Connecticut's Old State House

Conversations at Noon on The Connecticut Freedom Trail: "Lessons of the Amistad: Through the lens of an African-Centered Woman"
2023-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Third in a limited series: The Amistad Trilogy.
In 1839, 53 captive Africans rebelled aboard the Spanish schooner La Amistad. They took over the ship, but were captured by the US Navy in Long Island Sound and taken into custody. They then allied with local abolitionists in Connecticut to fight for their freedom through the US court system, and ultimately won. Over 150 years later, the Connecticut legislature established the CT Freedom Trail. Its mission is documenting and designating sites that embody the struggle toward freedom and human dignity, and celebrating the accomplishments of the state’s Black and African American communities. The story of the Amistad is one of the most famous stories along the CT Freedom Trail.
Join us for the Connecticut Freedom Trail’s upcoming Amistad Trilogy. This series of programs will dive into the legacy of the Amistad saga in Connecticut and beyond. Explore some of the lesser known or untold sides of the story, and discover the countless ways the Amistad is remembered today!
Episode 3: Lessonsof the Amistad: Through the lens of an African-Centered Woman
Discovering Amistad is a nonprofit educational organization that owns and operates the Amistad Freedom Schooner, a 129 feet re-creation of the original ship. Discovering Amistad teaches the lessons of the 1839 Amistad Uprising to advance racial and social justice today. The schooner is Connecticut’s flagship and serves as a floating classroom for children of all ages. The Amistad is a national treasure, and the only tall ship that is a monument to freedom.
Paula Mann-Agnew, Executive Director of Discovering Amistad, will explore specific themes of the 1839 Amistad story that are still prominent and relevant today. Special emphasis will be made on resiliency, freedom, self-awareness and activism. She will share insight and cultural relevance through her African-Centered female experience. Information will also be shared about the programs of Discovering Amistad and the 2023 itinerary for ship tours through Connecticut and New York.
Register: https://bit.ly/CFT2023LessonsoftheAmistad

ENCOUNTERS: Amistad: Artistic Perspectives
2023-04-29 10:00 - 11:00 | ENCOUNTERS: Amistad: Artistic Perspectives
In 1839, 53 captive Africans rebelled aboard the Spanish schooner La Amistad. They took over the ship, but were captured by the US Navy in Long Island Sound and taken into custody. They then allied with local abolitionists in Connecticut to fight for their freedom through the US court system, and ultimately won. Over 150 years later, the Connecticut legislature established the CT Freedom Trail. Its mission is documenting and designating sites that embody the struggle toward freedom and human dignity, and celebrating the accomplishments of the state’s Black and African American communities. The story of the Amistad is one of the most famous stories along the CT Freedom Trail.
Why does history so often become art? The bravery and eventual victory of the Amistad Africans has been immortalized in the history books. But long before historians began to examine the Amistad saga, artists had already claimed the story in their own work. From contemporary portraits of the Africans to modern day stage performances, artists have told us the story of Amistad from diverse and unique perspectives. What can these works tell us about how we remember history? How does a historical event become a piece of art? Join us for an informed and collaborative exploration of these fascinating questions! This program is a partnership with The Human Rights Institute at UConn.
Encounters programs dive deep into subjects through facilitated, small-group dialogues followed by a question-and-answer style conversation with our UConn faculty and community partners. Resources are provided beforehand to encourage informed and informal dialogue. The aim is to develop a forum for respectful and challenging dialogue, followed by a communal meal and coffee.

Register:http://s.uconn.edu/amistad

Conversations at Noon on the the Connecticut Freedom Trail: The Amistad Affair
2023-05-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring:Tammy Denease, Outreach Director, Connecticut Freedom Trail Charles Warner, Jr., Chair, Connecticut Freedom TrailAdrienne Joy Burns, Board Member, The Amistad Committee
In 1839, Connecticut’sOld State House was the site of the first of the famous Amistad trials. Thetrials grabbed international headlines, but after the US Supreme Court resolvedthe case in 1841, the story faded from collective memory. In 1997, StevenSpielberg reintroduced the dramatic Amistad incident to the world, sparking newinterest among historians, educators, and the public. Since then, new researchhas shed light on the story and corrected some of the omissions and errors inthe public’s knowledge. Tammy Denease, Connecticut Freedom Trail OutreachDirector, has studied the life journey of Margu, one of four children heldcaptive on the Amistad. Tammy will share her research that led to Sarah Margubecoming part of her Hidden Women series. Charles Warner, Jr., Chair of the CTFreedom Trail, will then lead a discussion with Tammy and Adrienne Joy Burns,who has studied the history of enslavement in New Haven with a focus on thePardee-Morris House.
Register Here: https://bit.ly/CFT2023AmistadAffair
This event was previously cancelled due to weather. No need to re-register if you did so previously:

