September 26, 2013 - Hartford, CT

Kate and I did a volkswalk in Hartford today. Hartford is everything that Providence isn't.

The capitol

The state capitol building (1876) is one of the better ones. (I have now seen 36 state capitol buildings.) It is the only Victorian Gothic statehouse in the country. It is stunning and has been carefully restored and well-maintained. Try to find the pamphlet published by the League of Women Voters that offers a self-guided tour of the capitol.

Inside the capitol

The inside is worth exploring. In addition to the ornate Victorian stenciling, variety of marble, and gorgeous dome, the building contains many statues and historical artifacts. My favorite was "The Genius of Connecticut," a wonderful statue of a winged woman, the symbolic protector of Connecticut.

"The Genius of Connecticut"

There is a lot more to see on this walk. First you will walk through Bushnell Park with the Corning Fountain.

Continuing on, you will see the Old State House (Bullfinch, 1796), the State Library and Supreme Court buildings, the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Butler McCook Homestead, the Hartford Public Library, City Hall, the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Travelers Tower (for many years, the tallest building between New York and Boston). "We . . . are . . . Travelers. Dum , de dum dum, dum, dum, dum."

Then you come to the urban renewal district and some recent construction. After walking over a bridge across the Connecticut River, you will have a view of the Hartford skyline and the blue onion dome of the former Colt firearms factory. Coming back via a different bridge, you will pass by a number of Nineteenth Century structures before entering Bushnell Park. You will see a nicely preserved 100-year-old carousel and you will joust with traffic as you walk under the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch (1885).

Hartford has a good vibe. If you want to see all the museums and other venues on the walk route, you would probably need three days.

Walk Route: B+
Walk Instructions: B+