The Message and the Media: Campaigning in the Age of Facebook

Hartford, CT – First it was music and stumping, then it was lawn signs and mailers. Now, it’s Facebook and Twitter. Campaigning for public office has changed drastically over the life of our democracy. Can a candidate win with a highly-programmed and controlled message in direct mail and on television? Is the press corps irrelevant in today’s campaigns? On December 5, join the Old State House for “The Message and the Media: Campaigning in the Age of Facebook” and take a look at campaigning, then and now.  

At 11:30 a.m. well-known historical musician Rick Spencer performs campaign songs from the virulent 1856 presidential campaign between James Buchanan, John C. Fremont, and Millard Fillmore.

At Noon, Quinnipiac University Professor of Journalism Richard Hanley explores the post-media political era and discusses the evolution of campaigning for public office. His brief presentation will be followed by a lively panel discussion moderated by the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith. Prof. Hanley will be joined by Wayne Winsley, a recent candidate for the 3^rd Congressional District; Patrick Scully, political commentator and former Director of Communications and Media for the state Senate Democrats; and Kenny Curran, campaign manager for Chris Murphy’s victorious 2012 Senate run. The presentation and panel discussion will last one hour.

Bring your lunch and enjoy this FREE program! Register for the presentation and panel discussion here

This program is made possible through funding by Connecticut Humanities.

 

Up Next at the Old State House: January 16, 2013, Noon, Myths and Legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation Issued on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, what exactly did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Join Dr. Matthew Warshauer, author of Connecticut in the American Civil War, for a spirited exploration of this famous document and its impact. The Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate a panel discussion with Dr. Warshauer;  Elizabeth Rose, historian for the Promise of Freedom exhibition at  the Fairfield Museum and History Center; and Alona Wilson, curator of the upcoming exhibit Emancipation! at the Amistad Center for Art and Culture.

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 once admission is paid at the museum.  The validation is good all day.

Throughout 2013, 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.

####

“Inspiring Change: Leadership Starts With You” Town Hall Meeting Hosted at the Old State House

Can a parent really make a difference in the community? The answer was a resounding “yes” from a crowd of 75 at a town-hall style meeting from the Old State House on Thursday, November 15.

Connecticut’s Old State House, in partnership with the Connecticut Network, Connecticut Commission on Children, Civic Health Index Advisory Board and the Parent Leadership Training Institute, hosted a live, televised town hall meeting entitled, Inspiring Change: Leadership Starts With You. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill provided opening remarks and the discussion was moderated by Diane Smith. The program focused on how parents and others can become community leaders with the help of the Parent Leadership Training Institute. A panel of state leaders and local school board and town council members, including State Representative Cathy Abercombie and Bridgeport community leader Donna Thompson-Bennett. 

View the program here - http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8394

Letters From the Front: A Dramatic Reading

On Wednesday, November 14, the Old State House traveled back to World War II for a dramatic reading from “Dear Eva,” a new play by Connecticut authors Paul Janensch and Catherine Ladnier based on letters written during the conflict by friends and relatives. Audience members experienced the fear and worry felt by the Greatest Generation as the letters touched on life during wartime. They explored relationships and army life with humor and an unexpected honesty.

Photo by Gary Denmark

Following the performance, the audience learned how Central Connecticut State University’s Veterans History Project preserves the stories of the men and women who have served our nation in war and peace from Director Eileen Hurst.  The project records the wartime stories of Connecticut veterans and the school is now an archive partner with the Library of Congress.

The entire program can be viewed by visiting the Connecticut Network’s On Demand section or by clicking here http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8391.

 A trove of letters saved by Eva Lee Brown of South Carolina, were discovered after her death by her daughter, Catherine Ladnier of Greenwich. Ladnier invited Janensch, a former newspaper editor and professor emeritus of journalism at Quinnipiac University to join her as a collaborator in bringing Eva’s story to the stage.  The letters featured references to the 853^rd Engineers Aviation Battalion, which included many Connecticut men.

