Original subtitles

NESTLED ABOVE LONG ISLAND SOUND,

CONNECTICUT IS A LAND

\h\hOF SCENIC COASTLINE AND PRISTINE WATERWAYS.

IT‘S BEEN AN IMPORTANT CENTER OF COMMERCE SINCE COLONIAL TIMES...

AND THE HOME OF HISTORIC \h\h\hEVENTS AND PEOPLE

\hTHAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE NATION.

\h\h\hFROM THE HOUSE WHERE HUCKLEBERRY FINN WAS BORN,

TO THE FACTORY THAT CREATED

\h\h\h\h\hTHE COLT REVOLVER AND THE M-16 ASSAULT RIFLE--

AND THE ESTATE

WHERE ONE OF HOLLYWOOD‘S \hGREATEST FEMALE STARS

ESCAPED THE LIMELIGHT--

\h\h\h\h\hHISTORY HAS BEEN MADE ON THESE SHORES AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THIS IS ALSO A PLACE BRIMMING \h\h\hWITH MYTH AND LEGEND...

FROM STORIES ABOUT A DEADLY DOG

\h\h\h\h\hTO TALES OF A HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE--

AND TO A SLEEPING GIANT WHO MAY NEVER SPILL HIS SECRETS.

\h\h\h\hAERIAL CONNECTICUT IS A JOURNEY ACROSS A LAND

SHAPED BY INNOVATION \h\hAND INGENUITY...

A PLACE WHERE OLD TRADITIONS \h\h\h\hAND NEW INNOVATIONS

HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A STATE

RICH IN WEALTH, INSTITUTIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IDEAS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT‘S A LAND WHERE YOU‘RE NEVER FAR

FROM WATER OR DENSE FOREST--

WITH A LONG COASTLINE SHELTERED BY LONG ISLAND TO THE SOUTH.

THE NATIVE PEOPLE CALLED IT \h\h\h\h"LONG RIVER PLACE"--

OR CONNECTICUT.

THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDISCOVERED,

ALONG THE CALM WATERS OF LONG ISLAND SOUND,

ABUNDANT NATURAL HARBORS.

PROSPERITY WAS GUARANTEED-- AT LEAST FOR THE EUROPEANS.

FOR THE NATIVE MOHEGAN INDIANS, THE STORY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT STARTS IN TRAGEDY, BUT ENDS \h\h\h\hIN A KIND OF TRIUMPH.

IN THE 17th CENTURY, WHITE ENGLISH AND DUTCH SETTLERS

BOUGHT UP THE MOHEGANS‘ LAND \h\h\h\hAND FORCED THEM OUT,

LEADING TO A LONG DECLINE.

\h\h\h\hTHE MOHEGANS WERE ALSO DEVASTATED

BY IMPORTED EUROPEAN DISEASES.

\hBY THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THEIR POPULATION HAD DWINDLED

\h\hFROM THOUSANDS TO JUST 70 PEOPLE.

THIS GLITTERING BUILDING \h\h\h\hMARKS A REVIVAL

OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE‘S FORTUNES,

\h\h\h\hTHANKS TO PROCEEDS FROM THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO AND HOTEL

IN UNCASVILLE.

WITH 300,000 SQUARE FEET \h\h\hOF GAMBLING SPACE,

EVERYTHING IN THE DESIGN

IS INFUSED WITH MEANING \h\h\h\h\hTO THE TRIBE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE CENTERPIECE IS THE ICONIC 1,200-ROOM HOTEL.

ITS CRYSTAL FACADE AND SHAPE

ARE DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE \h\h\h\h\hTHE QUARTZITE

ONCE USED BY MOHEGANS \hTO MAKE ARROWHEADS.

EMBRACING MODERN COMMERCE

\h\h\hHAS ALLOWED THE MOHEGANS TO HONOR THEIR DEAD FITTINGLY.

