Connecticut's Old State House

Connecticut's Old State House is at 800 Main St. Designed by Charles Bulfinch, this 1796 Federal-style building was the site of the Hartford Convention of 1814 and the first Amistad trial. Said to be one of the nation's oldest statehouses, the building served as a seat of Connecticut government until the present capitol building opened in 1878.

Joseph Steward's Museum of Oddities and Curiosities, on the second floor, was established in 1797 and features such unusual specimens as a two-headed calf. History is All Around Us, located in the Mortensen Gallery, is an interactive multimedia exhibit which immerses visitors in more than 300 years of Connecticut history and features Mark Twain's bicycle and an early 20th-century fire engine.

Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.