett Austin House: A Hub for Art
The A. Everett Austin House was the home of Arthur Everett Austin, Jr., who was the director of the Wadsworth Atheneum art museum. His house was a popular place for social events and was known for its innovative style.
Important Buildings and Landmarks
Connecticut State Capitol: A Golden Dome
The Connecticut State Capitol building is where Connecticut's government meets. It's a beautiful building with a shiny gold dome. It was designed by Richard Upjohn and mixes Gothic and French Renaissance styles.
Old State House: A Historic Meeting Place
The Old State House is another very old and important building in downtown Hartford. It was designed by Charles Bulfinch in the Federal style. It served as Connecticut's state capitol for many years before the new one was built.
Hartford Union Station: A Grand Train Hub
The Hartford Union Station is a historic train station built in 1889. It has a unique Richardsonian Romanesque style. Even though it was rebuilt after a fire in 1914, it still keeps its grand look.
Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Building: A Unique Shape
The Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Building is famous for being the world's first two-sided building. It has a very distinctive curved shape that makes it stand out in the city skyline.
Wadsworth Atheneum: America's Oldest Public Art Museum
The Wadsworth Atheneum is a very important place for art lovers. It's the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States. It has a huge collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks.
Colt Industrial District: A Legacy of Firearms
The Colt Industrial District includes the famous Colt Armory factory complex. This is where Samuel Colt's company made firearms. The area also includes houses where managers and workers lived. This entire district is part of the Coltsville Historic District, which is a National Historic Landmark District.
Christ Church: An Old Gothic Church
Christ Church is one of the oldest Gothic Revival churches in the United States. Its beautiful design makes it a special part of Hartford's history.
Engine Company 2 Fire Station: A Unique Firehouse
The Engine Company 2 Fire Station was built in 1910. It has an Italian Renaissance Revival style, which is unusual for a firehouse. It's also one of only two firehouses left in the city that were originally built to house horses!
Parks and Cemeteries
Bushnell Park: A Green Oasis
Bushnell Park is a beautiful park in downtown Hartford. It's a great place to relax and enjoy nature in the middle of the city. It's also home to several monuments and statues.
Elizabeth Park: Famous Rose Garden
Elizabeth Park is known for its stunning rose garden, which is one of the oldest and largest in the country. It's a popular spot for visitors and extends into West Hartford.
Cedar Hill Cemetery: A Peaceful Resting Place
Cedar Hill Cemetery is a large and historic cemetery. It's known for its beautiful landscaping and impressive monuments, including the unique pyramid monument. It's a peaceful place that also extends into nearby towns.
Old North Cemetery: A Glimpse into the Past
The Old North Cemetery is another historic burial ground in Hartford. It offers a glimpse into the city's past, with many old gravestones and monuments.
Historic Districts: Whole Neighborhoods with History
Coltsville Historic District: Samuel Colt's Legacy
.jpg)
The Coltsville Historic District is a large area that includes the Colt Armory and other buildings connected to Samuel Colt. This district was named a National Historic Landmark District in 2008 because of its huge importance to American industry and history.
Ann Street Historic District: 19th-Century Buildings
The Ann Street Historic District is filled with brick buildings from the 1800s. Many of these buildings were used for businesses. Important buildings here include the Sport and Medical Science Academy and the Central Fire Station.
Department Store Historic District: Shopping History
The Department Store Historic District includes buildings like the Sage-Allen Building, which was built in 1898. This area was once a busy shopping district with large department stores. Today, some of these old buildings have been updated with shops and apartments.
Frog Hollow: A Neighborhood with Character
The Frog Hollow district is a historic neighborhood known for its unique character and community feel. It's roughly bounded by the Park River, Capitol Avenue, and several streets.
South Green Historic District: A Community Hub
The South Green Historic District is centered around a historic green space. It includes several streets with buildings that show the history of this community.
Images for kids
-
The Ambassador Apartments.
-
The Apartment at 49-51 Spring Street.
-
A view of the Asylum Avenue District.
-
The B.P.O. Elks Lodge.
-
The Lucius Barbour House.
-
The Batterson Block.
-
Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue.
-
South Church, part of the Buckingham Square District.
-
Building at 136-138 Collins Street.
-
Building at 142 Collins Street.
-
Building at 83-85 Sigourney Street.
-
The Bulkeley Bridge over the Connecticut River.
-
The Amos Bull House.
-
The Butler-McCook Homestead.
-
The Capewell Horse Nail Company building.
-
The Charter Oak Bank Building.
-
Buildings on Charter Oak Place.
-
The Cheney Building.
-
Chevry Lomday Mishnayes Synagogue.
-
The Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House.
-
Buildings in the Collins and Townley Streets District.
-
The Connecticut State Library and Supreme Court Building.
-
The Day House, also known as the Chamberlin-Burr Day House.
-
The Calvin Day House.
-
The Dillon Building.
-
Main Street in the Downtown North Historic District.
-
The Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company building, part of the Elm Street Historic District.
-
Engine Company 1 Fire Station.
-
Engine Company 15 Fire Station.
-
Engine Company 6 Fire Station.
-
Engine Company 9 Fire Station.
-
First Church of Christ and the Ancient Burying Ground.
-
The First National Bank Building.
-
Footguard Hall.
-
Fourth Congregational Church.
-
The Goodwin Block.
-
The Hartford Club.
-
A view from the Hartford Golf Club Historic District.
-
The Hartford Seminary Foundation.
-
A building in the High Street Historic District.
-
The House at 36 Forest Street.
-
The Hyde-St. John House.
-
The Isham-Terry House.
-
The Jefferson-Seymour District.
-
The Judd and Root Building.
-
Keney Tower.
-
A street view in the Laurel and Marshall Streets District.
-
Buildings in the Lewis Street Block.
-
The William L. Linke House.
-
The Lyman House.
-
The Travelers Tower, part of Main Street Historic District No. 2.
-
Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
-
The Municipal Building.
-
The Myers and Gross Building.
-
A building in the Nook Farm and Woodland Street District.
-
Northam Memorial Chapel and Gallup Memorial Gateway.
-
Old North Cemetery.
-
The Perkins-Clark House.
-
The Polish National Home.
-
A building in the Pratt Street Historic District.
-
A street view in the Prospect Avenue Historic District.
-
Saint Anthony Hall.
-
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church.
-
Second Church of Christ.
-
Sigourney Square Park.
-
The Spencer House.
-
An American Elm Tree at Spring Grove Cemetery.
-
The Stackpole, Moore, and Tryon Building.
-
The State Arsenal and Armory.
-
The Stone Bridge.
-
Temple Beth Israel.
-
The William R. Cotter Federal Building.
-
Union Baptist Church.
-
Vine Street Apartment Buildings.
-
The Watkinson Juvenile Asylum and Farm School.
-
The Webster Memorial Building.
-
A street view in the West End North Historic District.
-
A street view in the West End South Historic District.
-
The Widows' Home.
-
The Windsor Avenue Congregational Church.
.jpg)
Former Listings
Some properties were once on the National Register but have since been removed.
- Capitol Building (402-418 Asylum St.): This building was removed from the list on December 21, 1989. However, it is now part of the High Street Historic District, which is still on the list.
