Connecticut's Old State House

Summer Concert Series: KC Sisters
2022-09-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | CT
TODAY: KC Sisters …
The Casey sisters have music in their DNA. The girls were raised by two musicians and introduced to multiple genres of music from rock & roll, country, gospel, folk, R&B and jazz. Aside from their A cappella voices that harmonize on their repertoire of selections, each girl plays multiple instruments including the piano, guitar, violin, bass, cello and drums.Visit the KC Sisters website
Hear a sample of the KC Sisters music
Join us for our annual FREE Summer Concert Series! Stop by every Friday at lunchtime to hear a different band play each week on the west side of Connecticut’s Old State House. Bring your lunch and enjoy the music! Concerts begin at noon and will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
#kcsisters #rock #country #summerconcertseries

Voter Registration Day: Free Admission Today
2022-09-20 12:00 - 16:00
Stop by Connecticut’s Old State House on National Voter Registration Day, verify your voter registration status or register to vote, and visit the museum for FREE!
Look for our tents and balloons outdoors on the Main Street side of Connecticut’s Old State House, and verify your voter registration or register to vote anytime between noon and 4:00 pm, ﻿
Free admission is available only to those who stop by the voter registration tent. Hours are noon to 5pm, with the last admission ticket available at 4pm.

Amistad: Facts and Fictions of Slavery in Film
2022-09-20 19:00 - 20:00
In-person event: Join our panel of experts to discuss the historic saga of the African captives who rebelled onboard the Spanish ship La Amistad in 1839, and discover what is fact and what is fiction.
The story of the Amistad is part of the canon in the history of abolition. It tells the saga of 53 African captives who rebelled while onboard La Amistad and went on to win their freedom through the American courts. These events have been adapted to many fictional mediums, including Steven Spielberg’s 1997 eponymous film. While this film might be the first encounter most people have with the Amistad, there is much more to the story than what we see on screen. Our speakers include Dr. Dexter Gabriel, professor at the UConn Department of History and expert on the subject of slavery in popular culture, Dr. Dann j. Broyld, professor of African American History at UMass Lowell, and Dr. Jorge Felipe-González, professor of history at University of Texas San Antonio.
Join us for a deep dive discussion about the significance of the Amistad case in the history of slave resistance and abolition, the Spielberg film’s strengths and shortcomings as a representation of the story, and the role of such fictionalized accounts.
This program is co-sponsored by El Instituto, UConn’s Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies, and the Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House
Please register here

Evangelical Empire: Hartford’s Book Publishing Industry, 1795-1835
2022-09-22 17:45 - 19:00
Join us to hear historian William Hosley speak about Hartford’s historic popularity with book publishers.
The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival in the United States from about 1795 to 1835, increasing membership and stimulating several social and moral reforms, including temperance, the emancipation of women, and anti-slavery. The so-called “Evangelical Empire” was centered in Hartford through the Connecticut Missionary Society and various and sundry other tract producers. Religious book publishing earned Hartford prominence in the rapidly evolving publishing industry. Mark Twain was actually attracted to Hartford because of the publishing industry.
This Hartford History Series event is produced in collaboration with Capital Community College.Please register here: https://bit.ly/2022HHS

Connecticut's Old State House Farmers Market
2022-09-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-09-30 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-10-07 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-10-14 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-10-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-10-28 10:00 - 14:00
Stop by Connecticut’s Old State House Farmers Market every Friday from 10am to 2pm between July 1st and October 28th .
In 1643, the General Court of Connecticut established a weekly Market to be held in Hartford. Come shop local and visit the current Farmers Market, established in 2011 with that original Market in mind. Our goal is to offer a variety of products from as many farmers and artisan vendors as possible. We are committed to offering a vibrant marketplace in downtown Hartford where local farmers and artisans can enjoy coming together with the community to share the best of what Connecticut has to offer. The Old State House Farmers Market runs from late spring through mid-fall, ensuring that our patrons enjoy the ultimate in seasonal variety for many months of the year!
NEW THIS YEAR: SNAP ACCEPTED
For the first time, Connecticut’s Old State House Farmers Market will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) tokens. Simply bring your EBT card to the table with the sign that says “SNAP/EBT Accepted Here”. The Market Manager will swipe your card for the amount that you want.
VISIT US
Connecticut’s Old State House Farmers Market, located in bustling and historic downtown Hartford, provides local workers and city residents with access to farm fresh produce and the opportunity to experience a bit of country atmosphere right in the heart of the city! Featuring Connecticut Grown farmers, crafters, and lively music, shoppers at the Farmers Market can feel good knowing that they are supporting local agriculture and helping to build the local economy.
Connecticut’s Old State House Farmers Market is located at 800 Main Street in Hartford, on the East brick plaza near the lawn, within the wrought iron fence surrounding Connecticut’s Old State House. We are conveniently located on the city bus route and are within a few blocks of free DASH shuttle service stops. Metered parking is available on nearby side streets, and Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking for the State House Square Garage at 55 Market Street, which reduces your cost to a flat $5 fee when you exit the garage.
While you’re here, make a trip inside Connecticut’s Old State House. Visit our restored historic Senate and House chambers, learn the stories of famous Connecticut residents, discover Connecticut’s role in history and explore our unique Museum of Curiosities. Walk the halls, hear the stories, be inspired! Connecticut’s Old State House is open from noon to 5:00 pm, with the last admission at 4:00 pm.

