Jonathan Trumbull: Returning to a Flagpole near You at Connecticut’s Old State House

Hartford, CT – Eight flagpoles line the perimeter of  Connecticut’s Old State House.  Today, bronze statues sit atop seven of them, depicting the likenesses of George Washington, Joseph Cinque, Prudence Crandall and other key figures in our state’s history.  For two years, one flagpole has stood vacant.  On Saturday, July 14, the statue of Jonathan Trumbull – Connecticut’s Revolutionary War governor – will be returned to its proper place in a ceremony beginning at 1 p.m. on the Old State House lawn.  (Rain date to be determined; visitors should check the Official Old State House Facebook Page or call 860-522-6766 after 9 a.m. in the event of inclement weather.)

The original Jonathan Trumbull statue was damaged in 2010, and was later returned to artist Randall Nelson to be recast.  At Saturday’s ceremony Nelson and (Old State House living history character) Jonathan Trumbull himself will be on hand as the approximately 4-foot tall statue is hoisted by crane and lowered onto the crown of the flagpole that flies the building’s Connecticut Flag.  Visitors can enjoy outdoor tours focusing on all eight statues and the part each figure played in our state’s fight for democracy during America’s earliest years.  The Old State House itself will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for  an even deeper adventure into Connecticut’s exciting, inspirational and unusual contributions to our great democratic experiment.

Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage). The cost, after validating, is $5.  The ticket will be stamped at the Welcome Desk.  The validation is good all day.

Nelson created the original eight statues in 1996, as part of the Old State House’s last major restoration; each figure from Connecticut history has a particular connection to the Old State House. He is a 2006 Graduate from Vermont College, Union Institute and University with a Masters in Visual Arts. Nelson has won multiple awards, including the Golden Hammer Award in 1997 his work on the Brownstone restoration of the historic Burnside Building in Worcester, Mass.  When Nelson is not working he teaches art at Quinebaug Vally Community College.

Throughout 2012, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on www.ctoldstatehouse.org for more information.

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

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