Connecticut's Old State House

CT's Old State House Music at Noon
2023-10-03 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Come enjoy live music on the West Side patio featuring Kenn Morr Band.The Kenn Morr Band is on a roll in 2023, pleased to be touring in support of its impending latest release, “Still Shining”. Recorded at Sandy Brook Studios in Colebrook, CT. The result is an organic collection of lush vocal harmonies and sparkling instruments—real musicians playing soulful music in real time. United Kingdom’s Folk Word states: “Among its many vagaries life offers some certainties – they include the flow of memorable melodies and deeply-thought themes that permeate Kenn Morr’s mix of folk rock Americana.Known for its close three-part vocal harmonies and fiery instrumental interplay, the group has been together for many years, becoming fast favorites on the outdoor festival scene

Hartford History Lectures Series: Why Hartford’s Ethnic Heritage Matters Today
2023-10-05 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Thursday, October 5th
5:45pm-7:00pm
In the last century, Hartford’s demographic history has shifted dramatically and with it, the stories we can tell about the city, its landscape, and its neighborhoods. Through the lens of a series of articles published more than a century ago, this talk explores the history of Hartford’s changing ethnic heritage and the roots and routes that have made the city home for a succession of different ethnic groups.
Register and learn more here: https://bit.ly/2023CollectionsAndCummunities

CT's Old State House Farmers Market
2023-10-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-10-13 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!

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-10-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Illuminous on the West side patio.This event is free and open to the general public

Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman Exhibit
2023-10-07 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-14 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-21 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-28 12:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Exhibit runs Mondays – Saturdays though November 11, 2023.
Connecticut’s Old State House will host “Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and Cartoons of Clifford Berryman.” Election season in the modern era elicits a barrage of amusing and pointed memes – but historically, editorial cartoons have swayed opinions and helped shape elections for generations! Clifford Berryman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist with The Washington Star and The Washington Post, produced almost daily cartoons for over 50 years – from 1896 to 1949.
Unlike any other form of political commentary, cartoons show altered physical traits and highlight minute details to make a specific point. With simple pen strokes, they foreshadow the future, poke fun at the past, and imply hidden motives in ways that elude written or spoken reporting. This unique exhibit features a series of pen & ink drawings to highlight the timeless aspects of US campaigns and election processes. Running for Office was created by the National Archives with the support of the Foundation for the National Archives and organized for travel by Humanities Texas, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This exhibit is part of Connecticut’s Old State House “Go Big. Vote Local.” Series. For information about other upcoming programs in the series, return to our events calendar.
Extended hours until 8:00 pm on select Thursdays. On street parking is free on weekends. Garage parking is available at State House Square Garage, 55 Market Street, for $5 with validation.

Hartford History Lectures Series: Tales & Treasures: Exploring Hartford through Trinity College Archives & Watkinson Library
2023-10-12 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Thursday, October 12th
5:45pm-7:00pm
Join the Watkinson Librarians and Archivists for an engaging presentation that delves into the history of Trinity College’s two centuries in Hartford. Through a rich collection of documents and photographs, College Archivist, Eric Stoykovich will show how the Trinity College Archives sheds light on Hartford’s transformation, capturing the essence of the city across different eras. Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, Eric Johnson-DeBaufre will illuminate the remarkable journey of a unique document, tracing its origin from a free Black community in Brooklyn to the hands of one of the library’s most significant benefactors. College Librarian and Director of the Watkinson Library, Christina Bleyer will discuss current and future initiatives for the Watkinson Library that are rooted in Hartford and its diverse cultures. Don’t miss this captivating presentation, where the past comes alive through hidden stories and extraordinary acquisitions, bridging the gap between history, the present, and the future.
Register and learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScydbE_z2ZfMBeGQm6TToXVuBPfRwK65Vb-9rMgzU8CzpaM3w/viewform

CT's Old State House Summer Music Series
2023-10-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Featuring Nekita Waller on the West side patio.This event is free and open to the general public

Fires, Floods, and Acts of God: A Downtown Hartford Walking Tour
2023-10-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-10-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
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.
All tours are FREE and start at Connecticut’s Old State House.
To attend, register here: https://bit.ly/FFAoG2023
This event is presented by Travelers

