For nearly a century and a half, Bushnell Park has been an oasis in the heart of the city – a place of scenic beauty, history, and celebrations.
Capitol Entrance – Created in 1983 by the Bushnell Park Foundation, this modest brownstone entrance serves as a gateway to the Capitol Grounds.
Carousel – Roses decorate 48 hand-carved wooden horses, and two lovers’ chariots in this 1914 carousel by renowned carvers, Solomon Stein and Harry Goldstein. The Carousel and adjacent Dollard Pavilion can be rented for meetings and celebrations.
Children’s Playground – Completed in 2018, the play environment includes three main structures – the Pegasus, a rope climber; a 2 to 5-year-old structure with interactive panels, slides, and more; and a 5 to 12-year-old structure with slides, climbers, hand rings and a crunch station. The design of the latter structure incorporates replicas of the Capitol dome and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch.
Corning Fountain – Designed by J. Massey Rhind, this striking bronze sculpture was erected in 1899 by Hartford businessman, John Corning as a tribute to his father.
Fox Memorial Entrance – Built in 1952 “pursuant to the will of Frederick K. Fox,” it is now a major entrance to the park, as it faces the busy intersection of Trumbull and Jewell Streets.
Harmony Sculpture – The contemporary stainless steel work of art at the west edge of the Pond was designed by Charles Perry of Norwalk, Connecticut.
Hoadley Memorial Entrance – Once a bridge across the Park River, it was built in 1909 and named in honor of a former Hartford mayor. After the river was diverted underground, the bridge was converted to a pedestrian entrance.
Horace Wells Statue-It was created by sculptor T.H. Bartlett and erected in 1875 to honor the Hartford dentist who discovered modern anesthesia.
Israel Putnam Statue-This bronze 8-foot monument was created by J. Ward and presented to the city in 1874 to honor the American Revolutionary War general who commanded troops at Bunker Hill.
Performance Pavilion– This 3200-square-foot steel and wood structure was built for the city by the Bushnell Park Foundation.
Pond – The brownstone-edged pond was first built in the 1940s. The Bushnell Park Foundation renovated the pond in 1983. It is slated for dredging and renovation in 2025. A blue heron, affectionately nicknamed “Horace” after Horace Bushnell, is a frequent visitor to the pond.
Pumping Station and Pump House – Added to the park in 1947 by the Army Corps of Engineers, this brick, brownstone, and timber “cottage” contains a functioning pumping station for flood control and a beautiful gallery that can be rented for meetings and celebrations.
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch– Designed by George Keller, the memorial honors the 4,000 Hartford citizens who served in the Civil War and the 400 who died for the Union.
Spanish War Memorial– Erected in 1927, it commemorates the Hartford men who served their country in the Spanish-American War, 1898-1899.
The White Oak Leaf Throne is a magnificent and interactive public art piece created from the beloved Hoadley Oak, a scion of the historic Charter Oak. For over 120 years, this grand tree was part of Bushnell Park’s landscape, and now, thanks to the creativity of renowned Hartford artist Tao LaBossiere, it has been transformed into a stunning sculpture that honors its legacy and invites you to connect with Hartford’s history in an entirely new way.