Old State House (Hartford)
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| Old State House, Hartford, Connecticut | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1792 |
| Architect: | Charles Bulfinch |
| Architectural style(s): | Other, Federal |
| Designated as NHL: | December 19, 1960[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000878 |
| Governing body: | Local |
The Old State House (completed 1796) in Hartford, Connecticut is generally believed to have been designed by noted American architect Charles Bulfinch as his first public building. The State House is currently under the direction of The Old State House Association, Inc. The exterior building and the Senate have been restored to its original Federal style; the Representative's chamber is Victorian, and the halls and courtroom are Colonial Revival.
The Hartford State House is, in appearance, very similar to the Town Hall of Liverpool, England, built in the mid-1700s and perhaps depicted in one of Bulfinch's architecture books. However, all materials came from the United States. Its first story is 20 feet high and constructed from Portland, Connecticut brownstone. The second and third stories are brick patterned in Flemish bond. The cornice is wooden.
The State House has been modified somewhat since it was first built. As originally constructed, the building had neither balustrade or cupola, but the balustrade was added in the early 1800s for the protection of firemen, and the cupola was constructed in 1827 with its bell and John Stanwood's statue of Justice. An original (1796) stone spiral staircase behind the northern arch, designed by Asher Benjamin, led to the second and third floors; it no longer exists.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.[1][3]
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[edit] References
- ^ a b Old Statehouse (Connecticut). National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ James Dillon (1974), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Old Hartford State HousePDF (449 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 9 photos, from 1970 and 1974PDF (915 KiB)
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