Hartford History Lecture Series: From Historical Society to Museum of Culture and History: 200 Years of Collecting Connecticut's Stories
2023-10-19 17:45 - 19:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Thursday, October 19th
5:45pm-7:00pm
In 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) was established with “the purpose of documenting, procuring and preserving whatever may relate to the civil, ecclesiastical, and natural history of the United States, and especially the State of Connecticut.” Over its almost 200-year history, the mission of documenting and preserving has stayed the same, but the organization and its collection has evolved with the communities it serves. This year, the CHS underwent a monumental rebranding to reflect this ongoing change. Andrea Rapacz (Chief Curator) and Andrea Slater (Florence S. Marcy Crofut Archivist) will present an overview of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and highlight some of its iconic collections, as well as some of the people that have been a part of this change.
Register and learn more here: https://bit.ly/2023CollectionsAndCummunities

LET ME DRAW YOU A PICTURE: A CONVERSATION WITH BOB ENGLEHART
2023-10-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
This event is FREE and open to the public.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is an editorial cartoon worth? Editorial cartoonists have been keeping us entertained and well informed for centuries. Their witty visual commentary can be powerful conversation starters, make us consider issues from new perspectives, or help us visualize what we were already thinking! Bob Englehart was the Hartford Courant’s editorial cartoonist for 35 years, as well as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for the Editorial Cartoon category. His work played an integral part in how the public engage with Connecticut politics and news. Join CT’s Old State House in conversation with Bob as we take a look at the state of political cartoons and other forms of artistic political expressions today.
This exhibit is part of Connecticut’s Old State House “Go Big. VoteLocal.” Series.
Register Here
On street parking is available. Parking at State House Square Garage, 55 Market Street, is just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House and is only $5 with a validated ticket.

The Making of the First Black US Diplomat: Conversations at Noon on the Connecticut Freedom Trail
2023-10-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Tuesday, October 24that 12:00pm
Connecticut native Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti from 1869 to 1877. He was the first African American to serve as a U.S diplomat anywhere in the world. His was a life of civil service, diplomacy, education, and activism in a time where African Americans were making strides breaking barriers in politics and government. He was also the first Black student to attended the Connecticut Normal School, now Central Connecticut State University. Join Counselor William Fothergill as he shares the story of his fellow CCSU alum and the making of the first Black US diplomat.
Register and learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaq6y1FTpcVmRFoLvGbcEoL2QaSq_7ufhld2NNJKteM4FeIQ/viewform

Hartford History Lecture Series: Wadsworth Atheneum’s First Century: Collections and Patrons
2023-10-26 17:45 - 19:00 | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Thursday, October 26th
5:45pm-7:00pm
For more than a century, Daniel Wadsworth’s picture gallery, the Connecticut Historical Society and the Watkinson and Hartford Public Libraries were housed together within the complex known as Wadsworth Atheneum. Like no other museum its size in America, the Atheneum’s collections and identity were shaped by fascinating donors and patrons whose tastes and interests reflect the needs and priorities of their time and place. The lure of the local is abundantly presented in a collection 200+ years in the making. Former Atheneum curator William Hosley will introduce us to the stuff and stories belonging to such legendary personalities as JP Morgan, Daniel Wadsworth and Sam & Elizabeth Colt. It will explore Hartford connections between artists and collectors like Frederic Church, William Merrit Chase, and Wallace Nutting, and introduce pathbreaking patrons and philanthropists like Samuel P. Avery, Rev. Francis Goodwin and Henry Keney.
Register and learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScydbE_z2ZfMBeGQm6TToXVuBPfRwK65Vb-9rMgzU8CzpaM3w/viewform