Be A Part of EnvisionFest Hartford at Connecticut’s Old State House

Think that there is nothing to do in Hartford? Join Connecticut’s Old State House on Saturday, September 29 for EnvisionFest Harford and spend the day exploring the city’s rich history of innovation and its exciting future! The Old State House will be open for free from 10 AM to 4 PM and will offer special tours and activities featuring some of Connecticut’s most important innovators.

Visitors will be able to choose from an array of activities showcasing Connecticut innovators and Old State House treasures like

• Meet historic innovators such as Prudence Crandall and Frances Ellen Burr as you stroll through the building’s restored rooms.
• Use family-friendly hands-on activities, including a fun scavenger hunt to  explore the building, its stories and unusual objects—like a 2-headed calf and Mark Twain’s bicycle.
• Pick up some  healthy local fruits and veggies at a special Saturday OSH Farmers Market, a tradition started by the General Assembly in 1643.
• See old Hartford through new eyes in three exhibitions:

Ø  There’s a Map for That: excerpted from a recent exhibit sponsored by the Hartford Public Library’s Hartford History Center at and Connecticut Explored. The exhibit showcases Hartford’s evolution through maps and birds-eye views

Ø  A new temporary display of images located in the Treasurer’s Office area that shows the Old State House and its neighborhood over time.

Ø  History Is All Around Us: an interactive exhibition developed by the Connecticut Historical Society that explores Hartford’s rich and innovative past with lots of historical artifacts and hands on activities.

The Old State House is going to pulse with music throughout the day:

·         10:30 am: The Alumni Senior Drum & Bugle Corps in the Main Street Court yard   

·         11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm: Drummer Bob Bloom brings in his colorful cargo of drums and percussion trinkets that will take everyone on drum ride with the highest octane songs that Hartford has ever heard. Each show lasts a half hour.

·         2 pm: St. Peter Drum Corp

·         3 pm: The Sweetest Key—an amazing all-female, Hartford area a cappella group, that brings its love of music, passion for singing, and unique and powerful harmonies to the OSH courtyard and the streets of Hartford

Parking is easy and convenient! Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage) for $5 and is good for the entire day. For more information on this program and other activities go to www.envisionfesthartford.com



Barstools to Ballots presents Back to the Future of Transportation: How will we get around Hartford?

Hartford, CT –Hartford, CT: How does transportation shape our lives and environment?  How has it impacted Hartford’s development?  How will you navigate the city in the future?  Join in the conversation about these important questions on Monday, September 10 when Connecticut’s Old State House hosts the second program in its popular Barstools to Ballots series.  Co-sponsored with Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE), this informal evening program and networking opportunity encourages attendees to join in the discussion about the past, present and future of transportation in Hartford.

Christine Stuart editor of CT News Junkie will moderate the evening’s discussion. Thomas Maziarz, Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau Chief of Policy and Planning will discuss the agency’s priorities and projects, including the CTFastrak Project.   Other panelists are: Richard Deluca, author of Post Roads and Iron Horses, and BikeWalkCT board member, Christopher Brown. 

The Old State House doors will open at 5:30 PM for networking and refreshments.  The program will start at 6 PM. Salute Restaurant will provide appetizers and a cash bar. Pre-registration is $8 for HYPE members and $10 for others. All walk-ins are $12 at the door. Go to www.HYPEHartford.com to register for the program. 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 Old State House will tweet live from the event.  To be part of the conversation, follow @CTOldStateHouse and use #CTBar2Ballot. Funding for Barstools to Ballots is provided by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The Old State House offers a variety of year round 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.

HYPE’s mission is to help young professionals become better engaged in community life, expand professional and social opportunities and become ambassadors for the Hartford Region. In the process, they endeavor to position the Hartford Region as an attractive area for diverse young professionals and entrepreneurs to live, work and play. HYPE caters to young professionals and entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s from the Hartford Region, though they invite professionals of all ages to participate.  

Constitution Plaza: Did it Rip the Heart out of Hartford or Save the City?

Hartford, CT –Historian Jason Scappaticci explores the creation of Constitution Plaza – and the “new” city that grew up around it – on Wednesday, August 1 in the latest installment of Conversations at Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House.   Join us for this free, hour long program!

