272:
290:
67:
1063:
50:
92:
1074:
99:
74:
251:
pigsties and other livestock–even a garbage dump. A railroad spur ran through it and the smelly Park River, polluted with the city's industrial waste, ran alongside it. Crowded tenements lined both banks of the river, with their outhouses in the back emptying directly into the sluggish current. Even Rev. Bushnell described it as “hell without the fire.”
247:. But along with this growth came some growing pains, including crime, crowded tenements, poverty, poor sanitation, polluted water and air. It was in this context that Bushnell presented an idea that had not been suggested in any other American city: the creation of a public park, financed entirely by public funds.
254:
However, after hearing Dr. Bushnell's presentation in
October 1853, the Hartford City Council voted unanimously in November to spend public funds to buy the land that was to become Bushnell Park. Hartford voters approved the expenditure on Jan. 5, 1854, by a vote of 1,687 to 683, making it the first
242:
Hartford in the 1850s was a rapidly growing river town, doubling in population from 1850 to 1860. The city's economy was booming, driven by industries such as publishing, insurance, banking, munitions, manufacturing and river shipping. Like many
American cities of the time, Hartford was enjoying the
250:
Initial public reaction was skeptical. Hard-nosed business leaders were opposed to removing taxable property from the tax rolls. Furthermore, it was hard to imagine a less likely place for a green, peaceful park than
Bushnell's proposed site, which was home to two leather tanneries, a soapworks,
229:
in the mid-1850s at a time when the need for open public spaces was just starting to be recognized. Today the park comprises 50 acres (20 ha) of green space, and is visited by over one million people each year. Paths through the park contribute to the
952:
391:
A pond was later added to return a water feature to the park. Since 2017, the
Bushnell Park Pond has been home to Horace, a territorial Great Blue Heron, lovingly named by the local 06103 community to commemorate both
1047:
983:
967:
330:, a Swiss-born landscape architect and botanist. Weidenmann's plan for the park included graceful paths and clusters of trees that shielded strollers from the sounds of the city, and enhanced the presence of the
957:
1123:
388:
As a result of seasonal flooding and pollution, and especially after damage from the great flood of 1936, the Park River was buried in underground conduits, and a main feature of the park was lost.
1098:
423:
1042:
988:
629:
1009:
911:
942:
876:
841:
916:
821:
781:
606:
881:
871:
866:
846:
962:
796:
711:
831:
826:
701:
921:
886:
791:
766:
550:
906:
856:
836:
811:
801:
786:
776:
761:
741:
716:
706:
696:
926:
901:
806:
746:
726:
721:
691:
681:
861:
816:
756:
731:
686:
993:
891:
771:
736:
1118:
947:
896:
851:
751:
659:
644:
599:
675:
132:
1108:
346:
1077:
592:
1103:
1067:
389:
639:
271:
66:
91:
554:
615:
451:
411:
36:
1030:
354:
306:
But six years later the park still had not taken shape. Reverend
Bushnell asked his good friend and Hartford native,
310:, to design the layout of the park. Olmsted, however, was occupied at the time with the double-duty of designing of
54:
Print celebrating completion of the
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in 1886 by Kellog & Bulkeley print company
1113:
1035:
1014:
319:
323:
255:
municipal park in the nation to be conceived, built and paid for by citizens through a popular vote.
331:
289:
338:
649:
342:
49:
654:
634:
456:
307:
244:
214:
120:
584:
350:
8:
497:
231:
362:
194:
1048:
University and college buildings listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
382:
366:
358:
327:
397:
370:
226:
495:
1092:
311:
222:
147:
134:
523:
470:
393:
315:
296:
278:
261:
424:
National
Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford, Connecticut
407:, and it is the site of several festivals and music events each year.
1043:
List of jails and prisons on the
National Register of Historic Places
378:
404:
374:
446:
1124:
Parks on the
National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
579:
1099:
National Register of Historic Places in Hartford, Connecticut
614:
385:
providing the music); and the performance pavilion in 1995.
218:
496:
The Department of Economic and Community Development.