Witchcraft Panic in Colonial Connecticut
2023-10-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
Saturday, October 28th
at 2:00pm
Join Richard Ross III for a presentation on the fascinating history of the Hartford Witch Panic between 1647 – 1663. Dr. Ross will discuss the events in England that impacted how the Connecticut Colony handled witchcraft allegations. What deep seated beliefs led to fear and panic amongst the colonists? What was the process to investigate these claims? Learn how the religious and political leaders of the time handled these charges … and what happened to the innocent people who were accused. Did they really form a pact with the Devil?
This lecture is co-sponsored with the Ancient Burying Ground, located in downtown Hartford. Additional Hartford Witch Trials Programs are offered in October. In Guided Tours, view this historic site where many of the colonial magistrates and ministers were laid to rest.
Ross is the author of Before Salem Witch Hunting in the CT River Valley, 1647-1663. This history examines the outbreak of witch hysteria in the Valley, focusing on accusations of demonic possession, apotropaic magic and the role of the clergy. Although the hysteria was eventually quelled by a progressive magistrate unwilling to try witches, accounts of the trials later influenced the Salem witch hunts.
Register and learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnsTsa5XpvJKZdBiN-0dPZ7nXVCm6VPpDrhBMiPytaBUPSNQ/viewform

Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman Exhibit
2023-11-04 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-11-11 12:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States

ELECTION CAKE BAKE-OFF 2023
2023-11-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
November 4, 2023 from 1:00 – 4:00 pmThis event is FREE and open to the public.
It’s time for a celebration and some sweet competition! Join Connecticut’s Old State House for the second annual Election Cake Bake-Off. Help us revive a long-lost Connecticut tradition that deserves a come back. In the 18th and 19th centuries Election Day combined voting with parties, libations, parades, and cake! Stores sold special Election Cake ingredients to women who transformed them into spicy cakes for crowds gathered to celebrate voting at the Old State House and other sites.
Come sample cakes, observe celebrity judging, enjoy music, and gear up for voting on Tuesday, November 7th. Connecticut pastry chefs and bakers have been challenged to win over the taste buds of a panel of judges who will proclaim which confection shall be the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2023. Celebrity judges include:
Jenna D’Amico, 2022 Election Cake Bake-Off WinnerAlex P. Taylor, Senior Community Manager at Yelp ConnecticutDavid Milton, food reviewer for “thedamgram” on Instagram and “thedamtok” on TikTok.
How the contest works: Each competitor registering to compete will create a non-partisan, election-themed cake that they must be able to carry into the building by themselves, without assistance. Cakes will be judged on presentation, creativity, and taste. Bakers can register for the competition HERE.
This event is part of Connecticut’s Old State House “Go Big. VoteLocal.” Series.
On street parking is available. Parking at State House Square Garage, 55 Market Street, is just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House and is only $5 with a validated ticket.

CARICATURE WORKSHOP AT CT’S OLD STATE HOUSE
2023-11-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
This event if FREE and open to people ages 5 and up.
It’s time to break out the brushes and colored pencils. Do you have something to say? Why not say it in a drawing? Caricatures are a fun and straightforward way to express your thoughts and opinions in an artistic way. Join us to create your own caricature masterpiece! Learn how to draw your own caricatures and explore your creativity in this introductory workshop at CT’s Old State House! Materials and supplies will be provided.
This event is part of Connecticut’s Old State House “Go Big. VoteLocal.” Series.
Register Here
On street parking is available. Parking at State House Square Garage, 55 Market Street, is just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House and is only $5 with a validated ticket.

Sleeping with the Ancestors: The Educational Value of Sleeping in Slave Dwellings: Conversations at Noon on the Connecticut Freedom Trail
2023-11-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Tuesday, November 28th
at 2:00pm
Join us for a deep dive honoring the enslaved Ancestors by sleeping in the places they once dwelled. In its twelfth year, Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project has spent nights in slave dwellings in 25 states and the District of Columbia. The sleepovers are chronicled in the book Sleeping With the Ancestors which is cowritten by Herb Frazier.
Register and learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffPtZJQx0voq0jihkqMo_sLkUHuZcYHZweDIS1PS3fufP9Sw/viewform

