State Capitol: Connecticut State Capitol - Hartford, CT

Connecticut State Capitol

Hartford, CT

N 41° 45.832 W 072° 40.957

Under the Dome

Short Description: 

Connecticut State Capitol is located on a hill at the north end of Bushnell Park at 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

Long Description:

After the Civil War it was evident that the old State House was inadequate, so the General Assembly authorized a million dollar project to construct a new building in Hartford. Richard M. Upjohn was chosen as the architect and James G. Batterson the contractor. As contrator, Batterson then continually revised Upjohn's plan. The central tower is Batterson's design, not Upjohn's. Construction began in 1871 and ended in 1878. Cost overruns more than doubled the cost to over $2,500,000.

The resulting highly ornate building is a masterpiece of Eastlake style design. The building's facades display statuary and include several statues, medallions and carved tympana over the doors. The statues are of people important to the state's history including: Connecticut's founder the Reverend Thomas Hooker, Governor John Winthrop, Jr., Roger Sherman, Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Noah Webster, and the newest addition Governor Ella T. Grasso, the first female governor of the state who died in 1981.