Hartford, CT is one of the oldest metro areas in America. Located in the Connecticut River Valley, Hartford has a diverse population from all walks of live. Hartford’s central business district is home to a number of historic attractions and entertainment venues, and nearby vineyards, state parks and ski slopes provide plenty of recreational opportunities throughout the year.
Among the cultural gems located in Hartford are:
The Wadsworth Atheneum – Founded in 1842 with a vision for infusing art into the American experience, the Museum is home to a collection of nearly 50,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years and encompassing European art from antiquity to contemporary as well as American art from the 1600s through today. The Wadsworth offers free admission to all Hartford Residents. General Admission is around $15 for non residents.
Literature buffs can tour the historic homes of authors Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
The Mark Twain House – designed by New York architect Edward Tuckerman Potter, the family moved into their house in 1874. Mark Twain and his family enjoyed what the author would later call the happiest and most productive years of his life in their Hartford home. “It is a home – and the word never had so much meaning before.”
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center preserves and interprets Stow’s Hartford home and the Center’s historic collections, promotes vibrant discussion of her live and work, and inspires commitment to social justice and positive change.
Performance venues help round out the cultural landscape, some of which include:
The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts. For over 80 years, the Bushnell has been central to the life of Greater Hartford serving as a unique gathering place for arts, education and community activities. Offering a large variety of live performances from Broadway productions to local chorales, the Bushnell provides cultural entertainment to its audience.
Hartford Stage – Renowned for producing innovative revivals of classics, as well as provocative new plays and musicals, Hartford State has earned many of the nations’s most prestigious awards, including the 1989 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Additional national recognition included honors from the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and the New York Critics Circle.
Sea Tea Comedy and Improv – The mission of Sea Tea Comedy Theater is to present high-quality, affordable, original entertainment to a diverse audience. By providing opportunities and a home for comedians and performers, we cultivate an inclusive comedy community and springboard top regional talent to a national level.
Spot Light Theater – Catch a movie, a drink and a snack at the Front Street Spotlight Theater. Relaxed seating and yes, you can snack and drink while you are enjoying the movie.
TheaterWorks – Founded in 1985, TheaterWorks’ mission is to produce high quality, contemporary theater that is relevant to their audiences, engages a diverse community, and provides insight into the human experience. TheaterWorks presents approximately 225 performances per season. The company’s repertory includes the hottest, most current plays—plays usually sold-out in New York, Chicago, and London— presented in a gem-like 191-seat theater where the farthest seat is only 8 rows from the stage.