A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD \h\h\h\h\h\hIN NORWICH,

\h\h\hA PERMANENT MEMORIAL OF 13 PILLARS STANDS PROUD

ON THE SITE OF A MOHEGAN \h\h\h\h\hBURIAL GROUND.

EACH PILLAR REPRESENTS \h\h\h\h\hTHE 13 MOONS

IN THE MOHEGAN CALENDAR.

THEIR MOST FAMOUS LEADER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCHIEF UNCAS,

IS BELIEVED TO BE BURIED

SOMEWHERE IN THIS \h3 1/2-ACRE PARK.

THE TRIBE FOUGHT FOR YEARS

\h\h\hTO REGAIN THEIR FORMER BURIAL GROUND.

BUT IT WASN‘T UNTIL 1999

THAT THE MOHEGANS FINALLY \h\h\hRECLAIMED THE LAND--

BUYING IT FROM THE CITY \h\h\h\h\h\hOF NORWICH.

CONNECTICUT IS JUSTLY PROUD \h\h\h\h\h\hOF ITS SCHOOLS.

HERE IN CANTERBURY--

IN THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE STATE--

WAS THE SITE OF NEW ENGLAND‘S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFIRST SCHOOL

FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN GIRLS.

WHEN PRUDENCE CRANDALL \hFOUNDED IT IN 1832,

THE SCHOOL WAS UNPOPULAR \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH LOCALS,

\h\h\hAND SHE FACED HUMILIATION, ARREST

AND A TRIAL THAT BROUGHT HER TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

HER DEFIANCE PAVED THE WAY \h\hFOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW,

\h\h\h\h\hAND IN HER HONOR HER FORMER SCHOOL AND HOME

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS NOW CALLED THE PRUDENCE CRANDALL MUSEUM.

\h\h\h\hJUTTING OUT PRECARIOUSLY AT THE MOUTH OF NEW HAVEN HARBOR

STANDS ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO CONNECTICUT BRAVERY.

AT THIS FORT--RECONSTRUCTED \h\h\h\hFROM THE ORIGINAL--

\h\h\h\h19 AMERICAN SOLDIERS HELD OUT AGAINST THE BRITISH

DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

\h\h\hIN JULY 1779, HUNDREDS OF REDCOATS

LANDED NEARBY AND ATTACKED \h\hTHE FORT FROM BEHIND.

IN SPITE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS,

THE PLUCKY SOLDIERS DEFENDED THE HARBOR

UNTIL THEY RAN OUT OF AMMUNITION AND MADE A RUN FOR IT.

A LITTLE FURTHER EAST \hALONG THE SHORELINE,

TWO PERMANENT SENTINELS \h\h\h\h\h\hSTAND WATCH

OVER NEW LONDON HARBOR.

89 FEET HIGH AND BUILT IN 1801,

\h\hNEW LONDON LIGHTHOUSE IS THE OLDEST IN THE STATE

AND THE FOURTH OLDEST \h\hIN NORTH AMERICA.

IT COST THE STAGGERING SUM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF $15,000,

\hBUT FOR LOCAL SAILORS IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.

ONE WROTE IN THE 19th CENTURY:

\h\h"IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AS A LEADING LIGHT FOR VESSELS

GOING IN AND OUT OF THE HARBOR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF NEW LONDON,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH, ON ACCOUNT OF ITS POSITION AND SECURITY,

\hIS MUCH RESORTED TO DURING THE HEAVY GALES OF WINTER."

\h\h\hA SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, IN THE MOUTH OF THE HARBOR,

SITS THE NEW LONDON LEDGE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIGHTHOUSE.

THIS STRIKING STRUCTURE \h\h\hWAS BUILT IN 1909

AND DESIGNED TO LOOK JUST LIKE THE HOMES

OF THE WEALTHY RESIDENTS \h\h\h\hALONG THE COAST.

\h\h\h\hTHE LIGHTHOUSE IS SAID TO BE HAUNTED

BY THE GHOST OF A FORMER KEEPER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hACCORDING TO LEGEND, WHEN THE KEEPER‘S WIFE RAN OFF,

HE JUMPED OFF THE LIGHTHOUSE

AND DROWNED IN THE COLD WATERS \h\h\h\hOF LONG ISLAND SOUND.

