Things to do in Hartford

When you move to Colt Gateway, there are many great things to do in the Hartford area. This city is home to some of the most culturally significant places in United States history. Below are a few excellent places to visit while you are living a life of luxury with us. They may be in some sort of order, but I must stress that this is not some sort of ranking. All the attractions listed are great ways to spend time in Hartford!

For more information about living at Colt Gateway, please reach out to our rental office today. We will happily answer any questions you may have about our apartments in Hartford. The number for our office is 860-522-5000. When you call, we can provide you with a free consultation to go over the benefits at living in our modern apartments. Send in an application today.

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Places to See, Things To Do

The Mark Twain House & Museum

Located at 351 Farmington Ave in Hartford, Famous American writer, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) lived in this house with his family from 1874-1891. He wrote some of his most iconic literary works here. This includes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The massive home has nearly 30 rooms including a grand hallway and library. The billiard room is here, too, where Twain composed many of his famous literature. 

Connecticut State Capitol

Located north of Capitol Avenue, The Capitol is one of Connecticut’s architectural marvels. Declared a National Historic landmark in 1971, it is only the third capital building constructed since 1792. Today, the Connecticut State Senate and Connecticut House of Representatives convene at this building regularly. The Capitol is open to the public. During the week, check out one of the tours!

Elizabeth Park

Located at 1561 Asylum Ave in West Hartford, Elizabeth Park is home to various fields of beautiful flowers including our nation’s oldest municipal rose garden. After enjoying the wonderful flowers and taking dozens of photos, the Pond House Cafe attracts many visitors every day. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset and is a fantastic place to have a picnic, go for a walk or run and simply relax. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Located at 77 Forest Street in Hartford, this place offers a look in the life and work of best-selling author and civil rights pioneer, Harriet Beecher Stowe. The famous “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” author fought for equality and social justice of African Americans and her work lives on today. The center offers interactive and educational tours that are sure to enlighten and inspire all who visit. https://www.loc8nearme.com/connecticut/hartford/harriet-beecher-stowe-center/6491239/

Wadsworth Atheneum

Located on 600 Main St., this renowned art museum is just a twenty-minute walk from our apartment complex. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art was founded in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth and is the oldest continuously-operating art museum in the United States. It officially opened its doors in 1844 and has a great legacy of first, paving the way for other encyclopedic museums across the country. The museum’s collection has grown to hold around 50,000 works of art, which spans 5,000 of human history, making it a great place to spend a day.

Bushnell Park

Located by Elm, Jewell and Trinity streets, this park is the oldest publicly funded park in the United States. It was built in 1868 and is comprised of over 50 acres of green grass. There are some monuments and structures scattered throughout the park, including the Horace Wells Monument, after the pioneering dentist and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, which commemorates Civil Wars soldiers. Their paths through the park lead right to the East Coast Greenway, which is an excellent biking and hiking route. This park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Connecticut Science Center

This nine-story museum is a great place to bring your kids to learn and have fun. It is located at 250 Columbus Blvd., within walking distance of the Connecticut River. This building opening in 2009 and has many great interactive exhibits that are consisted of videos, audios, visuals, programs and live demonstrations. There is also a theater that has stadium-style seating, a 30×40 ft screen, an 18,000 watt sound system, and 3D capabilities. Click here to visit Connecticut Science Center.

Connecticut Historical Society

The Connecticut Historical Society is a private organization that is the official historical society of Connecticut. It is one of the oldest historical societies in the country, since it was established in 1825. This society is a non-profit museum, library, education center and archive that is available to the public. The goal of the society is to connect you to the story of Connecticut. There are over 270,000 artifacts and graphics on location, as well as over 100,000 books and pamphlets. Two permanent exhibits are “Making Connecticut” and  “Inn & Tavern Signs.”

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

This plaza is a very popular park that is located right in downtown Hartford. It is a centerpiece of the larger Riverfront park system. There is a large stage near the river, which hosts a variety of performances. It has grass-covered terraces and offers seating to more than 2,500 people. The stairs at the plaza are a great place for exercising, as well as simply relaxing and watching the river. There is an annual dragon boat festival and this plaza is a prime location to view that event. There are trails along the riverfront, which are fun and provide you with a great view of the city.

Museum of Connecticut History

This great museum is located in the same building that houses the State Library and Supreme Court. This building went up in 1920 and has been a historical landmark ever since. The visit to the museum starts at Memorial Hall. It begins with the portraits of the former Connecticut Governors. This hall also contains display boxes with important historical documents, including the state’s original Royal Charter that was written in 1662. Other notable collections are the Colt Firearms Collection, the Mitchelson Coin Collection, and the Connecticut Collection, which contains flags, portraits, weapons, uniforms, and many other historical objects. 

Coltsville National Park

Come visit one of the coolest national parks on the east coast! It was made a national park in 2014 by President Obama and is a wonderful place to bring a family. See the history of Samuel Colt up close and how his innovation has fueled what is there now.

Thomas Hooker Brewery

If you are looking for a brewery in Hartford, well, there are plenty. But there is only one that is attached to Colt Gateway and that is The Thomas Hooker Brewery. This is a great place to unwind after a long day and can be the epicenter of your social life. This brewery is a warehouse-style taproom, but it also has wonderful outdoor seating. And the beers they have on tap are always great! Don't have time to stay? They also make it easy for you and provide beer on-the-go. So you can take home some of their collection of canned beers. You can also drop by to fill your growler!

This is just a small list of some fascinating and fun places for people of all ages to do while living in our luxury apartments in Hartford CT. And by living in one of our luxurious apartments, you will be afforded the opportunity to experience all that Hartford has to offer! There are many great benefits to moving into our Hartford apartments. We pride ourselves on providing affordable living space to people who want to live at Colt Gateway and the Hartford area. And our apartments are both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. We know the importance of living with pets and we do not want you to have to make a limiting decision.