As many historians will tell you, freedom isn't free. Our country's freedom came at the cost of the efforts and the lives of people who were vigilant in their pursuit for the American Way. Learn about who they were, what they did and how their actions still resonate today when you take a tour of the State Historic Preservation Office. This museum-style facility pays tribute to the brave men and women who pursued freedom at any cost. You will also learn about the Underground Railroad as well as the various laws that were enacted to further the cause of freedom.
Art that stays within expectations is alright, but that's not what you'll find at Hartford's Matrix Gallery. This is artwork that will challenge you and maybe even elicit feelings that bring about a new way of thinking. This gallery is located in the Wadsworth Atheneum and has attracted an impressive level of attention for its activist exhibitions and attractions that feature non-traditional media and themes that are meant to make the viewer just a little uncomfortable–but in a good way.
Even if you've read Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer several times, you still may not really know much about the man who created these timeless works of American literature. A visit to Hartford's Mark Twain House & Museum will change all that in a truly dramatic fashion. The historic home has been meticulously preserved and treats visitors to the sight of various personal items that belonged to Twain, who made his home here before and after he met with his staggering success. Among the most striking pieces at this house museum are his writing desk, eyeglasses and other personal curiosities, and various first editions of his most famous books.