Documentary Film Screening of "The American Constitution: 1787"
2024-08-29 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
What really happened at the Constitutional Convention? Join us for a free screening of David Garrigus’ documentary film THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION: 1787. Hear leading authors and historians reveal the story of the U.S. Constitution’s creation. Watch accomplished actors bring the words of the Framers of the American Constitution to life—in the room where it happened!
The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times, but the original 1787 document still dictates the dynamics of federal and state governments in ways that most Americans don’t fully understand. The 1787 Constitution is arguably at the core of everything that is great about American democracy, but democracy only work swell when citizens understand how government works.
1787 promises to entertain while providing a deeper understanding of America’s essential history. Don’ t miss the unique opportunity to revisit history in a historic place like Connecticut’s Old State House and discover the dramatic tale of high-stakes compromise that created the foundation for American democracy.
College and high school students are encouraged to join us. The screening will be followed by a 30-minute video chat with filmmaker, David Garrigus. Movie runtime is 96minutes. Light refreshments will be served.
To reserve your seat, click here:https://bit.ly/1787Documentary

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-08-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

August 30: Ali Kat and the Revelators
September 6: Nekita Waller
September 13: Cherry Pie Band
September 20: Los Super GS
September 27: Sean O’Reily
Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

A Night at the Public House: We Love You Lafayette!
2024-09-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
Featuring:

A Lafayette re-enactor

Lecture and musical performance about Lafayette with local historians Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle.

Lafayette Exhibit, sponsored by the American Friends of Lafayette

It’s time to welcome General Lafayette back to Hartford! Connecticut’s Old State House, in partnership with the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, has a fun-filled evening planned to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Hartford on September 4, 1824, when he stopped at the Connecticut State House.
Born into one of France’s oldest families the Marqus de Lafayette was an ardent believer in the ideals now enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. After ignoring orders from King Louis XVI to stay in France, the 19-year-old arrived on America’s shores in 1777 eager to prove himself in battle until the British surrender. During the war, he developed a close friendship with George Washington.
In 1824, in an effort to rekindle the spirit of 1776, President James Monroe and Congress invited the last living major general of the war, to visit the “adopted country of your early youth, which has always preserved the most grateful recollection of your important services.”
Today, known as Connecticut’s Old State House, the1796 Federal-style building designed by Charles Bulfinch is a museum. Two hundred years after Lafayette first stepped into the building, he will return to the Old State House and you are invited to have a drink with the General himself, when the Museum is turned into an old-fashioned public house fora A Night at the Public House: We Love You Lafayette!. In addition,
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Seating is limited, RSVP here: https://bit.ly/ctoshlafayette
Parking:Garage parking is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street, just steps away
Free on-street parking is available after 6 pm and on weekends. Please follow posted parking instructions.
Our Doors Are Open:Connecticut’s Old State House is committed to ensuring all visitors have access to this historic site. Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms on the ground floor are also accessible and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Hartford Live Concert Featuring Max Creek
2024-09-05 17:00 - 21:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment are pleased to present:
2024 Hartford Live
Max CreekThursday, September 5
This concert is free. No tickets required.
Parking options here: https://hartford.com/parking/Visit https://hartfordlivect.com/ for more information
ABOUT THE BAND:
Max Creek is an American rock band formedin Hartford, Connecticut in 1971. A significant presence in the New Englandmusic scene, Max Creek is known as a pioneering “jam band.” Their first big show was at Arlo Guthrie’sMapleview Ballroom in Washington. They soon settled into a steady series ofshows at the Rocking Horse in Hartford when the social consciousness scene wastaking hold as Woodstock was still fresh in everyone’s minds. They went on to stylisticallyadopt the Country/Folk/Rock genre as their own and discovered that “jamming” –taking tunes into unplanned directions – was more fun than doing them the sameway every night.
For over fifty years they have regularlyperformed at various iconic venues and music festivals, showcasing their liveperformances. Members of Max Creek have collaborated with and opened forrenowned acts such as Leon Russell, The Allman Brothers Band, Phish, BruceHornsby, The Band, Talking Heads, and Grateful Dead. For more information, visit https://maxcreek.com/
ABOUT HARTFORD LIVE:
Hartford Live is returning for 2024! The free concert series, representing a multi-year partnership between the City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment, will bring a mix of nationally touring and local acts to Connecticut’s Old State House in Downtown Hartford. Hartford Live events will take place on six Thursday evenings from 5-9 pm throughout August and September. The shows are all free with no ticket required for entry. Concert-goers can expect a variety food trucks and the Hartford Live Beer Garden will offer samples and sales of local craft beer, wine, canned and other ready-to-drink cocktails! Be sure to follow @hartfordlive and @goodworkslive on social media for updates.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