The planning and development of Constitution Plaza took over a decade, and almost didn't happen at all. This 1960s urban renewal project forever changed the face of Hartford when it replaced a tightly knit city neighborhood, home to newly-arriving immigrants, to a landscape of modern office buildings, shops and a decorative water fountain

Following Mr. Scappaticci’s talk, the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate a lively panel discussion including Mr. Scappaticci as well as the Deputy Director of the Connecticut Trust for the Historic Preservation Christopher Wigren and Tom Deller, the Hartford Director of Development Services. Panelists will discuss the impact of Constitution Plaza on the city, along with current urban development projects such as iQuilt. 

Parking is easy. 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. The Old State House farmers market featuring a wide variety of fresh Connecticut-grown foods will be open before and after the lecture, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Bring your lunch and enjoy this one-hour program. Registrations are encouraged but not required. To register, call 860-522-6766 or visit http://tinyurl.com/OSH2012Lecture.

This program is supported with funding from the Connecticut Humanities Council.

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.

####

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.

####

Old State House, HYPE, Debut New After-Hours Program "from Barstools to Ballots" July 17th, 5:30 at Connecticut’s Old State House

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House invites Harford’s professionals – commuters and city-dwellers alike – to the debut of an exciting new program, From Barstools to Ballots on Tuesday July 17th.  Sponsored in collaboration with Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE), this informal evening program and networking opportunity encourages attendees to explore the importance of informal gathering spaces in informing public debate, both historically and in current times. 

Taverns were once hubs of connection and activity in early America: a place where locals got the latest news from travelers and out-of-town newspapers. But what is their equivalent today: Bars?  Coffee shops? Online?  Historian and author Dr. Bruce Clouette will explore the pivotal role played by colonial taverns in the debates that formed our nation, and jump-start the discussion of where citizens gather today.  Social media maven and marketing executive Suzi Craig and Connecticut State Representative Sean Williams will then join moderator Adam von Gootkin from Onyx Spirits for this lively group conversation.

The Old State House doors will open at 5:30 PM for networking and appetizers provided by Salute Restaurant.  The program starts at 6 PM.  A Cash bar will be available including beer, wine and a special “Onyx Cocktail”. 

For anyone who cannot make it to Hartford, The Old Sate House will be tweeting live from the event. To be part of the conversation, follow @CTOldStateHouse or search #CTBar2Ballot on Twitter.
Pre-registration is $8 for HYPE members and $10 for others. All walk-ins are $12 at the door. Go to www.HYPEHartford.com to register for the program. 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.

This series is made possible with a grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council. The Greater Hartford Arts Council is a leader and catalyst for the promotion, fundraising and coordination of arts and heritage programs that help celebrate our diverse cultures, enliven the spirit, and enrich the economy of Connecticut’s Capital Region.

HYPE’s mission is to help young professionals become better engaged in community life, expand professional and social opportunities and become ambassadors for the Hartford Region. In the process, they endeavor to position the Hartford Region as an attractive area for diverse young professionals and entrepreneurs to live, work and play. HYPE caters to young professionals and entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s from the Hartford Region, though they invite professionals of all ages to participate.
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.

America’s Most Unpopular War: Dissension, Debate and the War of 1812

Hartford, CT –Mark the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812 by exploring this largely unknown and divisive conflict on Tuesday, July 10. Trinity College political scholar and civil rights activist Dr. Jack Chatfield will present his fascinating exploration of bitter sectional differences that threatened American unity decades before the Civil War. Sharp-tongued, anti-war New England Federalists — including Noah Webster — opposed the president and possibly toyed with secession during a time of national peril. Their opposition culminated in the controversial Hartford Convention of 1814, a secretive meeting held in the Old State House that risked branding participants as traitors - or worse! 

Following the short talk, the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate a lively panel conversation with Dr. Chatfield as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Susan Campbell, and Connecticut history professor and award-winning author Dr. Nancy Steenberg Panelists will discuss citizen opposition to American wars throughout history, including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bring your lunch and enjoy this one-hour program. Registrations are encouraged but not required. To register, call 860-522-6766 or visit http://tinyurl.com/OSH2012Lecture.

