© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hurdles Remain Before Hartford's Coltsville Is a National Historical Park

Aaron Knox
/
Creative Commons
It could take years to transform the Coltsville section of Hartford into a National Historical Park.
Credit Chion Wolf / WNPR
/
WNPR
Congressman John Larson.

Congress recently gave final approval to a defense spending bill that includes language creating the Coltsville National Historical Park -- but much work remains before the park is a reality.

Speaking on WNPR's Where We Live, Connecticut's First District Congressman John Larson said that getting Coltsville designated as a National Historical Park was a huge victory that took years of effort and planning. "This was a labor of love, and certainly something that took place legislatively over 14 years, so it's come a long way," he said.

When the 260-acre site is up and running, some estimate the park could welcome more than 200,000 visitors each year. But it could take years to transform Coltsville into a tourist destination.

Credit Chion Wolf / WNPR
/
WNPR
Bill Hosley.

"There are 33 buildings that come down to us from the Colt era," said Terra Firma Northeast's Bill Hosley, an expert on the history of Samuel Colt and Coltsville. "Also, [there are] hundreds of millions of dollars of Colt-related collections, plus the mansion. There are a lot of moving parts."

Those parts include funding, which is estimated to cost $9 to $11 million initially. Another issue is land acquisition, since many of the buildings are privately owned, with residents and businesses as tenants. And there's the building of the park itself, which will include renovation of the buildings, the creation of a visitors center, and other construction and landscaping projects.

Still, Larson is encouraged by the energy and focus of everyone involved in the project. "This is a great collaborative effort," he said. "The thing that excites me is how excited the National Park Service is about that."

According to the legislation passed last week, a commission made up of appointees by the governor and other elected officials will work with the National Park Service to plan Coltsville.

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content