There’s been a lot of history packed into the 5,500 square miles we call Connecticut.
It began even before Adriaen Block inched his ship, the Onrust (Dutch for the Restless), up the Connecticut River 400 years ago to become the first recorded European to sail to the interior from Long Island Sound.
He was in search of lucrative trading opportunities with the natives who flourished here. What he found set in motion a long chain of events that just might be defined by a spirit of restlessness, a desire for adventure and a spirit of innovation.
Through the centuries, people who called Connecticut home have had a significant impact far beyond its borders. They played key roles in the formation of our country, in literature and the arts and industrial revolution. That spirit of innovation, fueled by a sense of restlessness, has defined us as a people.
The list of firsts recorded in Connecticut is as long as it is notable, as you will discover as you join Mr. C in his quest to sniff out the past in this American Original, one of the 13, that we call Connecticut and that he calls home.
Mr. C's Guide to Historic Connecticut 