\h\h\h\hREPORTS OF MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCES AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

HAVE EMERGED EVER SINCE.

THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN \h\h\h\h\hIS A BEACON

FOR THE NATION‘S LEARNING--

\h\hAND A SHOWCASE FOR TOWN PLANNING.

\h\h\h\hAT ITS CENTER IS THE 16-ACRE GREEN,

WITH ITS NEAT PATHS RADIATING OUT TO THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN.

\h\hFOUNDED IN 1638, NEW HAVEN WAS THE FIRST TOWN IN THE U.S.

TO USE A GRID SYSTEM.

MANY AMERICAN CITIES, \h\h\h\h\hIF NOT ALL,

\h\h\hHAVE SINCE ADOPTED THE SAME PLANNED DESIGN.

BUT IT‘S ALSO A PLACE FAMOUS \h\hFOR ITS NATURAL BEAUTY,

EARNING THE NICKNAME \h\h"THE ELM CITY."

\hIT‘S LINED WITH MANY MASSIVE ELMS,

THE REMNANTS OF AMERICA‘S FIRST PUBLIC TREE PLANTING PROGRAM.

TAKING PRIDE OF PLACE IN THIS CITY OF TREES

\hIS CONNECTICUT‘S MOST FAMOUS INSTITUTION: YALE UNIVERSITY.

THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED \h\hIN NEARBY SAYBROOK

AND MOVED TO NEW HAVEN IN 1716 \h\hAFTER A PROTRACTED DEBATE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFIRST CALLED "THE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL,"

\h\hYALE WAS STARTED IN 1701 BY A GROUP OF TEN MINISTERS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MEN-- ALL ALUMNI OF HARVARD--

HAD POOLED THEIR BOOKS TO FORM \hTHE SCHOOL‘S FIRST LIBRARY.

BY 1718, THE COLLEGE‘S NAME \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS CHANGED

IN HONOR OF THE MAIN BENEFACTOR, ELIHU YALE.

THE UNIVERSITY‘S MOST PROMINENT LANDMARK, HARKNESS TOWER,

STANDS 216 FEET TALL,

AND ITS 44 CARILLON BELLS \h\h\hRING OUT EVERY HOUR.

YALE IS THE THIRD OLDEST \hUNIVERSITY IN AMERICA,

\h\hAND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS--

WITH GOOD REASON.

\hSINCE THE 1970s, FOUR OF ITS ALUMNI

\h\h\h\h\hHAVE GONE ON TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

\hRUNNING NORTH FROM YALE IS AN EVEN OLDER LANDMARK.

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS AREA IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF THE SLEEPING GIANT.

FROM A DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE \h\h\h\hA LONG TWO-MILE HILL

\h\h\h\hTHAT LOOKS LIKE A GIANT‘S RESTING BODY.

NATIVE AMERICANS CALL \hTHIS GIANT HOBOMOCK,

WHO WAS PUT TO SLEEP \h\hBY A GOOD SPIRIT

TO STOP HIS DESTRUCTIVE URGES.

THE GIANT‘S REST HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN PEACEFUL.

HE WAS DISTURBED BY VANDALS \hIN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.

AND THEN JUDGE WILLIS COOK--

WHOSE PROPERTY INCLUDED \h\h\hTHE GIANT‘S HEAD--

ALLOWED STONE QUARRYING \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE LAND.

BUT PUBLIC OUTCRY SOON PUT \h\hAN END TO THE BLASTING

AND LED TO THE CREATION

OF SLEEPING GIANT STATE PARK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1924.

THE GIANT HAS SLEPT SOUNDLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVER SINCE--

DESPITE THIS OBSERVATION TOWER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBEING BUILT

ON HIS THICKLY WOODED BELLY.