Eggy – Thursday, September 12
Artist TBA – Thursday, September 19

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

September 6: Nekita Waller
September 13: Cherry Pie Band
September 20: Los Super GS
September 27: Sean O’Reily
Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Hartford Live Concert Featuring Eggy
2024-09-12 17:00 - 21:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment are pleased to present:
2024 Hartford Live
EggyThursday, September 12
This concert is free. No tickets required.
Parking options here: https://hartford.com/parking/Visit https://hartfordlivect.com/ for more information
ABOUT THE BAND:
A four-piece jam band out of Woodbridge, Connecticut, Eggy blossomed from a high school dream into a full-fledged reality beginning in 2016. Following the release of their2019 debut record, Watercolor Days, the band has toured constantly, performing in over 40 states. Eggy’s music is the ideal synthesis of traditional and contemporary styles, with a sound that exudes soul and rhythm. Smooth voices, groovy basslines, and contagious rhythms trace the full spectrum of emotions, evoked by a life well-lived alongside friends well-loved. For more information, visit https://eggymusic.com/
ABOUT HARTFORD LIVE:
Hartford Live is returning for 2024! The free concert series, representing a multi-year partnership between the City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment, will bring a mix of nationally touring and local acts to Connecticut’s Old State House in Downtown Hartford. Hartford Live events will take place on six Thursday evenings from 5-9 pm throughout August and September. The shows are all free with no ticket required for entry. Concert-goers can expect a variety food trucks and the Hartford Live Beer Garden will offer samples and sales of local craft beer, wine, canned and other ready-to-drink cocktails! Be sure to follow @hartfordlive and @goodworkslive on social media for updates.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

Artist TBA – Thursday, September 19

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-09-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

September 13: Cherry Pie Band
September 20: Los Super GS
September 27: Sean O’Reily
Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Fires, Floods, and Acts of God: A Downtown Hartford Walking Tour
2024-09-14 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-09-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
What a Disaster! Take to the streets for a unique walking tour centered on man-made and natural disasters that made history in Hartford. Join us on a 1.2-mile loop to hear compelling stories of ingenuity, resilience, and innovation and see how Downtown Hartford has grown.
The tour was start from inside Connecticut’s Old State House by the Visitor Desk at 6 pm on Thursdays and at 10 am on Saturdays. The tour will take place rain or shine, so please come prepared for the weather! The tour will last approximately one hour and is about 1 mile long with the potential for some stairs – weather and river flooding depending.
For more information, please call us at 860.240.5340 or email Nicole Sousa, Events and Outreach Manager, at nicole.sousa@cga.ct.gov.
To register, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VzJRfD7EJtgKYG-HtEWXB5U50WxK7ZmIQ3yC5gpXoWU/edit

Hartford Live Concert - featuring Real Estate
2024-09-19 17:00 - 21:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment are pleased to present:
2024 Hartford Live
Real EstateThursday, September 19
This concert is free. No tickets required.
Parking options here: https://hartford.com/parking/Visit https://hartfordlivect.com/ for more information
ABOUT THE BAND:
Real Estate is an American indie rock band from Ridgewood,New Jersey, United States, formed in 2008. Founding members Martin Courtney(vocals, guitar), Alex Bleeker (bass, vocals), Matt Kallman (keyboards) werechildhood friends who were influenced by indie bands like Weezer, Pavement, ThePixies and The Feelies. The band iscurrently based in Brooklyn and recently released their 6th studio album entitledDaniel. The album was produced by DanielTashian. For more about the band, visit https://www.realestatetheband.com/
ABOUT HARTFORD LIVE:
Hartford Live is returning for 2024! The free concert series, representing a multi-year partnership between the City of Hartford and GoodWorks Entertainment, will bring a mix of nationally touring and local acts to Connecticut’s Old State House in Downtown Hartford. Hartford Live events will take place on six Thursday evenings from 5-9 pm throughout August and September. The shows are all free with no ticket required for entry. Concert-goers can expect a variety food trucks and the Hartford Live Beer Garden will offer samples and sales of local craft beer, wine, canned and other ready-to-drink cocktails! Be sure to follow @hartfordlive and @goodworkslive on social media for updates.

