Seniors Stop in Hartford

Hartford, the state capital, is Connecticut’s second-largest city, 125,000, after the coastal city of Bridgeport. Nicknamed the “Insurance Capital of the World”, Hartford houses many insurance company headquarters, and insurance remains the region’s major industry.

Almost 400 years old, Hartford is among the oldest cities in the United States. The name “Hartford” was chosen to honor the British town of Hertford (pronounced “Hartford”) in Herfordshire, home of Samuel Stone, one of the early settlers in the area.

 From Connecticut River Trading Post to Insurance Capital

From its origins as a Connecticut River trading post in 1633, Hartford has become not only the state capital but also the insurance capital of the world. With a slew of historical attractions, Hartford has a thriving arts and entertainment center, a revitalized riverfront and beautiful parks and public gardens.

Hartford is home to historic and cultural attractions, many that senior travelers can visit absolutely free. The Mark Twain house is where he and his family lived in a 19-room mansion from 1874-1891. It is one of the “must sees” in town along with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the first public art museum in the United States.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. features 50,000 pieces ranging from ancient to contemporary, the largest collection of Hudson River School paintings in the world. Hartford is where Twain lived and wrote his most well-known books, and where Harriet Beecher Stowe decided to settle after commotion from her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, died down a bit.

 Seniors Visit One of Nation’s Oldest State Houses

For you flower lovers like me, Elizabeth Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is totally loaded with beautiful roses. The park is huge and encompasses 102 acres and boasts many garden areas, pathways, greenhouses, lawns, a picnic grove, a pond and recreation areas.

Wikitravel has key information for senior visitors. For you history buffs, the Old State House, at 800 Main St, presents a glimpse into the past, while offering an immersive new education center, a museum store and a new audio tour of the facility. It was designed by famed New England architect Charles Bulfinch. This 1796 National Historic Landmark is one of the nation’s oldest state houses and is one major reason to take in downtown Hartford.

Several stately and historical churches are situated in the downtown area. Additional sites seniors will not want to miss visiting include the Old State Capital, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, Bushnell Memorial Park and Traveler’s Tower observation deck where you can get super views of the entire city.

Connecticut is a gorgeous state and Hartford is a beautiful city.  Seniors, enjoy historic Hartford.  jeb