ALSO IN HAMDEN IS AN IMPORTANT \h\h\hEPICENTER OF INNOVATION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS HERE THAT INVENTOR ELI WHITNEY

\h\h\hMADE A KEY CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA‘S INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

AFTER PATENT VIOLATIONS KEPT HIM FROM REAPING PROFITS

FROM HIS INVENTION OF THE COTTON GIN,

\h\hIN 1798 HE SIGNED A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

TO MASS-PRODUCE 10,000 GUNS.

WHITNEY HARNESSED NATURAL POWER FOR HIS FACTORY

FROM THE FLOW OF THE MILL RIVER,

AND BROKE NEW GROUND

\h\h\hBY MAKING THE WEAPONS WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS.

ANOTHER INNOVATION WAS CREATING THE PIECES BY MACHINE

INSTEAD OF BY HAND.

THE INNOVATIONS DEVELOPED HERE

\hWOULD ULTIMATELY HELP THE INDUSTRIALIZED NORTH

\hDEFEAT THE SOUTH IN THE CIVIL WAR.

CONNECTICUT IS A LAND OF TOWERS WITH INCREDIBLE VIEWS.

CASTLE CRAIG IS PERCHED ON AN INLAND CLIFF EDGE

\h\h\hIN AN AREA KNOWN AS THE HANGING HILLS.

THE VIEW IS COMMANDING--

OFFERING THE HIGHEST \h\h\hVANTAGE POINT

\h\h\h\hANYWHERE ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

THE CASTLE WAS BUILT BY A LOCAL MANUFACTURER A CENTURY AGO,

\h\h\hALTHOUGH THE ORIGIN OF ITS DESIGN IS UNCLEAR.

\hSOME SAY IT WAS INSPIRED BY AN 11th-CENTURY FRENCH TOWER;

OTHERS BY A 12th-CENTURY \h\h\h\h\hTURKISH TOWER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hLOOKING OUT, YOU MAY CATCH A GLIMPSE

OF THE INFAMOUS BLACK DOG \h\hOF THE HANGING HILLS.

\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST SIGHTING OF THIS LEGENDARY HOUND--

WHO LEAVES NO FOOTPRINTS \h\hAND MAKES NO SOUND--

IS SAID TO BRING JOY.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE SECOND SIGHTING SUPPOSEDLY LEADS TO MISFORTUNE,

AND THE THIRD IS CONSIDERED \h\h\h\h\hAN OMEN OF DEATH.

CONNECTICUT IS A STATE SHAPED \hBY ITS ACCESS TO THE OCEANS

THROUGH ITS RIVERS \h\hAND COASTLINE.

AND ITS WATERWAYS SERVED \h\h\hAS MAJOR HIGHWAYS

FOR TRANSPORTING GOODS \h\hIN EARLY AMERICA.

PROTECTED BY LONG ISLAND SOUND, MARITIME TRADES THRIVED.

THE MAJESTIC CONNECTICUT RIVER

\h\hCONNECTED THIS BUSTLING COASTLINE

TO THE STATE‘S INNER REGIONS.

THE STATE CAPITOL OF HARTFORD

WAS SETTLED ON THE BANKS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE RIVER

IN 1623 BY DUTCH TRADERS.

\h\h\hWHAT STARTED AS A FORT KNOWN AS "THE HOUSE OF HOPE"

\h\h\h\h\hSOON BECAME A PROSPEROUS OUTPOST.

ONE OF THE TOWN‘S GREAT SUCCESS STORIES CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

MERCHANTS NEEDED INSURANCE TO PROTECT THEIR SHIPS AND CARGO,

AND HARTFORD GLADLY OBLIGED.

WITH ITS MODERN SKYLINE \h\h\hOF OFFICE BLOCKS,

\h\h\hIT‘S BECOME KNOWN AS THE INSURANCE CAPITAL OF AMERICA.

\hTHE TRAVELERS TOWER IS HOME TO ONE SUCH INSURANCE COMPANY,

\h\hAND REMAINS THE CITY‘S MOST DISTINCTIVE LANDMARK.