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-09-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

September 20: Los Super GS
September 27: Sean O’Reily
Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Finding Common Ground: A Nonpartisan Conversation with Former Members of Congress
2024-09-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
With special guests:

Former Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) California’s 46th Congressional District
Former Rep. Fred Upton (R) Michigan’s 6th Congressional District
Join us at Connecticut’s Old State House for an insightful conversation with former U.S. Representatives Loretta Sanchez (D) from California’s 46th Congressional District, and Fred Upton (R) from Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, as they explore how to find common ground across party lines in this contentious election year. With their extensive experience in policy making, Sanchez and Upton will share their perspectives on overcoming political polarization, fostering constructive dialogue, and working together for the common good.
This conversation will provide valuable insights into how lawmakers and voters can bridge divides and collaborate effectively amidst a highly charged political climate. The panel will be followed by timed round table discussions with the audience where all can participate and share their experience in finding common ground. Light refreshments will be served. This program is done in partnership with The Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn, the Hartford Votes/Vota Coalition, and the CT League of Women Voters, .
RSVP: https://forms.gle/ZXGXzs5udupYh49CA
Discounted Parking:
On street parking is available. Garage parking for $5 is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street, just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.
Our Doors Are Open:
Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms on the ground floor are also accessible and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-09-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

September 27: Sean O’Reily
Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Hartford History Lecture Series "William Saunders & His World: The History of a Black Merchant Tailor in Hartford"
2024-10-03 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
FEATURING:
Dr. Fiona Vernal, UConn History Department
For three generations, the Saunders family operated a successful and innovative tailor business in the city of Hartford, eventually establishing a reputation as Black merchant tailors with deep ties in Hartford’s Black and white communities. Their network stretched from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York to Barbados and France. This talk will explore William Saunders and the significance of his lineage and legacy for understanding Black entrepreneurship, social justice, civic engagement, and political activism in 19th and 20th century Hartford.
This event is FREE and open to the public
For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.
To reserve your seat, click here: https://bit.ly/HartfordHistory2024
ABOUT THE HARTFORD HISTORY LECTURE SERIES
Connecticut State Community College Capital and Connecticut’s Old State House are pleased to present the 2024 Hartford History Lecture Series beginning in October. Building upon Connecticut State Community College Capital’s signature Hartford Heritage Project, the first place-based curriculum at a Connecticut college or university, underscores the importance of Hartford’s history and rich cultural resources. The series includes four lectures on Thursday evenings at Connecticut’s Old State House and a walking tour on Saturday, October 12.
The 2024 Hartford History Lecture series is supported by funding through CT Humanities in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission. Special thanks to our partners at the Hartford Heritage Project and UCONN Department of History.

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-10-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

Oct 4: Gift Horse
October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Historic Firsts: The 2024 Presidential Election
2024-10-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
With guest speakers:
Evelyn M. Simien, Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Africana Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut
Manisha Sinha, James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut.
Chris Vials, Professor of English at the University of Connecticut
What is the significance of the Nov. 6, 2024 election in US history and politics? What should voters pay attention to as they vote? Three distinguished professors from the University of Connecticut will discuss these issues and answer questions about the upcoming election.
Sponsored by the UConn American Studies Program, the Department of Critical and Social Inquiry
RSVP: https://forms.gle/nB1tDSDQEP4d89db8
Discounted Parking:On street parking is available. Garage parking for $5 is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street, just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.
Our Doors Are Open:Connecticut’s Old State House is committed to ensuring all visitors have access to this historic site. Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms on the ground floor are also accessible and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Hartford History Lecture Series "Hot Summers in the City: Hartford’s Urban Unrest, 1967-1969"
2024-10-10 17:45 - 19:45 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
FEATURING

Elena Rosario, PhD Candidate, University of Michigan
In the 1960s, protests, demonstrations, and rebellions were widespread across the United States, including in many Connecticut cities. This lecture will focus on a series of late-sixties civil disorders organized by Hartford residents of color from 1967 to 1969. It will also highlight the causes, aftermath, and impact of the unrest on the city and its residents. Moreover, it will examine the unrest by highlighting Puerto Rican participation and coalition building between Hartford’s Black and Puerto Rican residents during the unrest.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.
To register, click here: https://bit.ly/HartfordHistory2024
The 2024 Hartford History Lecture series is supported by funding through CT Humanities in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission. Special thanks to our partners at the Hartford Heritage Project and UCONN Department of History.