This program is co-sponsored with Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history.  Program attendees will receive a free issue of the magazine featuring the War of 1812.  This program is made possible through funding by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

 

Parking is easy. 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. The Old State House farmers market featuring a wide variety of fresh Connecticut-grown foods will be open before and after the lecture, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Throughout 2012, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on http://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.

####

Old State House Farmers’ Market Is Back for the Summer - Grand Opening on Tuesday, June 26

Hartford, CT –One unmistakable sign of summer in Hartford returns in force next Tuesday, June 26, as the 2012 Farmers’ Market at Connecticut’s Old State House observes its official Grand Opening.  With as many as eight vendors filling the building’s Main Street plaza three days a week, the market promises not only fresh produce and a hint of seasonal color downtown, but the continuation of a tradition that dates back more than 350 years.

Frequenters of the downtown area  have been able to enjoy a “market preview” since early June, but the 26^th will mark the official start of the the Old State House Farmers’ Market (OSHFM) season which will run through October 26^th.  The market will operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but will be closed on Wednesday, July 4^th. 

Grand opening ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks by state Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky.  The rain date is Wednesday, June 27. Festivities will include balloons, characters in costume, and the start of OSHFM’s monthly drawing in which entrants can win an assortment of free farmers’ market products (no purchase necessary to enter, first drawing will occur at the end of June).

The Old State House Farmers’ Market is considered the oldest such market in Connecticut.  As the epicenter of the original Connecticut Colony, Hartford was required to create a “weekly market” in 1643. The modern farmers’ market has been in continuous operation at Connecticut’s Old State House since 1978. Today, citizens of Connecticut and local farmers can come together to enjoy the “best” of what Connecticut has to offer while helping the state’s agricultural industry and economy.

Up Next at the Old State House:  America's "Most Unpopular War: What Really Happened at the Hartford Convention of 1815, and Why." On July 10, Noon to 1 p.m. Jack Chatfield presents, Wesley Horton will be a panelist and The Connecticut Network, Diane Smith moderates.

 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 once admission is paid at the museum.  The validation is good all day.

 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.

####

Three Hundred and Fifty Years Later, Still the Most Important Document in Connecticut. Join us May 23rd at Noon

 

Three Hundred and Fifty Years Later,
Still the Most Important Document in Connecticut

May 23^rd, Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House

We've all heard the story of the Charter Oak but why exactly was the Royal Charter of 1662 so important? To commemorate its 350^th anniversary, join a spirited discussion about the document that is called by some “the most important in Connecticut’s history.” Learn about its origin, impact, and continuing significance on the Constitution State and nation on Wednesday, May 23^rd at noon at Connecticut's Old State House. 

During the early years of our colonies, Connecticut possessed a great deal of autonomy from the British crown, perhaps more so than any other American colony, due to the Royal Charter of 1662.  Even after the American Revolution, Connecticut continued to use the Charter, although with references to the king removed, as the state’s governing document until 1818. The program begins with State Historian and University of Connecticut Professor Dr. Walter Woodward as he discusses the Charter’s creation, its significance in state history, and the reasons for its continuing resonance in the present.

Following Dr. Woodward's brief talk, the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate a lively discussion about the Charter's continuing influence on our state’s legal and political affairs. The discussion will touch on the Charter’s influence on the State Constitutions of 1818 and 1965, along with current constitutional issues, such as the move to remove absentee ballot restrictions from the current state constitution.

Along with Dr. Woodward, the panel includes: attorney Wesley Horton, the lawyer who successfully argued the Sheff vs. O'Neill before the Connecticut Supreme Court; and former Congressman and University of New Haven President Emeritus, Larry DeNardis, the youngest delegate at the 1965 Constitutional Convention. 

Bring your lunch and enjoy this FREE, one hour program!

 

Up Next at the Old State House: On June 12 at Noon, join Diane Smith for an intimate, one-on-one conversation with former Connecticut Governor Lowell Weicker.

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 once admission is paid at the museum.  The validation is good all day.

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.

