Connecticut

Kent Station in Kent, Connecticut, now operating
as Connecticut Antique Machinery Association Museum

Connecticut has it all – beaches, mountains, parks, cities, quaint little towns, a beautiful river valley, lots of history, artists and art shops, casinos, amusement parks, several train rides and both train and trolley museums, art, history, the maritime trades, and many others.  All this and more in one little state located in New England.

 When I started on this week’s state I realized that most of my memories and impressions of Connecticut are from a very long time ago.  I was in college at the University of Bridgeport and then I lived in Hartford working prior to marrying my husband.  Since we’ve been married more than 50 years, then you know these memories are really old ones.



Air View of Stonington Borough,
the oldest borough in New England

Although the years have gone by, Connecticut is still basically the same place.  The cities have grown in size and I’m sure there are more little towns near New York City than there were then, but the countryside is still the same.  The history that was made in this area has only grown a little older.  Since Connecticut was one of the original colonies, its history dates back before the Revolutionary War.  In almost every town in Connecticut are statues, monuments, historical buildings and museums telling the stories of how Connecticut became one of the United States.



Point O'Woods Beach
South Lyme Connecticut

The United State Coast Guard is based in New London and there is a long maritime tradition.  Mystic Seaport is an excellent destination with many attractions including an excellent maritime museum. 



When I was in college at Bridgeport, our dorm was a massive three story home that rumor said was part of the original P. T. Barnum estate.  (No idea if that was true or not.)  The P. T. Barnum Museum and many old Victorian style homes are in Bridgeport.   Our dorm overlooked a large grassy area and beyond that was an access to the beach on the sound.  It was a fun place to go to school although I only stayed one semester due to lack of money.  At that time, school loans were something most girls just wouldn’t consider.  It was an era when most girls only worked or attended school until they married.   Aren’t you glad times have changed?

After I left school I moved to Hartford, the State Capitol, to work in an office that did research for the insurance industry.  One rainy Sunday my boyfriend (now my husband) drove down to visit me.   We wanted to get in out of the rain.  Since I lived in a girl’s rooming house with little privacy in the lounge area, we decided to see the Mark Twain House which was a short distance away with only a small entry fee.   It was a fascinating afternoon touring the home.  I believe they had just started giving tours at that time as we were the only people there.  The one thing that impressed me the most was the fireplace.  He wanted a window above the fireplace in the dining room so he could see the snowfall while enjoying his meal and the warmth from the fire.  The architect worked with him and they routed the flue around the window instead of having the chimney go straight up like an ordinary fireplace.   Mark Twain had a vivid imagination and many of his unique ideas are showcased in the home.  The home is still in Hartford and I’m sure the tour is still a marvelous one.  In addition to the house, there is also a museum now.

Their website is http://www.marktwainhouse.org/

A large portion of the population of Connecticut is in the extreme southeast corner of the state, near New York City.  This area is home to many who work in the city and prefer living in the country or smaller suburban towns.

As always, I recommend you check out Wikipedia or the state tourist website for specific information on places that you might enjoy.   The website for Connecticut tourism is:

  http://www.ctvisit.com/     This is an interactive site including a map of each area highlighting the places to visit.