-
Wadsworth Atheneum
The Wadsworth Atheneum in
Hartford, Connecticut is now the oldest public art museum in the
nation, with important holdings of American and French impressionist
paintings, modernist masterpieces and contemporary works, Hudson
River School landscapes and a magnificent collection of early
American furniture and decorative arts. The unique castle-like
structure sits majestically on Main Street in the downtown area,
quite accessible from both interstates, 91 and 84, along with the
train service; and with a total of 196,000 square feet of exhibition
space, it is without a doubt the biggest art museum in the state.
The Wadsworth, as it more commonly referred to, was built on the
former site of the family home of Daniel Wadsworth, in the heart of
the downtown area, with architects Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson
Davis, who had designed the "castle" that is now the atheneum's
oldest structure. The huge structure would begin in 1842, after the
museum had been incorporated in June of that year, with the stark
"1842" embossed above the entrance door, although the museum itself
didn't open July 31, 1844, and it has been open ever since. One of
the oldest and most influential families, the Wadsworths would
contribute many valuable works of art to the museum that would
exhibited at the time of the opening. The initial collection would
be 78 paintings, one portrait miniature, one bronze sculpture and
two marble busts, and since then has continued to grow. Ever since
opening the Wadsworth would also be used for dance recitals and
dramatic performances, benefits, social functions and displaying
historical relics. During the early 21st century it would have to
struggle financially, going through five directors and three acting
directors during that difficult time, with a deficit of $284,000 by
2006, and by the next year it would rise to $540,000. It would be
forced to abandon the idea of expanding into the old Hartford Times
building, since the initial cost of the project had been estimated
at about $16 million, but later it rose to $19 million, with much
higher operating costs that they had originally planned. The
building now consists of the original castle-like structure, as well
as four wings that were added later on, and a new one being planned
now. It contains about 50,000 pieces, that includes; historical
relics, ancient Roman, Egyptian and Greek bronzes, Hudson River
School landscapes, early American clothing and decorations,
paintings from the renaissance, baroque and French and American
impressionist periods, along with 18th century French porcelains,
that include Sevres and Meissen, and early African American
historical and art relics and so much more; spanning over 5000 years
of world history. On the outside of the castle is a wonderful statue
of Nathan Hale, that is dated 1899, by Enoch S. Woods, and a short
walk away is the state capitol that houses another better-known
sculpture of Hale by Bela Pratt, which is a replica of the original
that is located at Yale University. Ever since its opening, the
atheneum has had many firsts, with one being done in 1933, when the
Wadsworth would sponsor George Balanchine's immigration to the
United States from the then Soviet Union, and just after arriving he
would form what would become the New York City Ballet and decided to
hold his first performance at the Wadsworth in 1934, one of the most
significant firsts for the museum. It would be the first museum the
United States to acquire artworks by Salvador Dali, Frederic Church,
Piet Mondrian, Balthus, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and many
other world renown artists. With A. Everett Chick Austin leading the
institution, it would host the first American exhibition of
surrealism shown in the Wadsworth in 1931, and the first significant
US Picasso retrospective would be held there in 1934. That same
year, the world premiere of the opera Four Saints in Three Acts by
Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein would be held in the Wadsworth.
-
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
 The
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, Connecticut interprets and
preserves her marvelous house and the center's outstanding historic
collections, as well as providing a venue for dynamic discussions of
her work and life. The center also aspires to inspire a commitment
to positive changes and social justice for all. It has been said
that "her words changed the world" and "there is more done with the
pen than swords", along with many other quotes made by her and about
her. Her most famous work, Uncle Tom's Cabin which was published in
1852, would change how the American public looked at the institution
of slavery and force this nation to deliver on its promise of
equality and freedom that was handed down to us in the Constitution
of the United States; because it says nothing about a person's race,
religion or ethnic background, although during the ensuing years
since her life, we have had to add more bills that spell that truth
out in words so that no one or any nation should or could ask us
why. Her book would jumpstart the abolition movement across this
great nation and well contribute to the beginning of the Civil War.
It was so well received that it would sell 10,000 copies in this
country during its first week out and 300,000 its first year in this
nation, with over 1.5 million copies being sold in England alone.
All together, Harriet would publish over 30 books, but not as
popular or as outspoken as Uncle Tom's Cabin. She was such a
diversified woman that she would write children's text books,
religious studies, advice books on homemaking and childrearing and
biographies. Her informal and conversational style of writing would
allow her to reach audiences of all walks of life, regardless of
their economic standings or situation and encourage them to look at
the controversial topics in this country at that time, like slavery,
gender roles and religious reforms. She was born in Litchfield,
Connecticut in 1811 to the Rev. Lyman Beecher and Roxanna Foote, the
sixth child of eleven. The Beecher family expected and almost
demanded that their children shape their world and perhaps it is why
every one of the seven sons would become ministers, at that period,
perhaps the most influential means of reaching society; the oldest
daughter, Catharine pioneered education for the women of that era;
the youngest daughter, Isabella, would become the founder of the
National Women's Suffrage Association; while Harriet believed in her
writing and that her life should be devoted to just that, and
exposing the inhumanities of slavery would push her to the forefront
of all women and their ideals. Her writing career would span 51
years, with short stories, hymns, poems, articles and novels, as
well as biographies and other books that can be discovered when you
visit the center, as they are sure to be on sale there.
|
Car Rentals
Hartford
The
Connecticut Science Center occupies a nine story structure that is
situated along the Connecticut River in Hartford, Connecticut that
was designed by Cesar Pelli and Associates, opening in 2009, with
154,000 square feet and another 40,000 square feet of interactive
displays that include; live demonstrations, videos, programs,
audios, tactile documents and visuals. Planning for this outstanding
facility started in 2001, with the idea of promoting the study of
science to the region's youth and to revitalize the city. The state
would give over $100 million towards completing the $165 million
center that received the remainder from local businesses,
individuals and foundations. It is the first science center in the
nation that generates the majority of its power from an on-site fuel
cell, and helps the center get closer to being a Gold Level
Certified Green building (LEED). The center galleries contain the
following exhibits for the perusal and enjoyment of its citizens and
visitors; Exploring Space, Sight and Sound Experience, Forces in
Motion, River of Life, Invention Dimension, Picture of Health and
KidSpace.