Encounters: A Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Democracy
2023-12-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
This event is hosted by UCONN’s Democracy & Dialogues Initiative and Connecticut’s Old State House.
Everyday, there seems to be more talk about Artificial Intelligence. Experts suggest it will soon affect every aspect of our lives, from education to business and even art. As this new technology becomes more entwined in our everyday lives, one also wonders how it will affect our democracy and how the government is run. How could law makers and politicians utilize these tools in policy making? How could it be implemented during elections and in communication between candidates and the electorate? Should A.I. be incorporated into our systems of government at all, or has it already? Join us for an informed and collaborative exploration of these critical and fascinating questions!
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.
This event is FREE and open to the general public. To reserve your seat, register here: https://events.uconn.edu/dodd-human-rights-impact/event/54780-encounters-artificial-intelligence-and-democracy
PARKING:On street parking is available. Garage parking at StateHouse Square Parking Garage, located at 55 Market Street just steps awayfrom Connecticut’s Old State House, is $5 with a validated ticket. Pleasepresent your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk forvalidation.

Holiday Shopping Fair at Connecticut's Old State House
2023-12-07 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-08 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-09 11:00 - 16:00 | CT
Connecticut’sOld State House is ringing in the holiday season by bringing back their annual HolidayShopping Fair. This event, scheduled for December 7-9, has a long tradition of attractingtalented crafters and artists from around Connecticut for a festive shoppingexperience throughout the historic rooms of the State House. The HolidayShopping Fair will run 11 am – 4 pm and will feature home décor, toys, candles,photography, jewelry, glassware, ornaments, photography, prints crocheted plushies,body products, clothing, accessories and more.
Vendors can accommodate arange of payment options including credit/debit cards, Venmo, Apple Pay, andCashApp. Shoppers working in and visiting Downtown Hartford will find uniquegifts for family, teachers, colleagues and friends, and can venture to explorelocal restaurants and independently owned shops just steps away. On streetparking is available. Garage parking at State House Square Parking Garage,located at 55 Market Street is $5 with a validated ticket. Please present yourparking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.

Connecticut Freedom Trail: 2023 Year in Review!
2023-12-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Join us online. Register here https://bit.ly/CFT2023YearInReview
The CT Freedom Trail is home to over 160 heritage sites that recognizes extraordinary individuals whose lives made impactful strides toward equity and social justice in Connecticut.
As we wrap up 2023, 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 this benchmark year!
Register here: https://bit.ly/CFT2023YearInReviewStream here: https://streamyard.com/watch/WcY2ibfYbWu5

The Black Heritage Project at CT State Community College Capital
2024-01-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
FEATURING:Dr. Frank Mitchell, Curator of the Nutmeg Pulpit ExhibitionProfessor Antoinette Brim-Bell, Capital Community College Faculty and CT State Poet Laureate Dr. Duncan Harris, CEO of CT State Community College Capital
This online event is FREE and open to the general public
To kickoff 2024, the Connecticut Freedom Trail highlights The Black Heritage Project, which celebrates the people and history of the Talcott Street Church, Hartford’s first Black church and site of Hartford’s first school for Black children. The historic Talcott Street Church site is next to Connecticut State Community College Capital’s building but remains unmarked and unnoticed. Capital is seeking to raise awareness of the site’s significance with three specific strategies, each of which will be explored in this presentation: the Nutmeg Pulpit exhibition, curriculum development, and the annual Pennington Lecture.
To register, click here: https://bit.ly/CFT2024WinterJoin us online at https://streamyard.com/watch/MnpWTFR7QYPP

Connecticut Democracy Center Awards
2024-02-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT, United States
The Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) will host the firstannual Connecticut Democracy Center Awards at Connecticut’s Old State House onFebruary 1, 2024, to pay tribute to business, community, and philanthropicleaders including The Honorable Alvin W. Thompson, CitizenTravelers, the non-partisan civicengagement initiative of The Travelers Companies, Inc., and Mary Gawlicki of the Gawlicki Family Foundation.
The CTDCestablished the award to recognize those committed to strengthening democracythrough acts of citizenship, service, and community engagement. The eveningincludes an inspirational program, drinks, small plates, dessert, a champagnetoast, and networking with business professionals, educators, and communityleaders. Tickets start at $100 and are now on sale at https://bit.ly/CTDCAwards. Seating is limited.
The event will include drinks, small plates, live music, dessert and a champagne toast. For more information, click here.
Tickets are $100 per person and are now on sale HERE. Seating is limited.