#farmersmarket

Summer Concert Series: The Meadows Brothers
2022-09-23 12:00 - 13:00
TODAY: The Meadows Brothers …
Come enjoy some homegrown, folked up, countrified, rocknrolled roots music!
Visit The Meadows Brothers website
Hear a sample of The Meadows Brothers music
Join us for our annual FREE Summer Concert Series! Stop by every Friday at lunchtime to hear a different band play each week on the west side of Connecticut’s Old State House. Bring your lunch and enjoy the music! Concerts begin at noon and will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
#folk #country #summerconcertseries

Rochambeau Day Celebration
2022-09-24 11:30 - 12:30
Join the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard and Connecticut’s Old State House for a ceremony commemorating the French-American alliance during the American Revolution. In 1780, General George Washington met General Rochambeau on the grounds where Connecticut’s Old State House now stands.
Following the ceremony, audience members are invited to take a guided tour of Connecticut’s Old State House and view a portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart as well as the traveling banner exhibit “The American Revolution: Artifacts and Stories from Across Connecticut” from Connecticut Historical Society.

Conversations at Noon: Battleground for Freedom - Middletown's "Beman Triangle" and Connecticut Abolitionism
2022-09-27 12:00 - 13:00
Online event … Join our guest speaker, Jesse Nasta, Executive Director of the Middlesex County Historical Society in Middletown and Wesleyan University professor of African American Studies, for an exciting look into the hidden history of the Leverett Beman Historic District, or “Beman Triangle”.
Beginning in the 1820s, free people of color in Middletown established one of the first independent Black churches and neighborhoods in Connecticut, among the first in New England. Their AME Zion Church, which will celebrate its bicentennial in 2023, became a center of African American community, abolitionism, and everyday resistance to white supremacy here in Connecticut. In this talk, Jesse Nasta will detail the history of Middletown’s remarkable African American Beman Triangle community, as well as connect this neighborhood’s story to statewide, regional, and even national Black activist networks for freedom and equality during the four decades before the Civil War.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/CFTBemanTriangle
FB page: https://fb.me/e/3xwSdhQ0u

Rev. James W. C. Pennington: A National and Local Voice for Freedom
2022-09-29 17:45 - 19:00
Join us to hear Dr. Stacy Close discuss the life of the Reverend James W.C. Pennington, educator and pastor of the Talcott Street church in the 1840s and 1850s, with an emphasis on his impact as a leader of the Black community in Hartford and the context of national events and the abolition movement.
This Hartford History Series event is produced in collaboration with Capital Community College.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/2022HHS

Summer Concert Series: Nekita Waller
2022-09-30 12:00 - 13:00
TODAY: Nekita Waller …
Come hear singer, songwriter and State Troubador of Connecticut, Nekita Waller. Nekita performs throughout the region bringing a mix of pop, Motown, soul, Jazz and classic rock favorites with original music.
Visit Nekita Waller’s website
Hear a sample of Nekita Waller’s music
Join us for our annual FREE Summer Concert Series! Stop by every Friday at lunchtime to hear a different band play each week on the west side of Connecticut’s Old State House. Bring your lunch and enjoy the music! Concerts begin at noon and will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
#nekitawaller #jazz #summerconcertseries

