Hartford Past, Present and Future: Placemaking, Urban Renewal and Historic Preservation - Tuesday, November 18 at Noon

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For Immediate Release
November 6, 2014
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

As the state’s capital city continues to surge toward its own renaissance, Connecticut’s Old State House invites the public to join a conversation on how to make downtown Hartford a destination worth visiting and residing in.

On Tuesday, November 18 come explore the past, present and future of Hartford as the Old State House welcomes Frank Russo, Senior Vice President for Global Spectrum, to share his experience with the Hartford Civic Center redevelopment project of the 1970s and the XL Center’s recent renovation. Russo will discuss how the Civic Center rebounded from the famed roof collapse of 1978 and how the recent upgrades to the multi-purpose arena will link the best of Hartford’s past with its dynamic future.

Following his presentation, participate in a panel conversation that will feature Russo, Frank Hagaman, Executive Director of the Hartford Preservation Alliance, and Jackie Gorsky Mandyck, Managing Director of the iQuilt Partnership. The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will be on hand to moderate the conversation and take questions and comments from the audience. Program attendees are encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts with the panel, while also enjoying their lunch.

 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy a new display currently being featured at the Old State House entitled (Re)Using Hartford’s Historic Buildings, an impressive panel display currently on loan from the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) as part of their (Re)Building Hartford: A City Captured by Artist Richard Welling exhibition. The Old State House exhibit, which will be available for public viewing until March 2015, is one of four satellite displays related to this CHS exhibition in Hartford. You can learn more about this exhibition and the other satellite locations at the Connecticut Historical Society’s website: www.chs.org/Hartford. 

Hartford Past, Present and Future: Placemaking, Urban Renewal and Historic Preservation is co-sponsored with the Connecticut Historical Society, with funding provided by Connecticut Humanities. This free program begins at noon and lasts for one hour. Conversations at Noon is taped in front of a live audience by the Connecticut Network.

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 interactive History is All Around Us exhibition by the Connecticut Historical Society, located in the Mortensen Gallery of the lower level of the Old State House, allows visitors to explore over 300 years of Hartford and Connecticut history. 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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