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Copyright © 2004 Old
State House 800 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103 860.522.6766
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The Old State House
Built in 1796 and designed by Charles Bulfinch, the Old State House in Hartford
is one of the oldest State Houses in the United States. When the new capitol
building opened in 1879, the Old State House became Hartford City Hall until
1915. Today, the Old State House is designated a National Historic Landmark
by the U. S. Department of the Interior and serves as a museum.
Cannon
The Old State House opens and closes each day with a salute from its
cannon. The cannon is a reproduction of a American Revolutionary War
era cannon. It can fire a three-pound cannonball.
It is fired to commemorate the historic meeting of George Washington
and Compte de Rochambeau, the leader of the French Army in America,
which took place on this site in 1780.
Fence
In 1834, a cast iron fence with axes and oak leaves was built around the State House yard. When the post office was constructed next to the Old State House in 1883, the fence was removed. In 1934 it was proposed to bring the old fence back to the State House grounds. New brownstone foundations were set at that time. The current fence as seen in the picture is from the most recent restoration of the building completed in 1996. The oak leaves symbolize Connecticut's Charter Oak Tree; the axes symbolize the authority of the state.
Cupola
In October 1826, the State of Connecticut contracted John Stanwood
to build a cupola on the Old State House, similar to the one on the
city hall in New York. The cupola, complete with a statue of Justice, was finished in 1827. The cupola was built to house a bell
that is still in place, but today a more modern carillon is used to
chime the hour and bring music to everyone in the area. A clock was
added to the cupola in 1848. Today's clock is a 1918 replacement.
Compass
This compass is on the floor in front of the Old State House visitor
information desk. The circle in the center serves a special purpose.
When you are outside of Hartford and see a sign telling you the distance
to Hartford, the distance is measured from this point.
Theater and Puppet Stage
The Theater is a more recent addition to the Old State House. It allows
the museum to hold a variety of performances and meetings. One of
our regular performances in this space is a puppet show. The puppet
stage is a model of the Old State House and houses puppets that are
based on the animals in Mr. Steward's Museum. The puppet show, The
Legend of the Charter Oak, is performed on Saturdays and for groups
during the week.
First Floor Hall
This hall looks as it did after the 1920 restoration of the building. It was refurbished in the Colonial Revival style at that time. Would you believe that these stairs were not originally part of the building? In 1796 this area was an open arcade and there was a spiral staircase on one end. There were also gates on either end like the ones that are on the outside now. The gates are a reproduction of the original ones. The wood doors were not here either and for many years this area was not enclosed. The wind, rain, leaves and snow could blow right through this area of the building!
Courtroom
This is the room that housed Connecticut's Supreme Court for many
years. It looks as it did after the 1920 restoration of the building
and is refurbished in the Colonial Revival style. It is not known
what the original architectural detail and furniture in the room looked
like. After the Supreme Court moved to a new state capitol-building in 1879
the Old State House became Hartford City Hall and this room was divided
up into several offices. Now the room can be rented for various functions.
Offices
On the first floor, across from the Courtroom, the space is divided into three rooms. From 1796 to 1879 these rooms were variously used for offices of the Treasurer, Comptroller, School Fund Commissioner and the Governor. The Governor's office was the room in the southeast corner. A door was added in this room so the Governor had a private entrance to his office.
Justice
At the top of the stairs on the second floor is this statue of
Justice. She is made of white pine wood and covered with gold paint.
She was on top of the building from 1827-1976, 149 years!
The statue was brought inside to protect her in 1976 and a new fiberglass
Justice was placed on top of the building in 1979.
Senate
This is the room where the Connecticut State Senate met from 1796 until 1878. The room is restored to look as it did from 1796 until 1820. The high ceilings, elaborate woodwork, and bright colors are typical of the Federal style of that time. This spruce yellow is the color the walls were painted in 1796. The portrait of Washington by Gilbert Stuart was hung in 1801.
Senate Table and Chairs
The 29-foot table is a reproduction of the original table made by Samuel Kneeland in 1796. It has 18 places, each with its own drawer. Before the new state constitution of 1818, the Senate was called the Governor's Council. The Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, Treasurer, Comptroller, and Quartermaster General joined the 12 council members. The original chairs were made by Lemuel Adams in 1796. The oil lamps are reproductions made in 1996.
George Washington
In May 1800, during the first session following George Washington's death in 1799, the Connecticut State Legislature met in the Old State House and voted to commission a portrait of George Washington to be painted by Gilbert Stuart. The portrait was brought here in early 1801. Gilbert Stuart's images of Washington were very popular. The Stuart Washington at the Old State House is the only one that hangs in the original place for which it was commissioned. It is on permanent loan to the Old State House from the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut State Library.
City Council
Originally the State of Connecticut House of Representatives used
this room. In 1879, when a new state capitol building opened,
the Old State House became Hartford City Hall. The city made quite
a few changes to both the interior and exterior of the building. This
room is restored to look as it did while the city council for the
city of Hartford met here. The coloring, stenciled walls and ceiling,
draperies and carpet are all typical elements of decoration from the
Victorian Era.
Stencil Detail
This is a close up look at the stenciling that adorns the walls in
the city council room of the Old State House. Stencils were commonly
used in decoration during the Victorian time period. Even the ceiling
of the room is stenciled to match the walls.
Lights
This is one of the light fixtures that can be found in the city council
room of the Old State House. Notice the fixtures are pointed in two
different directions. Before electricity was invented, the lights
in the building were powered by gas. Electricity was added to the
building around 1890. The gas fixtures weren't removed. The electric
lights were added to them. Which fixtures do you think were powered
by gas? The gaslights had a flame that would point up, so
the upward facing fixtures were powered by gas. They are now all electric
lights.
Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
This clock can be found in the northwest corner of the City Council
Room. Timothy Cheney of Hartford made the clock before the American
Revolutionary War. The inscription reads: " This clock once the property
of Thomas Seymour, First Mayor of Hartford, 1784-1812, Is presented
to the City of Hartford to stand in the Old State House in memory
of Leverett Brainard, Mayor of Hartford, 1894-1896." The clock continues
to chime every hour.
Quilt of Connecticut Symbols and Landmarks
The Suburban Woman's Club of West Hartford made this quilt in the
early 1990s. The quilt is 7 feet long and 6 feet wide. It shows many
important Connecticut symbols and landmarks including: the Old State
House, State Capitol, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, Mark Twain
House, Charter Oak Tree, Nutmeg, the State Flower (Mountain Laurel),
State Bird (American Robin), State Animal (Sperm Whale), State Insect
(European "praying" Mantis), State Armorial Bearings, and the Compass
Rose.
Balcony
Above the City Council there is a balcony with benches for
the public to watch the proceedings. The seating was installed as part of the original construction of the building. Today access to the balcony is restricted for public safety reasons. Here is an opportunity to see the view you would get of the City Council if you were seated on the balcony.
Joseph Steward's Museum of Curiosities
Joseph Steward, a portrait painter, began operating a painting studio
in 1796 in the attic of the Old State House. In 1797 he opened a museum of paintings and "natural and other curiosities."
In 1996 the Old State House created this room (which had been an office) in the spirit of Steward's Museum of Curiosities.
This is the end of your tour! Click here for a detailed description of the Old State House architecture or information regarding credits of photographs used in the tour.
