History is All Around Us

Connecticut Historical Society
Hartford, Connecticut

For over 200 years, the Charles Bullfinch-designed Old State House has graced downtown Hartford. Saved from destruction in 1921 by a group of private citizens, it remains an important symbol of the state’s history. Today the Connecticut Historical Society manages the building, offering tours of the restored senate chamber, council room, and courtroom.

A new permanent exhibit devoted to the history of Hartford is a significant addition to the experience. The exhibit show visitors that “history is all around us.” It’s in the landscape and in the buildings where we live and work. What we say, write, photograph, and film is history. It’s in the clothes we wear, the tools we use, and the food we eat. Even the ways we have fun are part of history. Exhibits explore this concept through the lens of Hartford-specific stories and artifacts.

Size: 6,800 sf.
Budget: $1.2 million
Completion: 2006

Architects: Tecton Architects, Inc.
Media Design: Northern Light Productions
Lighting Design: Available Light
Exhibit Fabrication: Malone, Inc.

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