The capital of Connecticut, Hartford is the third largest city in the state. It is also known as the Insurance City, as many insurance companies are based there. Two famous writers, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain, lived in Hartford during the 19th century. Hartford lies in the north-central part of the state on the Connecticut River. Places of interestThe state capitol is one of the city's greatest buildings. It was completed in 1879 and is made of marble and granite. It houses several interesting objects, such as the tombstone of Israel Putnam, a hero of the American Revolution. The three-story state legislature building was built of brick in 1796. Designed by Charles Bulfinch, it stands as a reminder of colonial times. The Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest free public art museum in the United States. It opened in Hartford in 1844. Trinity College and Hartford Seminary are based in the city. The city is also home to The Hartford Courant, the oldest newspaper in the country that is still in business. EconomyHartford's most important business activity is insurance. It dates back to 1794, when the first Hartford fire insurance policy was issued. Financial institutions, government, and hospitals provide many jobs as well. The city's factories produce aircraft parts, firearms, and tools. HistoryDutch traders were the first Europeans to explore the area. They built a fort in 1633 at the mouth of the Park River, which joins the Connecticut River. The first settlement was made in 1635, when John Steele and some 60 Englishmen came from New Towne, Massachusetts. Today, New Towne is known as Cambridge. In 1639, a constitution called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was adopted in Hartford. This later served as a model for the U.S. Constitution. In 1662, the king of England granted a charter, or written document, giving the colony a great amount of freedom. In 1687, when an English official attempted to take away the colony's charter, the document was hidden in an oak tree. A monument on Charter Oak Avenue marks the site of the historic tree. From 1701, Hartford and New Haven were the joint capitals of Connecticut. In 1875, Hartford became the only capital of the state. Population (2000 census), 121,578. |