645:
History of the National Register of Historic Places
326:, and thus declined the offer. Olmsted recommended
676:List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state
403:Today Bushnell Park is a focal point in downtown
1090:
1068:National Register of Historic Places portal
361:in 1886 to commemorate those who fought in the
551:"The History of Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT"
600:
1119:Tourist attractions in Hartford, Connecticut
607:
593:
498:"Connecticut Population by Town 1830-1890"
277:"The Footguard Oak" - a descendant of The
119:Bounded by Elm, Jewell, and Trinity Sts.,
48:
616:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
337:Later additions to the park include: the
37:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
1091:
447:"National Register Information System"
441:
439:
1109:Parks in Hartford County, Connecticut
588:
548:
98:
73:
452:National Register of Historic Places
412:National Register of Historic Places
436:
225:. It was conceived by the Reverend
13:
1104:Geography of Hartford, Connecticut
1031:National Historic Preservation Act
553:. Living Local 360. Archived from
355:Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
14:
1135:
573:
1073:
1072:
1061:
288:
270:
97:
90:
72:
65:
549:Dodge, Erik (August 31, 2009).
334:which flowed through the park.
984:Federated States of Micronesia
630:Architectural style categories
542:
516:
489:
463:
217:is the oldest publicly funded
189:
1:
429:
106:Show map of the United States
18:United States historic place
7:
417:
410:The park was listed on the
369:in 1899, with sculpture by
299:Scion "Hoadley Oak" in 2023
10:
1140:
1036:Historic Preservation Fund
1015:American Legation, Morocco
530:. Bushnell Park Foundation
477:. Bushnell Park Foundation
320:Springfield, Massachusetts
237:
1056:
1023:
1002:
977:Lists by associated state
976:
935:
668:
622:
580:Bushnell Park's Home Page
200:
188:NRHP reference
187:
179:
171:
163:
126:
115:
59:
47:
43:
34:
27:
23:
958:Northern Mariana Islands
339:statue of Israel Putnam
81:Show map of Connecticut
953:Minor Outlying Islands
936:Lists by insular areas
650:Keeper of the Register
504:. State of Connecticut
347:statue of Horace Wells
343:John Quincy Adams Ward
655:National Park Service
635:Contributing property
457:National Park Service
349:in 1875, sculpted by
341:in 1874, sculpted by
308:Frederick Law Olmsted
245:Industrial Revolution
215:Hartford, Connecticut
167:37 acres (15 ha)
148:41.76500°N 72.67944°W
121:Hartford, Connecticut
1010:District of Columbia
351:Truman Howe Bartlett
295:Stump of the felled
232:East Coast Greenway
153:41.76500; -72.67944
144: /
1114:Urban public parks
363:American Civil War
1086:
1085:
640:Historic district
459:. March 13, 2009.
208:
207:
183:Weidenmann, Jacob
1131:
1076:
1075:
1066:
1065:
1064:
989:Marshall Islands
609:
602:
595:
586:
585:
567:
566:
564:
562:
546:
540:
539:
537:
535:
520:
514:
513:
511:
509:
493:
487:
486:
484:
482:
467:
461:
460:
443:
377:in 1974 (with a
367:Corning Fountain
328:Jacob Weidenmann
292:
274:
243:benefits of the
204:October 22, 1970
191:
159:
158:
156:
155:
154:
149:
145:
142:
141:
140:
137:
107:
101:
100:
94:
82:
76:
75:
69:
52:
21:
20:
1139:
1138:
1134:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1129:
1128:
1089:
1088:
1087:
1082:
1062:
1060:
1052:
1019:
998:
972:
931:
664:
618:
613:
576:
571:
570:
560:
558:
557:on July 3, 2014
547:
543:
533:
531:
522:
521:
517:
507:
505:
494:
490:
480:
478:
469:
468:
464:
445:
444:
437:
432:
420:
398:Horace Bushnell
371:J. Massey Rhind
304:
303:
302:
301:
300:
293:
284:
283:
282:
275:
266:
265:
240:
227:Horace Bushnell
152:
150:
146:
143:
138:
135:
133:
131:
130:
111:
110:
109:
108:
105:
104:
103:
102:
85:
84:
83:
80:
79:
78:
77:
55:
39:
30:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1137:
1127:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1080:
1070:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1039:
1038:
1027:
1025:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1017:
1012:
1006:
1004:
1000:
999:
997:
996:
991:
986:
980:
978:
974:
973:
971:
970:
968:Virgin Islands
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
943:American Samoa
939:
937:
933:
932:
930:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
884:
879:
877:South Carolina
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
842:North Carolina
839:
834:
829:
824:
819:
814:
809:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
714:
709:
704:
699:
694:
689:
684:
679:
672:
670:
669:Lists by state
666:
665:
663:
662:
660:Property types
657:
652:
647:
642:
637:
632:
626:
624:
620:
619:
612:
611:
604:
597:
589:
583:
582:
575:
574:External links
572:
569:
568:
541:
524:"Park History"
515:
488:
462:
434:
433:
431:
428:
427:
426:
419:
416:
357:, designed by
294:
287:
286:
285:
276:
269:
268:
267:
260:
259:
258:
257:
239:
236:
206:
205:
202:
198:
197:
192:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
173:
169:
168:
165:
161:
160:
128:
124:
123:
117:
113:
112:
96:
95:
89:
88:
87:
86:
71:
70:
64:
63:
62:
61:
60:
57:
56:
53:
45:
44:
41:
40:
35:
32:
31:
28:
25:
24:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1136:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1079:
1071:
1069:
1059:
1058:
1055:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1037:
1034:
1033:
1032:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1022:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1001:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
981:
979:
975:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
940:
938:
934:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
917:West Virginia
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
822:New Hampshire
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
790:
788:
785:
783:
782:Massachusetts
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
710:
708:
705:
703:
700:
698:
695:
693:
690:
688:
685:
683:
680:
677:
674:
673:
671:
667:
661:
658:
656:
653:
651:
648:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
627:
625:
621:
617:
610:
605:
603:
598:
596:
591:
590:
587:
581:
578:
577:
556:
552:
545:
529:
528:Bushnell Park
525:
519:
503:
499:
492:
476:
475:Bushnell Park
472:
466:
458:
454:
453:
448:
442:
440:
435:
425:
422:
421:
415:
413:
408:
406:
401:
399:
395:
390:
386:
384:
380:
376:
372:
368:
364:
360:
359:George Keller
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
335:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
312:New York City
309:
298:
291:
280:
273:
263:
256:
252:
248:
246:
235:
233:
228:
224:
223:United States
220:
216:
212:
211:Bushnell Park
203:
201:Added to NRHP
199:
196:
193:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
157:
129:
125:
122:
118:
114:
93:
68:
58:
51:
46:
42:
38:
33:
29:Bushnell Park
26:
22:
16:
882:South Dakota
872:Rhode Island
867:Pennsylvania
847:North Dakota
559:. Retrieved
555:the original
544:
532:. Retrieved
527:
518:
506:. Retrieved
501:
491:
479:. Retrieved
474:
465:
450:
409:
402:
394:Horace Wells
387:
336:
316:Central Park
305:
253:
249:
241:
210:
209:
15:
1003:Other areas
963:Puerto Rico
797:Mississippi
712:Connecticut
373:; the 1914
324:Forest Park
297:Charter Oak
279:Charter Oak
262:Charter Oak
151: /
127:Coordinates
1093:Categories
912:Washington
832:New Mexico
827:New Jersey
702:California
471:"About Us"
430:References
383:Band Organ
332:Park River
139:72°40′46″W
136:41°45′54″N
922:Wisconsin
887:Tennessee
792:Minnesota
767:Louisiana
414:in 1970.
379:Wurlitzer
180:Architect
1078:Category
907:Virginia
857:Oklahoma
837:New York
812:Nebraska
802:Missouri
787:Michigan
777:Maryland
762:Kentucky
742:Illinois
717:Delaware
707:Colorado
697:Arkansas
561:July 19,
534:July 19,
508:July 19,
481:July 19,
418:See also
405:Hartford
375:carousel
195:70000692
116:Location
1024:Related
927:Wyoming
902:Vermont
807:Montana
747:Indiana
727:Georgia
722:Florida
692:Arizona
682:Alabama
281:in 2011
238:History
221:in the
862:Oregon
817:Nevada
757:Kansas
732:Hawaii
687:Alaska
623:Topics
502:CT.gov
396:, and
365:; the
353:; the
345:; the
994:Palau
892:Texas
772:Maine
737:Idaho
381:#153
264:Scion
172:Built
948:Guam
897:Utah
852:Ohio
752:Iowa
563:2014
536:2014
510:2014
483:2014
318:and
219:park
175:1868
164:Area
314:'s
213:in
190:No.
1095::
526:.
500:.
473:.
455:.
449:.
438:^
400:.
322:'
234:.
678::
608:e
601:t
594:v
565:.
538:.
512:.
485:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
,_Bushnell_Park,_Hartford,_CT_-_November_2011.jpg)