Summer Music Series Concert at CT's Old State House
2024-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
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 patio 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.
Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:

October 11: Projeto Batucada boa Eua

Hartford History Lecture Series: Tracing the Footsteps of Hartford's First Black Church Walking Tour
2024-10-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Center Church, 675 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
*Tour will start at Center Church (675 Main St.)
Tracing the Footsteps of Hartford’s First Black Church will begin at Center Church at 10 am with a presentation inside the church by members of the church’s history team. This will allow participants to learn about the genesis of the Talcott Street Church congregation in the place where it was founded as the African Religious Society in 1819, as told from the church’s perspective.
We will then walk to CT’s Old State House to learn from an interpreter there about the engagement of the Reverend James Pennington and the Talcott Church congregation in the Amistad Trial. Next we will visit the site where the Talcott Church stood from 1826 to 1954 before it was torn down and the congregation moved to Faith Congregational Church; members of Faith will present the story of their church in the now empty space where the church once stood on the corner of Talcott and Market Streets. The tour will end at CT State Capital’s Nutmeg Pulpit Exhibit, created by Dr. Frank Mitchell to bring the voices of the people of Talcott Street church out of the shadows of history to be heard and read once again.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.
To reserve your spot, click here: https://bit.ly/HartfordHistory2024

Voices of Freedom at Connecticut's Old State House
2024-10-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring poets Bessy Reyna and Kate Rushin
The Mount Holyoke Club of Hartford and Connecticut’s Old State House are pleased to present a dramatic reading of Bessy Reyna’s poem Freedom Journeys in Four Voices. Bessy’s poem tells the story of Nancy Jackson, the young slave woman granted her freedom in 1837 by the Supreme Court of Errors at Connecticut’s Old State House. Kate Rushin will also read her poetry celebrating the life of Marian Anderson, an opera singer and civil rights pioneer who lived in Danbury for more than 50 years.
This event is free and open to the public.
Parking:
On-street parking is available. Please follow posted parking instructions.
Garage parking is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street
Our Doors Are Open:
Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms are on the ground floor and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Hartford History Lecture Series "A Black Ecological Return to Charter Oak Terrace"
2024-10-17 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
FEATURING
Channon Miller, Assistant Professor of American Studies and History, Trinity College
As much as water protects, nourishes, and sustains Black children’s lives, it also restrains, suffocates, and degrades them. The residents of Hartford’s Charter Oak Terrace confronted a water-based ecological catastrophe in the 1960s. A flooding river—channeled by municipal neglect, class inequality, and racial segregation—drowned several children. The neighborhood’s mothers forged the Association of Concerned Parents of Charter Oak (ACP) and demanded that the city halt the nearby highway construction that propelled the river’s overflow. Dr. Miller will excavate the unwritten history of the Black women-led ACP and chronicle an early rendering of a local environmental justice movement.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.
To reserve your seat, click here: https://bit.ly/HartfordHistory2024
The 2024 Hartford History Lecture series is supported by funding through CT Humanities in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission. Special thanks to our partners at the Hartford Heritage Project and UCONN Department of History.

Hartford History Lecture Series "A Commitment to Caribbean History & Cultural Heritage in Hartford: Digitizing the Lloyd Best Archive in Trinidad and Tobago"
2024-10-24 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
FEATURING
Dr. Christina Bleyer, Watkinson Library, Trinity College
The Watkinson Library at Trinity College has partnered with the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean to digitize the Lloyd Best Archive. Using our project as an example, this presentation explores post-custodial archiving as a transformative approach to collecting, preserving, and providing access to archival materials, contrasting it with traditional archival practices rooted in colonial attitudes. It emphasizes digital technology’s role in preserving archives while respecting creators’ agency and community narratives.
Unlike traditional methods focused on physical possession and so-called “expert” interpretation, post-custodial archiving fosters collaborative, equitable partnerships. This model empowers communities to maintain intellectual and physical custody of their histories, ensuring accurate representation in the historical record. Post-custodial archiving promotes epistemic sovereignty, allowing marginalized voices to shape their own narratives within global archival frameworks making a deep commitment to the preservation and dissemination of Caribbean history and cultural heritage here in Hartford.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.
To reserve your seat, click here: https://bit.ly/HartfordHistory2024
The 2024 Hartford History Lecture series is supported by funding through CT Humanities in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission. Special thanks to our partners at the Hartford Heritage Project and UCONN Department of History.