ENCOUNTERS: The Constitution of Connecticut
2022-10-01 10:00 - 12:00
Explore the concept of ‘Constitution’ through a look into Connecticut’s constitutional history.
Our state is known by many names, including the Nutmeg State and the Land of Steady Habits. But its official nickname is, of course, the Constitution State.
From the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which some historians argue was the first American constitution, to the current state constitution passed in 1965, Connecticut has had many different documents serve as the basis of our state government. They define the powers and limits of elected officials, establish how new laws are made, and list the basic rights of all citizens.
But what constitutes a constitution? How do constitutions affect the daily lives of citizens? What fundamental principles does a constitution need to meet to be legitimate? Join us for an informed and collaborative exploration of these critical and fascinating questions!
Please register here

Ann Plato of Hartford: Pioneering Black Writer
2022-10-06 17:45 - 19:00
Stranger in a Strange Land: Ann Plato’s Strategy for Autonomy as Evidenced in Essays; Including Biographies and Miscellaneous Pieces, in Prose and PoetryJoin Antoinette Brim-Bell for a fascinating discussion about Ann Plato, who in 1841 became the fist African American writer to publish a collection of essays. When scrutinized through a white canonical literary lens or juxtaposed with accepted African American authors, her work is generally criticized for being derivative and of “little literary merit,” rendering Plato a footnote in history. This presentation will explore Ann Plato’s literature against this assessment, situating the publication of essays as a treatise that strategically optimizes the author’s opportunity for social and physical mobility.
This Hartford History Series event is produced in collaboration with Capital Community College. Please register here: https://bit.ly/2022HHS

Summer Concert Series: Band of Steady Habits
2022-10-07 12:00 - 13:00
TODAY: The Band of Steady Habits …
The acoustic Band of Steady Habits came together in 2014 to share their love of music, and to use their talents to help create a new kind of public history presentation. Rachel Smith, Teagan Smith, Jeremy Teitelbaum, Walt Woodward, and Duke York use banjo, guitars, violin, recorders, bass, percussion, and beautiful harmonies to perform songs – some old, some original, and some contemporary – to accompany the visually rich and evocative stories of state historian Walt Woodward. The stories provide new insights and perspectives into topics ranging from the Civil War, to the uniqueness of Connecticut, to the poetry of Robert Frost. Band of Steady Habits performances have received rave reviews in venues throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and are gaining them fans both for their stories and music.
Visit the band’s website
Join us for our annual FREE Summer Concert Series! Stop by every Friday at lunchtime to hear a different band play each week on the west side of Connecticut’s Old State House. Bring your lunch and enjoy the music! Concerts begin at noon and will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
#bosh #bandofsteadyhabits #summerconcertseries

CT's Old State House Election Series: The Logistics of Elections
2022-10-13 12:00 - 13:00
Our panel of experts explains the logistics of elections in the state of Connecticut.
Featuring:
Moderator: Laura Smits – President, League of Women VotersPanelists:Ted Bromley – Director of Elections at Secretary of the State’s OfficeMichael J. Brandi – Executive Director and General Counsel at State Elections Enforcement CommissionAlex Russell – UConn Professor and Director at the Center for Voting Technology Research

Untangling the Tally: The Logistics of Elections
2022-10-13 12:00 - 13:00
Untangling the Tally: Take a deep dive into how modern elections work and the various ways citizens engage with this core system of democracy. This series aims to untangle the logistics of elections, the role of technology and news coverage during elections, and the challenges faced by electors today to help build trust in their ability to participate in our government with confidence.
It’s Election Day! Time to head to the polls to cast our votes. But what happens to our ballots once we hand them in? In fact, how do the ballots even get to our local polling places? And how are all the ballots from all across the state counted? Election Day is a large, complicated event. It takes months of planning and coordination between state and local governments to pull it off. Who is involved in these logistics? And most importantly, how do we make sure nothing goes wrong?
Join our panel of experts: Ted Bromley, Director of Elections at the Secretary of the State’s Office; Michael J. Brandi, Exec. Dir. and Gen. Counsel of the State Elections Enforcement Commission; Alex Russell, UConn Prof and Director at the Center for Voting Technology Research; and Lauren Olson, Town of Ashford Registrar of Voters, as they discuss the logistics of elections, how the state works together with town clerks and poll workers, and all the measures taken to ensure the election is safe. Moderated by Laura Smits, President of CT’s League of Women Voters.
Speakers:
Ted Bromley (CT), Director of Elections SOTS Office, for the planning, automatic and requested recounts, post election auditing, etc.
Michael J. Brandi (CT), Executive Director and General Counsel of the State Elections Enforcement Commission, for the checks that exist to protect from fraud
Alex Russell (CT), UConn Prof and Director at the Center for Voting Technology Research, for the safeguards in the technology
Lauren Olson, Registrar of Voters, Town of Ashford
Laura Smits (CT), President League of Women Voters of CT – moderator
For more information: https://ctdemocracycenter.org/tally/
Please register here: https://bit.ly/UntanglingTheTally2022

