Underneath that blue dome lies the east armory of a factory once owned by a man who changed American history, the innovator of the revolver, Samuel Colt. Sprawling around the crumbling red brickwork of the old Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, once the largest private armory in the world, are the remnants of Coltsville, the utopian village he built for his workers.

A model of 19th century industrial paternalism, Coltsville included a church, a social hall for dances and lectures, workers’ housing, a giant landscaped park home to deer and peacocks, sculpted botanical gardens, and thousands of feet of greenhouses filled with tropical fruit and flowers. Samuel Colt felt such responsibility for the welfare of his workers outside the factory that he went so far as to build Potsdam Village, to replicate the feel of the German village from which he imported his skilled craftsmen to work in his willow ware factory.

The National Park Service began having on-site presence in 2015, with workshops and tours, including up into the Blue Onion Dome which affords magnificent views of downtown Hartford, the Connecticut River and Colt Park, formerly the back yard of Armsmear, Samuel & Elizabeth Colt’s mansion. By 2016, an NPS ranger had taken up residence in the South Armory and was giving walking tours of Coltsville.

The old South, East and North armories are under renovation and the two 1855 brownstone buildings, the oldest structures on site, will become the National Park Service Visitor Center. The armories themselves have been or are being renovated into apartments, offices and education facilities.

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Compare rooms and suites by Independent in Sheldon-Charter Oak with rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

Staircase

"Great place stayed there 6 days in July."

AED 527 total

includes taxes & fees

17 Aug - 18 Aug

Interior

"We just ate at their dining/ bar and it was excellent - staff is extremely accommodating and friendly "

AED 723 total

includes taxes & fees

13 Aug - 14 Aug

Front of property

"I loved how private and quiet the hotel is."

AED 883 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Sep - 5 Sep

Lunch and dinner served

"Beautiful hotel, safe area, walk to shopping and restaurants. The staff was extremely nice and accommodating."

AED 1,249 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Aug - 25 Aug

1 bedroom, free WiFi, bed sheets

"Very quiet, room was clean but smelled of cigarettes. Perfect for one night stay. "

AED 318 total

includes taxes & fees

13 Aug - 14 Aug

Lake

"Spacious hotel clean and convenient with the event we had , close distance from "

AED 587 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Aug - 23 Aug

Property entrance

"Great location. Right down the road from the xfinity center."

Exterior

"Excellent all around. Staff could not have been more helpful."

AED 1,048 total

includes taxes & fees

13 Aug - 14 Aug

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Top Sheldon-Charter Oak Hotel Reviews

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hartford - Bradley Airport

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hartford - Bradley Airport

10/10 Excellent

"Facilities were nice and clean. Staff friendly and efficient. "

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