Merchandising the Dead in 19th Century New England & Washington, D.C.
2024-10-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
Learn about the history of “body snatching” in the 19th century. Physicians teaching anatomy in New England medical schools expected students to have hands-on experience with cadavers. Yet the only legal access allowed were the bodies of convicted murders. This restriction led to a spike in demand. Doctors and their students turned to the illegal and illicit removal of the dead from graveyards and cemeteries. Find out more about this practice with author and historian Richard Ross III, whose extensive research reveals the religious, moral, and social objections during the time.
Parking:
Garage parking is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street, just steps away
Free on-street parking is available after 6 pm and on weekends. Please follow posted parking instructions.
Our Doors Are Open:
Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms are on the ground floor and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Connecticut's Old State House Third Annual Election Cake Bake Off
2024-11-02 12:00 - 15:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
It’s time for a celebration and some sweet competition! Join Connecticut’s Old State House on November 2 for the third annual Election Cake Bake Off. Historically, Election Day in Connecticut combined voting with parties, libations, parades, and cake! Stores sold special Election Cake ingredients to women who transformed them into spice cakes for crowds gathered to celebrate voting at the Old State House and other sites. Help us revive this long-lost Connecticut tradition!
For the third year in a row, Connecticut pastry chefs and bakers will go to have their confection crowned the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2024. Cakes will be evaluated by a panel of judges and the winner will be bestowed the honor of baking the cake for the annual birthday celebration of Connecticut’s Old State House in 2025.
Guests attending this family friendly event can enjoy live music and take part in the judging, cake tasting, games and other fun activities in preparation for election day on Tuesday, November 5th.
How the contest works:
Connecticut’s Old State House Election Cake Contest invites professional pastry chefs and bakers to create the official Connecticut Election Cake for 2024.
Each competitor is challenged to create a delectable, non-partisan, election-themed cake that inspires voters and celebrates American democracy.
Cakes will be judged by a slate of judges based on presentation, creativity, and taste.
If you’re interested in competing, the Bake Off is open to all professional and cottage food bakers with current ServSafe licensing.
The application to apply is on our website at ctoldstatehouse.org or can be found here: https://bit.ly/2024ElectionCake.
Our Doors Are Open:
Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms are on the ground floor and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Holiday Shopping Fair at Connecticut’s Old State House
2024-12-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-07 11:00 - 16:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Connecticut’s Old State House is ringing in the holiday season with the annual Holiday Shopping Fair!
Enjoy a festive shopping experience in the historic spaces at Connecticut’s Old State House and shop from local crafters and artists from across the state. The Holiday Shopping Fair will run 11 am – 4 pm on Thursday, December 5th through Saturday, December 7th and will feature a wide variety of gifts for all family and friends on your holiday gift list.
Vendors can accommodate a range of payment options including credit/debit cards, Venmo, ApplePay, and CashApp. Shoppers working in and visiting Downtown Hartford will find unique gifts for family, teachers, colleagues and friends, and can venture to explore local restaurants and independently owned shops just steps away – it’s the perfect season to explore Hartford for the Holidays.
Discounted Parking:
On street parking is available. Garage parking for $5 is available at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street, just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.
Our Doors Are Open:
Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bathrooms are on the ground floor and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.

Connecticut Freedom Trail: 2024 Year in Review!
2024-12-10 12:00 - 13:00 | CT
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is home to over 170 heritage sites that recognize people and events that made impactful strides toward equity and social justice in Connecticut. As we wrap 2024 join Outreach Director Tammy Denease as we celebrate a benchmark year, highlighting:
1. The addition of more sites including the Colchester Cemetery and Green Monument
2. Constance Baker Motley received a forever stamp
3. Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum receives significant financial backing from the State of CT
and
4. the Connecticut Freedom Trail’s presentation on slavery in New England at the 8th annual Slave Dwelling Conference in Philadelphia
Join us online in declaring 2024 a success here at the CT Freedom Trail and what’s coming in the next year.
This online event is FREE and open to the public
RSVP: https://forms.gle/vLrzwYwg4Q5FLxYaA