Justice & Faith Hartford Walking Tour
2022-10-15 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a special walking tour around Hartford’s East side exploring the stories of historic activists who once lived and thrived in the neighborhood.
For almost two hundred years, African Americans — both enslaved and free — maintained a vital community on Hartford’s East side. Most of these extraordinary men and women were associated with Talcott Street Congregational, the city’s first Black church. It provided a safe haven and a center of activism for the primary moral and political issues of the day. The “Justice & Faith” walking tour introduces participants to these fascinating figures and uncovers previously unknown stories that are relevant to our times.
Meet at the Main Street side of Connecticut’s Old State House. Please register here:https://bit.ly/2022HHS

Untangling the Tally: Media and Elections
2022-10-20 12:00 - 13:00
Untangling the Tally: Take a deep dive into how modern elections work and the various ways citizens engage with this core system of democracy. This series aims to untangle the logistics of elections, the role of technology and news coverage during elections, and the challenges faced by electors today to help build trust in their ability to participate in our government with confidence.
The media plays a fundamental role in any democracy, and all eyes are on the news on Election Day. From traditional news anchors, to independent reporters on Twitter, we have minute to minute election updates available right at our fingertips. But this overabundance of information can easily lead to confusion, misinformation, and the creation of echo chambers.
Join our panel of experts: Mara Suttmann-Lea, Asst. Prof. of American Politics at Connecticut College; Christine Stuart, Editor at CT News Junkie; Belinha de Abreu, President of the International Council for Media Literacy; and Mercy A. Quaye, Founder & President of The Narrative Project, who will discuss the role of news coverage and social media on Election day and the days leading up to it, and how we can protect ourselves from disinformation and find trustworthy sources. Moderated by Anita Ford-Saunders, Communication Strategist.
Speakers:
Anita Ford Saunders, Communications Strategist– moderator
Mara Suttman-Lea, Assistant Professor of American Politics at the Department of Government and International Relations at Connecticut College
Christine Stuart, CT News Junkie
Belinha de Abreu, Media Literacy Educator & Author
Mercy A. Quaye, Founder & President, The Narrative Project
For more information: https://ctdemocracycenter.org/tally/Please register here: https://bit.ly/UntanglingTheTally2022

ENCOUNTERS: The Global Reach of the Local Talcott Church
2022-10-22 10:00 - 12:00
Encounters is a moderated discussion around a set of short readings on a challenging topic. Participants sit in table groups of 8-10 and are led through a round of discussions by a table moderator. Experts are on hand to share facts and to answer questions. Catered food creates a comfortable, community atmosphere.
This guided community conversation, led by Dr Fiona Vernal, will use the Mars family as a lens for exploring how the congregants of Talcott Street Church cast their advocacy far and wide and weighed in on the emigration debates. This allows us insight into the wider network of the Mars family—particularly, Elizabeth Mars and her years of service in Liberia. It will also allow us to understand the relationship between the Connecticut Colonization society, the Hartford Female African Society, and the Charitable Society in the African Sunday School. These are important lenses for understanding the Christian missionary impulse in the Talcott Church as well as the role of black women as organizers and leaders. Hartford participated in the “The African Mission School” established at Trinity College, which was described as a “short-lived effort on behalf of Connecticut Episcopalians to develop a black leadership for the church in Liberia.”Please register here: https://bit.ly/2022HHS

