The 175th Anniversary of The Amistad Hearings at Connecticut’s Old State House

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For Immediate Release

September 15 2014

Contact: Chris Zaccaro

(860) 522-6766 ext. 116

chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

 

This Friday, September 19^th marks the 175^th Anniversary of The Amistad Hearings at Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford. To mark this significant event in our state’s history, the Old State House will begin hosting a special exhibit featuring objects relating to the Amistad trial, including the original keys to the Hartford Jail, a bust of the African prisoners’ leader, Cinque, as well as images and speeches from the famous case. The exhibit will be open for General Admission viewing through August 2015.

Another new exhibit featuring items related to the famous abolitionist John Brown will be open for General Admission viewing starting September 19^th as well. Brown, a Connecticut native, led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in order to start an armed insurrection to end slavery. This special exhibit will feature images of Brown and a reproduction of the fort at Harper’s Ferry.

Visitors will be able to get a special sneak peek of the new Amistad and John Brown exhibits this Thursday, September 18^th at Noon with the debut of the Old State House’s new themed-tour, A Great Storm Swept Over Us: African American History at the Old State House. Through this guided tour visitors will learn the story of the famous Amistad trials of 1839, learn about slavery in our state and discover how some citizens fought to overcome the status quo.

Future tours are scheduled to take place once a month after October 2014; however groups may schedule to take the tour at a separate time by making a special reservation through Old State House Visitor Services at (860) 522-6766. To view upcoming dates for all of the Old State House’s themed-tours and other public events, visit the online calendar on the Old State House website at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

These new exhibits are made possible through the loan of objects by The Amistad Center for Art and Culture and the Connecticut Historical Society. Connecticut’s Old State House is one of more than 130 sites on Connecticut’s Freedom Trail, which documents and designates sites that embody the struggle toward freedom and human dignity and celebrates the accomplishments of Connecticut’s African-American community.

Located in Hartford, a short walk from the Wadsworth, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase great, quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. The Old State House Farmers Market, the oldest of its kind in the state, is open Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the summer. 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 or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

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