Happy Birthday Connecticut's Old State House!
2023-05-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Join us on Saturday, May 13th to wish a very happy birthday to something important – Connecticut’s Old State House! On May 13, 1796, Connecticut’s Legislature held their first session in their newly-constructed Hartford State House, and it has become the day that we celebrate this important building. Connecticut’s Old State House is iconic in the City of Hartford and one of the first buildings to be named a National Historic Landmark in December, 1960.
Throughout the years, this building has been threatened with destruction, but we’re celebrating its 227-year survival and important connections to history during our birthday celebration.
Connecticut’s Old State House will be open from 12-4 pm with FREE admission, a concert on our lawn, birthday cake from the 2022 Election Cake Contest winner Sweets by Jenna, and a Spring Market featuring Connecticut-made vendors and crafters.
Happy Birthday Connecticut’s Old State House is sponsored by Crosskey Architects, LaRosa Building Group, and Pullman and Comley.
Complimentary event parking at the State House Square Garage, located right next door at 55 Market Street, is provided by State House Square.
To RSVP, click here: https://bit.ly/HBCTOSH2023

Conversations at Noon on the the Connecticut Freedom Trail: Bringing the Freedom Trail to Life, For Real!
2023-05-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Featuring Connecticut Storyteller Andre LePelle Keitt
Join us online to hear Andre, also known as the Greatheart Griot, tell the story of how he translated the adventures of the Mende captives of the slave schooner, the Amistad from the page to the present! Currently, Andre serves as the Consultant for Education and Programming at the Farmington Historical Society. In this role, he has been tasked with bringing the trek of the freed Amistad Mende to life on a nine stop visit on the grounds of the Freedom Trail in Farmington. He also tells the story from the realistic perspective of the brown and black people who share in the heritage of said Mende men and children.
Andre has asked some of his friends who are African Americans to portray and tell the story of the Mende who found themselves free and visiting the abolitionist village of Farmington CT in 1841 after their landmark acquittal in one of America’s first Civil Rights cases. In his Conversation at Noon, Andre tells the story about how he structured the new telling of the stories, giving details of maneuvering the sensitivities of politics and education in this anti Critical Thinking America!
This event is free and open to the general public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/CFT2023BringingTrailToLife

The State's Filing Cabinet
2023-05-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
In collaboration with the Connecticut State LibraryIn-person or online
Featuring:State Archivist Lizette Pelletier Digital Records Archivist Barbara AustenConnecticut governing bodies began producing documents as soon as settlers arrived in the early 1600s. The history of government record keeping from then until today is almost as fascinating as the information found within the documents themselves. In the first installment of The State’s Filing Cabinet series, experts from Connecticut’s State Archives will take us on a journey through the history of recordkeeping in Connecticut.E-mails and Zoom meetings have largely replaced missives handwritten on paper with ink and quill pens. From handmade inks and quills, parchment, and rag paper to the latest information technologies of the digital age, we will discover how local and state government officials created and maintained records and the physical challenges of preserving historically significant information today. This event is free and open to the general public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023StatesFilingCabinet

Conversations at Noon: In Conversation with 2023 Connecticut History Day Students
2023-06-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Featuring2023 Connecticut History Day National TeamModerated by Rebecca Taber, State Coordinator, Connecticut History Day
Join us online to meet some Connecticut middle and high school students who will represent our state in the 2023 National History Day competition! Team CT students will join almost 3,000 students from across the United States and beyond who advanced through the gauntlet of school, regional, state, and affiliate contests to reach the national stage. Students will present their research in one of five formats: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, and website. Students’ projects all relate to this year’s theme of “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” This event is free and open to the general public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023CHDStudents

FOCUS WORK
2023-06-06 13:30 - 17:00
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Travel
2023-06-06 16:30 - 17:30
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The State's Filing Cabinet
2023-06-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
In collaboration with the Connecticut State LibraryIn-person or online
Featuring:Public Records Administrator Leann PowerPublic Records Analyst Elise MarzikAssistant State Archivist Allen RamseyGovernment Records Archivist Damon Munz
It’s not easy to maintain the government’s filing cabinet. Every year, state government and its local counterparts create more and more records and information that must be managed properly. Changing technologies, lack of space, and disasters such as fires and floods can pose serious threats to public records. Government officials ask many of the same questions we ask about our own personal records. How do we decide what to keep, and how long to keep it? What makes a record historically valuable? How do we care for and protect the records. The records management staff of the Office of the Public Records Administrator and the archivists in the State Archives assist state and municipalities in answering these questions. They also ensure that records with long term value are accessible to the public and preserved for future generations. Join us for the second installment of The State’s Filing Cabinet series and learn about the present and future challenges of managing and safeguarding public records.
This event is free and open to the public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023StatesFilingCabinet

CT's Old State House Farmers Market
2023-06-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-06-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-06-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-08-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
EVERY FRIDAY | JUNE 15 – OCTOBER 13, 2023 | 10am – 2pm
In 1643, the General Court of Connecticut established a weekly Market to be held in Hartford. Come shop local and visit our current day Farmers Market, established in 2011. 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!

