When you step foot in Hartford, you will see what sets Hartford apart from its neighboring cities. We'll paint a portrait that includes Hartford's most famous residents including Mark Twain, Samuel Colt, Katharine Hepburn, Noah Webster and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
No other city can boast being home to the nation's oldest public art museum – The Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art, and to Bushnell Park – our country's oldest public park, with its kaleidoscope of ever-changing trees and the Bushnell Park Carousel, one of the few remaining antique wooden carousels in the United States…and still only $1 a ride.
And there's so much more to discover. In fact, Hartford is renowned for its cultural heritage attractions, boasting more sites on the National Register of Historic Landmarks than any other region except New Orleans. A vibrant arts scene, ethnic and cultural diversity, and a highly educated workforce, have added to the city's appeal as a regional hub of economic and social activity.
Nestled on the banks of The Connecticut River, Hartford was founded in 1636 by a group of English settlers led by the Reverend Thomas Hooker. Today, the Riverfront showcases a summer season of free events including cultural celebrations such as The Celtic Celebration, Pipes in the Valley, and Jazz, Salsa and Asian Festivals, and competitive sporting events like the popular Dragon Boat Races.
Riverfront Recapture connects metropolitan Hartford with the Connecticut River. Its four beautiful parks on the Hartford and East Hartford waterfronts draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and a new sculpture walk is lovely in any season.
The Riverfront is also home to some of the city's newest developments, part of the exciting Adriaen's Landing project: the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center is connected to the Hartford Marriott Downtown. The dynamic Connecticut Science Center which opened in spring 2009. And construction is underway for Front Street, a new retail and entertainment complex.
Dining in Greater Hartford serves up something for every taste. 40 restaurants within 6 Downtown blocks feature the finest in steakhouses, the friendliest of Mom and Pop's, and enough beers on tap citywide to satisfy even the most discriminate of brew lovers. Dine on the picturesque Farmington River, inside a restored grist mill, delight your pallet on The Connecticut Wine Trail, or visit one of the many orchards and farms open to the public to pick your own peaches, blueberries, strawberries and pumpkins.
To learn about the exclusive discounts and opportunities available to fans attending the Visa Championships in Hartford click here.
For a complete city guide you can also download the Hartford Visitors Guide.