####

Transportation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: April 17th, Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House

For Immediate Release

March 22, 2012

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

(860) 246-1553, ext. 116

meaghan.macdonald@cga.ct.gov

Where Are We Going?

Transportation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

April 17^th, Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House

Hartford, CT – Is traffic strangling Connecticut’s economy? Transportation experts warn that the state economy can’t grow without better highways and bridges, major investments in mass transit, reinvigorating our ports and making improvements to Bradley International Airport.  Earlier generations knew this, as transportation technology transformed the Constitution State from a network of colonial towns into an industrial powerhouse.

Come to the Old State House on Tuesday, April 17 at noon as historian and transportation engineer Richard DeLuca talks about the fascinating history of turnpikes, steamboats, canals, railroads and trolleys in Connecticut. His book, Post Roads and Iron Horses, is the first to look in detail at the development of a transportation network that helped define Connecticut and shape New England.

Afterwards, join the conversation as the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith moderates a panel discussing Connecticut’s transportation needs today and in the future. Richard DeLuca will be joined by Commissioner James P. Redeker, who is reinventing the Department of Transportation as it sheds its image as mainly a highway department, and Jim Cameron, Chairman of the Connecticut Metro-North Rail Commuter Council and long time advocate for rail commuters.

Registrations are not required but encouraged. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/OSH2012Lecture or call 860-522-6766 to make your reservation today!

Ahead at the Old State House: On June 12^th at Noon, join Diane Smith as she sits down for an intimate one-on-one conversation with former Connecticut Governor Lowell Weicker.

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 validation is good all day.

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.

####

Empowering Future Leaders and Inspiring Change: Celebrate Women’s History with a Discussion of Women and Power March 13th at Noon

For Immediate Release

February 28. 2012

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

(860) 246-1553, ext. 116

meaghan.macdonald@cga.ct.gov 

Empowering Future Leaders and Inspiring Change

Celebrate Women’s History with a Discussion of  Women and Power

March 13^th, Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House

From Ella Grasso, the first woman in the US  elected Governor in her own right, to Denise Nappier, the first African American woman in the nation elected State Treasurer, Connecticut has a proud tradition of women serving in government. But while women make up more than half the population of the state, fewer than one third of the representatives in the CT house are women, and only one quarter of the CT Senate is female. At the federal level the numbers are even more dismal.  What’s holding women back from holding office? How can we get more women to run? Join the discussion with one of Connecticut’s most successful politicians Lt Gov Nancy Wyman, Patti Russo the director the Women’s Campaign School at Yale, and Katherine Wiltshire, director of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.  Bring your lunch and enjoy this free program on Tuesday March 13^th at noon at Connecticut’s Old State House.

 Add your opinions as media personality Diane Smith  hosts a panel discussion with these women leaders, and  two of the campaign school’s graduates, who are now making an impact in politics in their hometowns, Gayle Weinstein, First Selectman of Weston, and Kelly Luxenberg, Manchester Board of Education member.

 Wondering what it takes to run for office? Get hands-on advice from the experts and celebrate Women’s History Month by finding out about the women who have shaped history in our state.

 Enjoy  “We Fight for Roses, Too” an inspiring exhibit from  the Connecticut  Women’s Hall of Fame  that highlights the stories, struggles and achievements of inductees from all walks of life.  The exhibit opens on  March 13^th and runs through March 23^rd at the Old State House.

 Up Next at the Old State House: On April 17^th at Noon, join Richard DeLuca as he presents research from his newly-released book Post Roads & Iron Horses. Explore the history of Connecticut’s transportation from colonial times through the age of steam. Then delve into the transporation issues facing  Connecticut today and how they affect the state’s economy and quality of life.  

 Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage).   The validation is good all day.

 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.

####

Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition Now Through March 9, 2012

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2012

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

(860) 246-1553, ext. 116

meaghan.macdonald@cga.ct.gov

His Life Through Photographs, Letters and Cartoons

Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition

Now Through March 9, 2012 at Connecticut’s Old State House

Hartford, CT – New Englanders woke up to the voice of radio man Bob Steele for more than 48 years. Today the story of his life, told through some of his own photographs, cartoons, letters and personal belongings, is on display at Connecticut’s Old State House. Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition, on loan from the Hartford Public Library and the Hartford History Center, is available for viewing until March 9^th as part of the Old State House’s traveling exhibits program. 

