Visit the Land of Steady Habits

As one of the original 13 Colonies, Connecticut is steeped in history. It joined the Union in 1788, and was the 5th to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1639, the 3 coastal towns of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor were the first to adopt a democratic constitution called “Fundamental Orders.” It is for this reason Connecticut is nicknamed the Constitution State.

With 5,009 square miles of land and coastline, it is the southernmost of the New England states. Hartford is the capital, complemented by the major cities of Waterbury, Bridgeport and New Haven. The state has more than 3.5 million residents and is also known as the Land of Steady Habits.

Movie buffs were introduced to one of Connecticut’s most quaint towns in1988 in the movie classic “Mystic Pizza,” starring Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish and Lili Roberts. Much of the film’s footage was actually taken in Mystic’s neighboring town of Stonington.

Connecticut has many firsts to its name, including the first telephone exchange and phone book, both in New Haven in 1878; the first steel mill, which opened in Simsbury in 1728; the first nuclear-powered submarine, built in Groton in 1954; the first Colonial law school, which opened in Litchfield in 1744; and, the first American Dictionary, published in 1806.

The motto of Connecticut is “State Smart.” There have been many inventions made by people from the state, including the sewing machine, artificial heat, color tv, Polaroid camera, portable typewriter and cotton gin.

Many industries prosper what is also known as the Insurance Capital of the World. Wearers of felt hats are thankful for Connecticut’s booming manufacture. The state is abundant in trees, and is a strong producer of tobacco, poultry, sand and gravel. Some of the more somber exports include weapons, helicopters, office machines and jet engines.

Among the famous people born in Connecticut are dictionary creator Noah Webster, author Harriet Beecher Stowe, actresses Katharine Hepburn and Meg Ryan, ice skater Dorothy Hamill, opera great Rosa Ponselle, Revolutionary War Patriots Ethan Allen and Nathan Hale, circus showman P.T. Barnum and George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States.

From its coastal beaches to mountain getaways, be sure to visit everything in between. Ride a riverboat on the Connecticut River, go swimming at Ocean Beach State Park, go boating and biking throughout the state and enjoy the popular Connecticut cuisine, seafood and pizza.