\h\h\hAMAZINGLY THIS IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE

WAS ONCE THE SEVENTH HIGHEST \h\h\hBUILDING IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\hTODAY IT‘S NOT EVEN THE TALLEST IN ITS OWN CITY.

HARTFORD HAS A LONG HISTORY \hAS A CENTER OF DEMOCRACY.

THE FIRST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGUARANTEEING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

WAS SIGNED IN CONNECTICUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1639.

AS A RESULT THE STATE \hEARNED ITS NICKNAME,

THE CONSTITUTION STATE.

OVER 150 YEARS LATER,

\h\hCONNECTICUT BUILT ITS FIRST STATEHOUSE.

IT‘S THE OLDEST IN THE NATION

AND SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL \h\hSTATE CAPITOL BUILDING

UNTIL 1878.

ITS ARCHITECT, CHARLES BULFINCH,

WENT ON TO HELP CREATE \hTHE CAPITOL BUILDING

IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

TODAY IT‘S AFFECTIONATELY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREFERRED TO

AS THE "OLD STATEHOUSE"

AND REMAINS ONE OF HARTFORD‘S \h\h\hARCHITECTURAL TREASURES.

\h\hWITH BUSHNELL PARK ROLLING OUT BEFORE IT,

THE NEW STATE CAPITOL \hIS A GRANDER AFFAIR.

\h\hCOSTING A STAGGERING $2.5 MILLION AT THE TIME,

\hOR $53.5 MILLION IN TODAY‘S MONEY,

\h\h\hIT‘S REGARDED AS A PERFECT EXAMPLE

\hOF HIGH VICTORIAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.

OPENING FOR STATE BUSINESS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1879,

IT‘S BEEN SERVING THE CITIZENS \h\hOF CONNECTICUT EVER SINCE.

\h\h\hPERHAPS AMERICA‘S GREATEST LITERARY FIGURE

BUILT HIS DREAM HOME \hHERE IN HARTFORD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSAMUEL CLEMENS-- BETTER KNOWN AS MARK TWAIN--

ENLISTED AN ENGLISH ARCHITECT TO CREATE THIS DRAMATIC HOUSE.

\h\h\h\hAND, DESPITE HIS THREE YOUNG DAUGHTERS RUNNING AMOK,

HE FOUND TIME TO WRITE

\h\hTHE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

\h\h\hA CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR‘S COURT.

THE HOUSE IS NOW ABUTTED \h\h\h\h\h\hBY A MUSEUM

DEDICATED TO THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF TWAIN‘S LIFE.

ALTHOUGH TWAIN‘S LITERARY SUCCESS MADE HIM WEALTHY,

\h\h\hBAD INVESTMENTS SADDLED HIM WITH DEBT.

HE LEFT HIS HARTFORD HOME \h\h\h\hFOR GOOD IN 1891.

HE WROTE OF HIS BELOVED CITY

THAT "OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL TOWNS IT HAS BEEN MY FORTUNE TO SEE,

THIS IS THE CHIEF OF ALL."

AWAY FROM THE PEACEFUL \h\hRESIDENTIAL AREAS

LIES THE MOST FAMOUS GUN FACTORY IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\hLEARNING INDUSTRIAL-SCALE MANUFACTURING FROM ELI WHITNEY,

\h\h\hSAMUEL COLT BUILT HIS OWN GUN EMPIRE HERE

\hIN AN AREA OF HARTFORD LATER NAMED COLTSVILLE.

\h\hHIS DISTINCTIVE DOMED ARMORY IS THE CENTERPIECE OF A FACTORY

THAT MADE THE FIRST REVOLVERS \hAND THE M-16 ASSAULT RIFLE.

THE FIREARMS MADE IN HARTFORD \h\h\hHAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE

\h\hIN U.S. HISTORY FOR OVER 150 YEARS.