The exhibit is the result of collaboration with the Hartford Public Library, Hartford History Center and Steele family. The Connecticut Vintage Radio and Communications Museum contributed two radios and a microphone to the exhibit. The oldest dates to 1936, the year Steele started his broadcasting career.

“Mr. Steele played a significant role in Connecticut’s civic story”, said Sally Whipple, Director of the Old State House. “The common experience of listening to his show and sharing his puns, corny jokes and “word for the day” at water coolers and dinner tables drew people together and sparked great conversations. We’re so pleased to host this exhibit and look forward to seeing people enjoy this glimpse into a very colorful and important Connecticut life.”

Bob Steele, a radio icon, started his career at WTIC on “G. Fox Morning Watch.” By the time of his retirement from daily radio in 1991, Bob Steele had created one of the longest running radio shows in the country.

On February 21, join the Old State House for a lunchtime lecture on the history of radio in Connecticut. John Ramsey will briefly discuss his new book, Hartford Radio, and then join other panelists for a conversation about radio’s impact on our lives and how it has changed over time.

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.

Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, collects, preserves, and makes available materials and information relating to the history, literature, and culture of Hartford. The holdings include, but are not limited to books; scrapbooks; pamphlets; the City of Hartford archives; the Hartford City Parks collection; image collections; maps; fine and graphic arts, including paintings, posters, prints and drawings; and memorabilia – those materials that preserve and share the story of Hartford, Connecticut ‐ its place, its people, and its past. Located on the third floor of the Downtown Library, 500 Main Street, the Hartford History Center is open 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, please call the Center at 860‐695‐6297 or visit online at www.hplct.org/hhc .

The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut, located in Windsor, celebrates the history of electronic communications and traces its development from the mid 1800s with Morse Code until the 1980s with the advent of home computers. The museum is located at 115 Pierson Lane, Windsor and is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and admission rates visit, http://vrcmct.org.

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.

 

####

Connecticut’s Unsung Civil Rights Leader: The Life and Times of Dr. James W.C. Pennington at Connecticut’s Old State House

For Immediate Release

January 20, 2012

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

(860) 246-1553, ext. 116

meaghan.macdonald@cga.ct.gov

The Story and Artifacts of Connecticut’s Unsung Civil Rights Leader

 The Life and Times of Dr. James W.C. Pennington

Tuesday, January 24^th, Noon at Connecticut’s Old State House

 Hartford, CT – On Tuesday January 24^th, stop by the Old State House at Noon to explore the life of forgotten civil rights crusader, Dr. James W.C. Pennington. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore an exhibit about Pennington which includes a 1840s Talcott Street Church pulpit bible and photographs. Oral tradition says it was used by Pennington when he was a pastor at the church from 1840-1848. Talcott Street Church eventually became Faith Congregational Church.

Conspicuously absent from our U.S. History books, Dr. James W.C. Pennington was a force for abolition and the human rights of African-Americans prior to the start of the Civil War; but a new book reveals his legacy in our nation’s civil rights struggle.  On Tuesday January 24^th,  Connecticut’s Old State House welcomes author Christopher Webber as he discusses his writing and research of American to the Backbone: The Life of W.C. Pennington,  the Fugitive Slave who Became One of the First Black Abolitionists.

Webber will share the challenges and successes faced by Pennington, who escaped slavery in Maryland and went on to become one of the leading abolitionists of his time. His other professions during his lifetime included author, minister, and teacher. He was also the first African-American to take courses at Yale University.

Following the lecture, Diane Smith will moderate a lively panel discussion. She will be joined by Mr. Webber, Yvonne McGregor of the Connecticut Freedom Trail and Dr. Robert Forbes of the University of Connecticut-Torrington.

The Old State House encourages everyone in the area to leave their offices, bring their lunches and enjoy this free program in a comfortable setting. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by either calling 860-522-6766 or visiting http://tinyurl.com/OSH2012Lecture.   

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.

####