Calendar of Events

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 websiteHear a sample of Nekita Waller's musicJoin us for our annual FREE Summer Concert Series! Stop by every Friday […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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: 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]