Publisher's Synopsis
If those walls could talk...this is what they would say. A story of Connecticut.
Where is America's oldest amusement park (page 33) Where did county fairs start in America? (page 19)What town was the cradle of Impressionism in the United States? (page 21)
Imagine a group of settlers arriving in an undeveloped location. First come shelters in which to live and then structures in which to work and shop. There are buildings for worship and education. As the community grows government buildings are required. With prosperity comes places in which to spend leisure time. And each step along the way builds a story only Connecticut can call its own. A story told in 100 buildings.
Brownstone... octagon houses... the "Iron Prince"... iron horses... summer stock theater... fire towers... windmills... brass... insurance... water power... prestigious schools... the CCC... modern architectural icons... elephants... kit houses...the golden age of motoring... canals... hats... silk... Shakers... Buffalo soldiers... olive-hued glass... copper mines... Frank Lloyd Wright... movie sets... dance halls... drive-in movies... cider mills... Carnegie libraries... road racing... white clam pizza. This book will have you telling stories like a native in no time.
The photos and stories collected here are a fast and fun way to learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make Connecticut uniquely Connecticut. What product was Connecticut's tallest building constructed to manufacture in 1909? Solved. What is America's oldest amusement park? A mystery no more. What golf course did Katharine Hepburn play growing up? Identified. What town was the cradle of Impressionism in the United States? Revealed.
Almost all of the selections within are open to the public, or at least visible from public spaces. So, if you haven't seen these landmarks in person, fire up your GPS and get out and see the story of the Nutmeg State standing in plain sight on Connecticut streets!