COLT USED HIS VAST FORTUNE

TO BUILD A NEARBY MANSION, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARMSMEAR,

\h\h\hCONSIDERED THE GREATEST HARTFORD RESIDENCE OF ITS DAY.

HE CONSTRUCTED THE PALATIAL \h\h\h\hITALIAN-STYLE VILLA

AS A HOME FOR HIS NEW WIFE, \h\h\h\h\hELIZABETH JARVIS.

AFTER COLT‘S DEATH IN 1862,

ELIZABETH WAS ONE OF THE RICHEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD.

\hSHE USED HER FORTUNE TO BECOME A DEDICATED PATRON OF THE ARTS--

COLLECTING AND DONATING \h\h\h\hMANY GREAT WORKS

OVER THE NEXT FOUR DECADES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE HISTORIC HOUSES OF WETHERSFIELD ARE MORE MODEST,

\hBUT NO LESS IMPORTANT IN THE STATE‘S HISTORY.

RANGING IN AGE FROM EARLY \h\h\hTO MID 18th CENTURY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY TYPIFY EARLY SETTLER ARCHITECTURE:

SIMPLE, EFFICIENT CLAPBOARD DESIGNS.

HERE AT JOSEPH WEBB HOUSE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1781,

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON

CONVENED A FIVE-DAY MILITARY CONFERENCE

THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY SEAL \hAMERICA‘S INDEPENDENCE.

AT THE BATTLE OF YORKTOWN \h\h\h\hLATER IN THE YEAR,

THE YOUNG NATION FINALLY \hDEFEATED THE BRITISH.

THE MILITARY CONFERENCE \h\hHERE AT WETHERSFIELD

WAS CLEARLY TIME WELL SPENT.

\h\h\hA SHORT WAY DOWN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER

FLOATS A UNIQUE MOVING LANDMARK.

FOR THIS MAN AND HIS CAR,

THE $3.00 TOLL TO CROSS \hTHE CONNECTICUT RIVER

IS BOTH TIMESAVING AND HISTORIC.

THE ROCKY HILL-GLASTONBURY FERRY

HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS \h\h\h\hSINCE 1655--

MAKING IT THE NATION‘S OLDEST \hCONTINUALLY OPERATING FERRY.

\h\h\hBACK THEN THE FERRYMAN USED POLES TO PUSH HIS BOAT

ACROSS THE 1,000-FOOT STRETCH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF WATER.

\h\hLATER ON, A HORSE WALKING A TREADMILL DID THE HARD WORK,

AND LATER STILL CAME THE ADVENT OF STEAM.

TODAY DIESEL POWER HAS REPLACED CENTURIES OF TOIL.

CROSSING THE RIVER HERE SHAVES \hEIGHT MILES OFF HIS JOURNEY,

\hAND ALLOWS TIME TO SAVOR THE VIEW.

\h\h\h\hCONNECTICUT MAY BE KNOWN FOR ITS INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION,

BUT SOME DAYS IN THIS STATE

SHOULDN‘T BE ALLOWED TO GO BY \hWITHOUT PAUSING FOR A REST.

THAT REST COULD COME \h\h\hFROM THE SHADE

OF ONE OF THE STATE‘S \h\h\h\h\hMANY TREES--

OR PERHAPS ONE IN PARTICULAR.

\h\h\hTHE PINCHOT SYCAMORE-- THE LARGEST IN NEW ENGLAND--

IS NAMED AFTER GIFFORD PINCHOT,

\h\h\h\hTHE FATHER OF AMERICAN CONSERVATION.

ITS CANOPY STRETCHES 140 FEET-- HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD--

AND IT‘S AT LEAST TWO CENTURIES OLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hA SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG REPUTATION, LITCHFIELD--

IN THE NORTHWEST OF THE STATE--

IS HOME TO ANOTHER \hIMPORTANT FIRST.

A JUDGE NAMED TAPPING REEVE

\hDEVISED A SERIES OF LECTURES ON LAW

AND ESTABLISHED, IN 1784,

THE FIRST LAW SCHOOL \h\hIN THE COUNTRY.