Connecticut's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-06-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Goza on the West side patio.
This event is free and open to the general public.
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The State's Filing Cabinet
2023-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
In collaboration with the Connecticut State LibraryIn-person or online
Featuring:Mel Smith, History & GenealogySusan Bigelow, Government Information Stephen Mirsky, Law and Legislation.
There is so much rich history preserved in the government’s paperwork. Studying the state records and publications illustrates how our government evolved into what we know it as today. Government resources also shed light on other hidden stories. From petitions on social issues like voting rights, to lost family histories, there are countless clues and pieces of evidence waiting to be discovered in the state and local records in the State Library. How can citizens unlock the secrets found in these records, the histories of so many people, events and places in Connecticut, including the Old State House.The last installment of The State’s Filing Cabinet series will examine the variety of state and local government resources found at the Connecticut State Library and how to access the material in-person and on-line. Reference staff from the three core areas of the State Library: History & Genealogy, Government Information, and Law and Legislation will discuss what researchers can find within their collections.
This event is free and open to the public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023StatesFilingCabinet

BOOK TALK: "A Question of Respect: Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation"
2023-06-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Featuringauthors Celinda Lake and Ed GoeasJoin the conversation with pollsters and long time friends Ed Goeas (Republican), and Celinda Lake (Democrat), as they discuss how we can all work together in an increasingly polarized political world and make the case that the only way for America to escape its current divide is through mutual respect.
America’s problems will never be resolved unless we can bridge our differences. But with today’s all encompassing ‘us versus them’ mentality, that might seem almost impossible. How did we get to this point of intense dysfunction and combativeness in both in person and online interactions? And most importantly, how do we fix it? In their book, “A Question of Respect”, Ed and Celinda explore the possible roads that led us to this moment, and how respect is the first step we need to take in order to trust one another.
This event is free and open to the general public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023BookTalkRespect
To stream, click here: https://streamyard.com/watch/Uq3DivzwTY6F

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Lenny Rasta and Friends on the West side patioThis event is free and open to the general public

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-06-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Mixed Bag on the West side patioThis event is free and open to the general public.

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-07-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Tales of Joy on the West side patioThis event is free and open to the general public

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-07-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle on the West side patioThis event is free and open to the general public

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-07-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Rick Spencer and Dawn on the West side patio.This event is free and open to the general public

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-07-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Rick Kala Farnham on the West side patio.This event is free and open to the general public

Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities with Joe Schmidt
2023-07-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Online. Register Here: https://bit.ly/OSH2023CivilDiscourseBook
Conversation is the key to building empathy and understanding. It’s one of the most important tools in a teacher’s toolbox when it comes to helping students understand difficult subjects. It can also be one of the trickiest tools for educators to use. Joe Schmidt is a leader in social studies education. In his latest book, “Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities”, he and co-author Nichelle Pinkney share their expertise and guidance to help educators facilitate difficult conversations in the classroom with courage and empathy. Join Joe in conversation and learn how he constructed these tips for discourse on complex and sometimes divisive topics.
WATCH HERE: https://streamyard.com/watch/NxyzRAncuTVF

"Then and Now" Family Fun Day
2023-07-28 10:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Come learn about government and architecture “then” and “now” when you tour the Connecticut State Capitol and Connecticut’s Old State House this summer!
All activities are FREE!

Guided tours of the Connecticut State Capitol will be offered at 10:15, 11:15, and 1:15. Explore the Capitol as it is now and learn what the government was like when it first opened in 1878.
Enjoy structured interpretation at Connecticut’s Old State House anytime between 10 am and 5 pm (last entry is at 4 pm). Learn more about government and architecture from over 200 years ago.
Explore the Old State House Farmer’s Market from 10 am – 2 pm
Listen to live music from Sound Pipers at Old State House’s West patio from 12-1 pm.
Guided tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Arch in Bushnell Park will be offered from 12 – 1 pm.
Complete a scavenger hunt of Bushnell Park, the Capitol, and the Old State House. Come see us at Capitol Room 101 and Old State House Main Desk with your completed scavenger hunts for a prize!

PARKING: We recommend the State House Square parking garage, located at 55 Market Street and just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House. Parking is only $5 with a validated ticket. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.
For parking at the State Capitol:
Limited free parking is available in the Legislative Office Building parking garage accessible from both Capitol Avenue and Broad Street and on the north Capitol grounds off Trinity Street. On-street metered parking and commercial parking lots are also available nearby.
To RSVP please send an email to Capitol.Tours@cga.ct.gov with the names of those planning to attend.
https://my.lwv.org/connecticut/event/then-and-now-family-day-tours-connecticut-state-capitol-and-connecticuts-old-0

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-07-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Sound Pipers on the West side patioThis event is free and open to the general public