Conversations at Noon: The Legacy of James L. Smith
2022-10-25 12:00 - 13:00
Join Regan Miner, Executive Director of the Norwich Historical Society, and Sandra Soucy, retired Social Studies teacher from the Norwich Free Academy and Norwich Historical Society Board Member, as they explore the legacy of former slave James L. Smith.
Born on a Virginia plantation, Smith escaped slavery in 1838 with the help of Norwich’s David Ruggles, a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad in New York City. Smith came to Norwich, bought a house on School Street in 1845 and worked downtown as a shoemaker. Smith is a powerful and inspirational example of how an escaped slave traveled north for his freedom and how settling in Norwich, Connecticut changed his life. His 1881 autobiography remains an important first hand account of the era.
Take a deep dive into Smith’s life and explore the multi-faceted nature of this story of slavery, racial issues, education, political history, and religion.
Please register here

Untangling the Tally: Barriers to Voting
2022-10-27 12:00 - 13:00
Untangling the Tally: Take a deep dive into how modern elections work and the various ways citizens engage with this core system of democracy. This series aims to untangle the logistics of elections, the role of technology and news coverage during elections, and the challenges faced by electors today to help build trust in their ability to participate in our government with confidence.
Elections have changed through the decades, but one thing has always remained the same: voting is not easy for everyone. For many eligible voters, it is actually near impossible. Issues of accessibility, convenience, transportation, time constraints, and a slew of other complications have always plagued Election Day. And the reasons so many citizens can’t make it to the polls, or choose not to go at all, go beyond just physical barriers.
Join our panel of experts: Yanidsi Vélez, Hispanic Federation CT State Director; Steven Hernandez, Executive Director of the General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, Equity and Opportunity; Doris Maldonado, CT Council on Developmental Disabilities Chair, and Joe Goldman, Civics Teacher, E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield, as they discuss the barriers that many citizens face to have their votes counted on Election Day. Moderated by Val Ramos, Director of Strategic Alliances at Everyday Democracy.
Speakers:
Val Ramos, Everyday Democracy, moderator
Yanidsi Vélez, CT State Director, Hispanic Federation
Steven Hernandez, Executive Director GA’s Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
Doris Maldonado, Chair, CT Council on Developmental Disabilities

Joe Goldman, Civics Teacher, E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield
For more information: https://ctdemocracycenter.org/tally/Please register here: https://bit.ly/UntanglingTheTally2022

2022 Election Cake Bake Off
2022-11-05 13:00 - 15:00
On Saturday, November 5 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Connecticut’s Old State House in Hartford will host its first in-person Election Cake Bake-Off, a competition featuring entries from professional bakers and pastry chefs from across the state.
Inspired by the Early American custom of celebrating Election Day with the traditional Hartford Election Cake, this festive Bake-Off invites chefs to submit their modern interpretation of the traditional spice cake, which will be judged on taste and creativity of decoration.
This year’s judging panel includes Stephanie Webster, founder of the foodie website CTBites, food blogger David Milton of @thedamgram on Instagram, the sous chef of Sift Bakery in Mystic, former Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, and 2022 Connecticut Kid Governor Makhi Ettienne-Modeste.
The public is invited to view the judging and participate in election-themed festivities throughout the building. Guided tours will also be available for visitors who would like to see the restored National Historic Landmark which once housed all three branches of Connecticut’s state government.

Untangling the Tally: Post-Election Conversation with Voters
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:00
Untangling the Tally: Take a deep dive into how modern elections work and the various ways citizens engage with this core system of democracy. This series aims to untangle the logistics of elections, the role of technology and news coverage during elections, and the challenges faced by electors today to help build trust in their ability to participate in our government with confidence. For more information: https://ctdemocracycenter.org/tally/More details to come. Please register here: https://bit.ly/UntanglingTheTally2022

Conversations at Noon: Witness Stones Project: Telling the Stories of the Enslaved Across Connecticut
2022-11-22 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for a gripping presentation on the work and research being done to honor the humanity of the enslaved across Connecticut through the Witness Stones Project. Dennis Culliton, Founder and Executive Director of the Witness Stones Project, will discuss how to examine the history of slavery in Connecticut, where we can find the evidence of slavery, and how the history of slavery is brought to the classroom to empower students to write these stories in their communities through the Witness Stones Project. He will also share the successes of the project and how it can be brought to local communities.
Please register here

A Year in Review on The Connecticut Freedom Trail
2022-12-06 12:00 - 13:00
Join CT Freedom Trail Outreach Director Tammy Denease, CT Freedom Trail Chairman Charles Warner, and CT Freedom Trail Coordinator Todd Levine for a retrospective look at the growth and progress on the trail in 2022. More details to come