\h\h\hMANY OF THE NATION‘S MOST PROMINENT POLITICIANS

STUDIED HERE,

INCLUDING THOMAS JEFFERSON‘S VICE PRESIDENT, AARON BURR,

\h\h\h\h\h28 SENATORS, AND 3 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

IT CLOSED IN 1833.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFURTHER EAST, ANOTHER CONNECTICUT TOWER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPLAYED A PART IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY.

RISING FROM A NATURAL WONDER \hKNOWN AS TALCOTT MOUNTAIN,

165-FOOT-TALL HEUBLEIN TOWER \hWAS BUILT AS A SUMMER HOME

BY A GERMAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN

WHO MODELED IT AFTER CASTLES \h\h\h\h\h\hIN HIS HOMELAND.

ITS OWNER‘S HERITAGE \h\hCAUSED PROBLEMS

AT THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR I,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN RUMORS FLEW THAT THE TOWER WAS BEING USED

TO SEND MESSAGES TO GERMAN SHIPS.

TO HALT THIS SPECULATION,

\h\h\hHEUBLEIN OFFERED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

USE OF THE PROPERTY.

THEY DECLINED, BUT THE RUMORS \h\h\h\h\h\hQUICKLY DIED DOWN.

IN 1952, A GROUP OF PROMINENT \h\h\h\hCITIZENS GATHERED HERE

TO PRESSURE A RENOWNED GENERAL \hINTO RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER ACCEPTED,

AND WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE \h\h\hTHE FOLLOWING YEAR.

TODAY OVER 100,000 PEOPLE A YEAR VISIT THE TOWER.

CONNECTICUT‘S SMALL CREEKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND STREAMS

\h\h\hWERE ONCE DOTTED WITH COVERED BRIDGES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT TODAY, THE WEST CORNWALL BRIDGE

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ONE OF ONLY THREE ORIGINAL STRUCTURES THAT REMAIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUILT IN 1864, IT WAS DESIGNED BY ITHIEL TOWN,

ONE OF AMERICA‘S FIRST ARCHITECTS

AND ANOTHER CONNECTICUT NATIVE.

HIS DESIGN, CRISSCROSSING PIECES OF WOOD THAT FORM A LATTICE,

\hALLOWED THE BRIDGE TO HOLD MORE WEIGHT.

EVEN SO, THE BRIDGE HAS RECEIVED A LITTLE HELP OVER THE YEARS--

A HIDDEN STEEL DECK WAS ADDED \h\h\h\h\hBENEATH IT IN 1973.

A BREAK IN THE FOREST \hREVEALS HARVEST TIME

FOR A TRADITIONAL NEW ENGLAND CROP.

\h\hPUMPKINS HAVE BEEN GROWN FOR FOOD BY HUMANS FOR GENERATIONS,

\hBUT THESE LOOK SET FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS.

THERE ARE MANY VARIETIES, BUT THE CONNECTICUT FIELD PUMPKIN

IS THE MOST POPULAR TYPE \h\h\h\h\hFOR HALLOWEEN,

THANKS TO ITS PICTURE-BOOK \h\h\h\h\hCOLOR AND SIZE.

IN A LAND RICH IN GHOST STORIES, PERHAPS THE MOST CHILLING

\h\hCONCERNS A LOST CONNECTICUT VILLAGE:

\hDUDLEYTOWN, ALSO KNOWN AS "THE VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED."

HIDDEN IN THIS FOREST,

\h\h\hJUST SOUTH OF COLTSFOOT MOUNTAIN,

ARE RUINS NOT MARKED \h\h\hON MOST MAPS.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT A CURSE

FOLLOWED THE DUDLEY FAMILY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM ENGLAND

AFTER ONE OF THEIR NUMBER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS BEHEADED

FOR PLOTTING AGAINST \h\hKING HENRY VIII.

