Getting Started
As someone who has been able to go out and explore much of this state—thanks to my experiences writing the "Being There" and "Sunday Drive" columns for Connecticut Magazine over the past few years, in addition to other projects I've worked on—I've been asked many questions about what to do and things to see, aside from the ones that everyone already knows about. Here are a few of my lesser-known favorites—
Coolest Place You Probably Don't Know About - Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Mashantucket. Like many, when I visit Foxwoods, the first place I go to is the gaming floor or maybe a restaurant (you know, to have something to eat before I start donating my cash to them), so it was only on an assignment for the magazine that I discovered this place, and I was truly impressed. In terms of museums, it rivals anything in the nation, and is almost Disneyesque in its presentation. (Obviously, some of the gaming revenues have been well spent.) The displays and interactive exhibits are informative and cool, and some of the larger exhibits (like the Pequot Village) almost put EPCOT to shame. I'm not necessarily a big fan of Native American history, but it really couldn't have been made any more accessible and interesting than this. Without a doubt, one of the "hidden" gems of the state—tucked away behind the glitz and flash of the casino.
Place That Offers Much More Than Meets the Eye - The Old State House, Hartford. Okay, your first thought might be, "Come on, history? Boring!"—hey, that was my first thought. But there are two sections of this museum that you don't hear much about that make it well worth a visit. The first is the Joseph Steward Museum of Curiosities and Natural History, tucked away on the second floor. Granted, this is more of a "large room" than an actual "museum" (see above), but there's all sorts of cool stuff here that evokes the popular "Cabinet of Curiosities" of the 18th century, including a two-headed calf and "a unicorn horn" (that looks suspiciously like a narwhal's tusk). Still, a quick, fun step back into the amusements of yesteryear.
The other part of the museum, literally hidden in the basement, is "History is All Around Us," a great, large interactive showcase of Connecticut History. In addition to hundreds of photos, there are dozens of objects here, from clocks, engines and guitars to a full antique firetruck. Really an amazing chronicle of our state well worth seeing, and one I almost didn't visit because I didn't figure anything that extensive would be relegated to the basement. Maybe a few more signs or ads letting people know this exhibit exists would be welcome.
Most Interesting Hole in the Ground - Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine, East Granby. I will say right off the bat that an old 18th-century prison and copper mine may not sound like it's for everyone, but if you appreciate history, this one is well worth a visit. The museum does a nice job of presenting the site's dark and cruel history, sharing the stories you really want to hear, i.e. tales of horribly failed escapes and bloody prison riots. The actual mine/prison itself also doesn't disappoint—as you descend the stairs into the earth, the temperature drops and the dampness increases with each step. It doesn't take too much imagination to picture why someone thought the dark, cramped would make a good prison. It also easy to understand why there are multiple stories of the place being haunted—voices echo and bounce around the circular chamber, and it's easy to think you're seeing odd shapes among the cold shadows.
Two quick notes: 1. It's very wet and slippery down in the mine, so this is not the place for your 6-inch stilettos. 2. It's always the same temperature, around 50-55 degrees F, so it's a (literally) cool place to visit on a steamy summer day.
Getting Started
