Hartford, Connecticut

We arrived in Hartford CT on 8/2/12 in time for the 9:15 capital tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, but she was on a tight time line, so we felt like we were rushed.

It was a shame, because Ron and I agreed that this was the most impressive state capital so far and we would have certainly enjoyed more "insider information"

 It was absolutely breath taking and beautiful.

State seal

The marble and stencils on the walls throughout, date back to

 1878 when the construction was compete.

This is the "Genius of Connecticut" at one time it was on the very top of the capital, it now sits in a main hall, 5 floors below the dome. She was brought down to restore and now the state does not have enough money to place it back atop the dome.

A view of the dome above the Genius of Connecticut statue,



These are original flags from many of the regiments in the Civil war. It was inspiring to see the fine hand work that went into each flag.

One of the many marble staircases throughout the capital

The House of Representatives-the seats were facing toward the front of the room and we were standing over the top of where the Lieutenant Governor presides. A different arrangement that we have not seen before.

 

The above pictures were taken in the Senate chamber. The chair that we were sitting on is the chair that the Majority leader sits in during session and it is also called the wishing chair. As you can see it is very ornate with intricate carving. I could not think of an appropriate wish, as all my wishes and dreams are coming true.

 After we left the capital, we toured the Ancient Burying Ground

The Ancient Burying Ground is the oldest historic site in

Hartford, and the only one surviving cemetery from the 1600's.



These young ladies were our guides and they were just delightful.

They are chosen after several interviews and they volunteer for 8 weeks.

There were no caskets in that era, the bodies were wrapped in a blanket and then put in the hole. Many people are buried in this cemetery that could not afford a headstone. So when the undertaker had another body to bury, he would take a pole and poke the ground. If the pole met resistance he would move over to the side and try again, until he found an area with no resistance. 

If you were wealthy enough you had a head stone and a foot stone.

This is the Founders Monument-commemorating the people that started the preservation of the cemetery in 1896. It had fallen in disrepair and a new one was resurrected in 1985.

This was the original state house and it was replaced in 1878. We were very

disappointed with this state house. The only thing original was the exterior.

 

These were exterior steps that led the way out from the second floor, so the politicians

 could arrive and leave and not go through the main hallways.

 

Peace arch honoring the soldiers of the Civil War. It was way to hot and muggy at the end of our day to get any closer and read the plaque and get closer pictures.