Located in the third-smallest state in the U.S., at just 5,500 square miles, Connecticut’s Greater Hartford and Mystic metropolitan area makes up for its stature with rich history, a diversity of venues and ease of accessibility.
“Location, location, location,” is what H. Scott Phelps, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau described as a huge advantage for the region. It’s less than a two-hour drive from most New England destinations and can be accessed by air from both Bradley International Airport, just north of Hartford, or Warwick, R.I.’s T.F. Green Airport, just across the state border from southeast Connecticut.
Another enticing aspect of the state is its history, according to Phelps. Not just the state’s history, but the vast number of historical properties, structures and venues that still stand today, many of which can be used as meeting and event space. Being one of the original 13 colonies, in the 1630s settlements such as Saybrook Colony and New Haven Colony were established, and over a century later, in 1796, the Old State House was constructed.
“One big advantage we have is a sense of place,” Phelps explained.
Phelps added that when you are having a meeting or event in historic venues like the Old State House, Mark Twain House & Museum, where the author and his family lived from 1874 to 1891, or Mystic Seaport, a living museum and village set in the 1800s, you know you are in the Constitution State.
Historical Hartford
The Hill-Stead Museum, built in 1901, is the premiere architectural project of Theodate Pope Riddle, one of the first female architects in the country. Originally designed as the country home of Riddle’s parents, the Colonial Revival mansion is now a museum and home to fine art that includes works from Monet, Manet and Degas, as well as expansive grounds with farmland and gardens.
The Hill-Stead Museum can host meetings, receptions, teambuilding and other events in its indoor and outdoor spaces. The Makeshift Theater, originally designed as a movie theater, can now be used for an array of events for up to 125. The Pope boardroom, which can hold up to 50, is ideal for smaller meetings, and the connecting porch can be used alongside for a cocktail reception. For outdoor events, there is the West Lawn and Veranda, offering views of the estate’s farm buildings, meadows and pond, and can accommodate groups of 200, while the Grass Court, one the family’s tennis courts, can also host groups up to 200.
The restored house of Mark Twain is the home where he wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Today, the Mark Twain House & Museum is a National Historic Landmark offering educational programs and tours, and can be used as a venue for private events.
The largest space, the Hal Holbrook Hall, can accommodate up to 250 for a reception, and the space includes a grand piano, making it ideal for banquets, performances and dancing. For lectures and presentations, the Lincoln Financial Auditorium can host up to 175. The museum also offers the Hartford Financial Services Theatre and a classroom. The on-site cafe, along with the adjoining outdoor terrace and a full catering kitchen, can be used for receptions and dinners.
The museum recently started offering living-history tours, allowing groups to see the property through the perspective of a different time. Tour guides are outfitted in period clothing and take on the persona of a member of the family or staff to give a behind-the-scene look at what life was like in the late 19th century.
Mystic: Back in Time
Located in southeast Connecticut on Long Island Sound, Mystic is home to the world’s largest maritime museum, Mystic Seaport. Founded in 1929 to preserve artifacts, the living-history museum has grown to become a research and education center as well as a place for guests to see what life was like in mid-1800s coastal New England. The grounds include a re-created village, ships, exhibits and artifacts. The 19 acres is home to over 500 historic watercraft, including the oldest commercial ship in existence, the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan.
Groups can tour the steam-powered Sabino, which is undergoing a renovation expected to be complete this summer, and will be launched back into the water at a later date. Behind-the-scenes tours and teambuilding activities such as whaleboat rowing are also available to groups. There are several spaces for rental, such as the River Room at Latitude 41° Restaurant. The classic New England-style venue overlooks the Mystic River and along with the terrace patio can accommodate up to 200 guests. The Boat Shed at Lighthouse Point and the North Lawn are both outdoor spaces for 500 and 200 attendees, respectively.
Located adjacent to Foxwoods Resort Casino is the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. The museum shares the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation along with the histories and cultures of the native people of the northeast region. The 308,000-square-foot stone and glass building is designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Inside the building there are permanent exhibits, a gallery of temporary rotating exhibits, classrooms, a 320-seat auditorium, a restaurant, a research center, libraries and spaces available for private meetings and events.
There is 64,000 square feet of available rental space as well, including the Gathering Space—a large, circular arrival area that can accommodate up to 800 guests—and the Pequot Village Overlook, which can be used for banquets and receptions and overlooks the 16th century Pequot Village. The auditorium, conference rooms and classrooms are also available, while the outdoor Garden Terrace, which received the Green Roof of Excellence award from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, can accommodate up to 800 guests.
In addition to the spaces available at the museum, the neighboring Foxwoods Resort Casino offers four hotels with 2,200 guest rooms and 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the 47,500-square-foot Premier Ballroom, the largest in the Northeast. The resort recently unveiled plans to add four exclusive restaurants to its property. Scheduled to open in the fall will be food and beverage outlets from Food Network’s Guy Fieri, “Iron Chef” Cat Cora, Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud and pop-culture restaurant Sugar Factory American Brasserie.
Meeting Hubs
Serving as a hub to all the unique and historic venues the Greater Hartford area has to offer is the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center. Opened in 2005, it is the largest convention facility between New York and Boston and includes 140,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. It is located in Hartford’s Front Street District, which is downtown’s revitalized hub of restaurants, bars, retail outlets and entertainment venues.
The Connecticut Convention Center recently received a refresh of its public spaces, including new carpeting, furnishings as well as technology enhancements to keep attendees updated with information on happenings in the center as well as in the city.
Another meeting locale, Mohegan Sun, is easily accessible from many Northeast destinations. The 1,200-room property includes a 34-story hotel tower, over 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, more than 300,000 square feet of gaming with three casinos, The Shops at Mohegan Sun and a full-service spa.
Groups can utilize its 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space as well as three entertainment venues, including the Mohegan Sun Arena that can seat 10,000, the indoor/outdoor pool and sun deck and the Mohegan Sun Golf Course.
