One of the thrills of staying with us at The Goodwin here in downtown Hartford, Connecticut is soaking up the building’s rich history, which began back in 1881 when the Goodwin brothers built it as an apartment complex. Although our hotel has been spectacularly renovated, it contains many lovely reminders of its heritage, from the iconic terracotta exterior to the original fireplaces within.
With a boutique guest room or suite at The Goodwin, in other words, you’re immersed in history. You’re also well poised to explore other historical attractions here in the Connecticut capital, a few standouts of which we’ll highlight today!
Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library (One Elizabeth Street)
Founded in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society chronicles the Constitution State’s history through museum collections, lectures, and educational programs. The CHS Museum & Library includes a vast array of artifacts, photos, manuscripts, and other historical items, and presents engaging exhibitions exploring different facets of Connecticut’s backstory. Current exhibitions include From Their Hands & Lands: Artifacts From Connecticut’s Enfield Shakers (through May 26th), which tells the story of the long-running Shaker community established in Enfield, CT in 1792; and Facing War: Connecticut in World War I (May 22nd through December 1st, 2018), exploring local effects of the First World War.
Museum of Connecticut History (231 Capitol Ave.)
Located within the Supreme Court and Connecticut State Library complex, the Museum of Connecticut History focuses on the state’s political, industrial, and military history. Its extensive exhibits include the portraits of Connecticut’s governors hung in Memorial Hall; the John C. Mitchelson Coin Collection (with currency dating back to the 17th century); original Connecticut copies of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution; and one of the most comprehensive collections of Colt firearms in the world.
The Mark Twain House & Museum (351 Farmington Ave)
One of Hartford’s leading historical attractions, the Mark Twain House & Museum comprises the home of the great American author and humorist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and his wife Livy, designed in 1873 by Edward Tuckerman Potter. Twain, who lived here with Livy from 1874 to 1891, wrote of the place, “It is a home—& the word never had so much meaning before.” Guided tours show off the resplendent interior, while museum exhibits delve into Twain’s life. The current exhibition is Tails of Twain: How Animals Shaped the Man & His Work, which includes such artifacts as Twain’s drawing of a dachshund and the Clemens family’s personal horse-drawn sleigh.
Dive deep into Hartford history with an edifying (and pampered) stay at one of the city’s defining landmarks, The Goodwin!
