Connecticut's Old State House

First Night Hartford 2010 A central location that acted as an official First Night site and activities to please everyone was the right combination on December 31. Over 2,800 people walked through the door to explore history, make a New Years Eve mask, listen to performances and more. Visitors were treated to living history performances, hands-on activities, clowns and tours. The museum exhibits were open from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. but the party didn’t stop when the exhibits were closed. At 6:00 p.m., Midnight Band, a teen cover band from Bolton, rocked the Courtroom with performances of cover songs from popular groups. At 8:45 p.m., they switched gears and took over as DJs for a teen dance party. The Old State House top tent was warm inside with the flurry of visitors. With an ice sculptor, musical performances by Bill Walach and Sinetti & Roys, as well as fire pits and hot chocolate provided by local Boy Scouts, there was something for everyone at the Old State House on First Night. The Old State House is looking forward to a year of many more successful events. Stay tuned for upcoming events! John Brown: Terrorist or Martyr? - December 2, 2009 On December 2nd, Connecticut’s Old State House hosted the first in a series of four free lunchtime lectures. This first lecture focused on the Abolitionist John Brown, who led the revolt at Harpers Ferry in 1859 which ended with his trial and hanging. William Hosley, an independent scholar who was once the Executive Director at the former Antiquarian and Landmarks Society now known as Connecticut Landmarks and the Chief Curator for the American decorative arts at The Wadsworth Museum. He spoke about Brown’s background and how that groomed him to be one for fore front of human rights before the Civil War. He described the effects that his death on the nation, noting that two people scaled the Old State House to drape the Statute of Justice in black mourning cloth. Over 50 people came to the lecture which ran from noon to 1 p.m. This lecture can be viewed at: www.ctn.state.ct.us/ondemand.asp?ID=4961 Historic Halloween - October 30, 2009 With history in mind, the museum opened its doors for a Halloween event on October 30th. The evening began with a performance by the Judy Dworin Performance Project. The award-winning theatre/dance piece, “The Witching Hour,” explored Connecticut’s little known 17th-century witch craze, decades before the Salem witchcraft trials. After the dance performance, Former State Troubadour Mike Kachuba continued with the history of Connecticut by singing and playing historic songs on his hammered dulcimer. The highlight of the night was a reenactment of the 1865 murder trial of Albert Starkweather. Old State House staff acted out the parts of Starkweather, the defense attorney, the judge and a persistent old woman who disrupted the trial more than once. Starkweather’s account of the night her killed his mother and sister, punctuated by the screams of the old woman gave goose bumps to everyone in the Courtroom. Throughout the night, visitors were able to pay respects to Union General Nathaniel Lyon as he lay in state in the Senate room and check out one-night only additions to the Museum of Curiosities. The night ended with a moonlight tour of the Ancient Burying Ground, the oldest cemetery in downtown Hartford. Summer Saturday, July 11, 2009 The Old State House hosted its first Summer Saturday on July 11. This day was set up as an exciting pre-Riverfest event. The day’s happenings included guided and self-guided tour options, craft activities, a new exhibit in the Comptroller’s office, a hands-on activity room, a scavenger hunt in the “History Is All Around Us” exhibit in the Mortensen Gallery, a Civil War tent and market in the Holcombe Center, and many Living History Performances. Living History characters included Hannah Watson, former Connecticut Courant publisher, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., the fifth Connecticut Governor, Governor and Mrs. Buckingham, Connecticut’s Civil War Governor and his wife, Noah Webster, politician and author of the first American dictionary, and Joseph Steward, portrait artist and proprietor of Steward’s Museum. There was also a Civil War Encampment outside on the lawn all day which helped take visitors back to the time of the Civil War. They were able to experience how it felt to be up close and personal with soldiers stationed at a camp during the Civil War. Additionally, July 11 was the opening day of the Old State House Store! Blue Cherry Band - Friday, July 10, 2009 On Friday, July 10, 2009, the Old State House welcomed local rock and blues band The Blue Cherry Band for a free public concert on the lawn outside. On the other end of the lawn was Travelers, who set up tents and delighted the public with giveaways, including free t-shirts. Additionally, Sidewalk Sam was in State House Square, and children and their families were able to help draw an artistic mural on the brick walking area. All of the activity on the lawn attracted upwards of 1,000 people to this area of Hartford! 2009 Connecticut Open House Day

Over 175 curious visitors stopped by on June 13th to take advantage of Connecticut’s Open House Day at the Old State House. The day’s events at the museum included living history characters, scavenger hunt, guided history tours, arts & crafts and more! A special performance of Prudence Crandall & the Struggle for Equal Opportunity was given by the Connecticut History Day First Place team in the Junior Group category. The students were from Mansfield Middle School. Other performances of the day included Living History portrayals of the fifth Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. and former Connecticut Courant publisher Hannah Watson as well as accomplished Connecticut resident, politician and author of the first American dictionary, Noah Webster.
2009 Travelers Championship Events

On Wednesday May 13th 2009, Connecticut’s Old State House hosted the Travelers Championship’s “Red Umbrella Challenge,” kicking off fundraisers for the upcoming golf tournament with a mini golf game between media, tournament officials and Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez. The Red Umbrella Challenge had competitors face off on one hole set up on the Old State House Lawn. Instead of golf clubs, competitors used red umbrellas to hit their golf balls. Hartford Courant Sports Writer Tom Yantz took first place in the event, while WTIC News/Talk 1080 Sports Commentator Scott Gray acted as the Master of Ceremonies. After the media participated, curious onlookers were able to give the entire 9-hole course a try. Chip In For Charities and Birdies for Charities, the two fundraising programs kicked off by the Red Umbrella Challenge, will run the length of the tournament. Stop by Connecticut’s Old State House on June 16th for the official re-naming of Central Row to Champions Row in honor of the Travelers Championship. The street name change will last the duration of the tournament. Tickets for the tournament are available at the visitor’s desk at Connecticut’s Old State House. The tickets sell for $20, $12 below gate admission. Tickets will be available until June 26th.
2009 Inauguration Event

On Tuesday January 20^th, the world welcomed a new president of the United States and Connecticut’s Old State House opened its door to the public, free of charge, to witness the historic event with a television viewing of the ceremony.

Once the seat of our state government, Connecticut’s Old State House offered the perfect setting as the United States inaugurated its new president. Over 150 people sat in the courtroom as President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden took their oaths of office. The group clapped and laughed together, some even cried out with happiness. Visitors were allowed to bring their lunches and also had the opportunity to tour the museum when the speeches were over.

A camera crew from NBC 30 was on hand to cover the event.

Connecticut’s Old State House served as the Connecticut State Capitol from 1796 to 1873. The building was built with the hopes and dreams of democracy and a brighter future. As today’s event demonstrated, it still serves as “the people’s house” today and remains open to the public year-round as a museum and learning center.

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