\h\h\hWIDESPREAD SUICIDES, MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES

\hAND GENERAL MAYHEM FOLLOWED THE FAMILY

TO THE TOWN THEY SETTLED \h\h\h\hIN CONNECTICUT.

BY THE EARLY 1900s, IT HAD BEEN ABANDONED TO THE FOREST.

THE CURRENT OWNERS \hOF THE PROPERTY

HAVE DESIGNATED IT A NATURE RESERVE--

AND TRIED TO WARD PEOPLE OFF.

\h\h\hBUT SOME STILL FIND THEIR WAY HERE

IN SEARCH OF OLD LEGENDS \h\h\h\h\h\hAND GHOSTS.

HERE, AT LIME ROCK PARK,

A HOLLYWOOD STAR SATISFIED \hHIS PASSION FOR DRIVING.

TOO SMALL TO BE A MAJOR TRACK,

ITS BEAUTIFUL LOCATION \h\h\h\h\hAND HISTORY

PLACES IT FIRMLY IN THE HEARTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF RACING FANS--

INCLUDING THE LATE PAUL NEWMAN.

HE CUT HIS TEETH AT LIME ROCK,

LEARNING THE SKILLS THAT WOULD \h\h\hTAKE HIM TO SECOND PLACE

IN THE LE MANS ENDURANCE RACE.

OPENED IN 1957 BY JIM VAILL,

\hTHERE CAN BE NO RACING ON THIS TRACK ON SUNDAYS

BECAUSE IT‘S ACROSS THE STREET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM A CHURCH.

\h\hBUT IT KEEPS BUSY, EVEN THOUGH THIS MEANS

\h\hIT CAN ONLY HOLD A FEW BIG WEEKEND EVENTS A YEAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNEWMAN WAS THE MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT

OF THE COASTAL TOWN OF WESTPORT

UNTIL HIS PASSING IN 2008.

BUT HIS LEGACY LIVES ON.

HIS HABIT OF MAKING \h\h\hSALAD DRESSING

FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

SPARKED AN IDEA.

THE "NEWMAN‘S OWN" BRAND

\hWAS FOUNDED IN 1982 WITH HIS FRIEND AARON HOTCHNER.

\hSO FAR OVER $250 MILLION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CHARITY

FROM THE SALE OF DRESSINGS, \h\h\h\hSAUCES AND LEMONADE.

SUCH SELFLESSNESS WOULD NOT BE LOST

\h\h\hON THE NUNS OF THE ABBEY OF REGINA LAUDIS IN BETHLEHEM.

WHEN A CONNECTICUT INDUSTRIALIST DONATED SOME LAND

TO A FRENCH AND AN AMERICAN NUN,

THEY FASHIONED THEIR ABBEY‘S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMAIN STRUCTURE

FROM AN OLD FACTORY BUILDING.

THE ABBEY HAS SINCE EXPANDED-- \h\h\h\hIN SIZE AND IN PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE ABBEY‘S MOST FAMOUS \hRESIDENTS IS DOLORES HART--

\h\hA MOVIE ACTRESS TURNED CATHOLIC NUN.

BY THE AGE OF 25, HART HAD DELIVERED

\h\hELVIS PRESLEY‘S FIRST ONSCREEN KISS

AND WAS ON HER WAY TO STARDOM.

\h\h\hTHEN, IN 1963, HART LEFT HOLLYWOOD

TO BECOME A BENEDICTINE NUN

WITHIN THE PEACEFUL CONFINES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE ABBEY.

\h\h\hWHILE THE GLAMOUR MAY BE A DISTANT MEMORY,

HER NEED TO PERFORM ISN‘T.

\hTHE ABBEY‘S CHOIR HAS RELEASED SEVERAL CDs OF GREGORIAN CHANTS,

\hAND ITS PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUMMER THEATER WORKSHOPS.

\h\h\h\h\hA WORLD AWAY-- BUT IN THE SAME STATE--

\h\h\h\h\hTHE NEAT BANKS OF SUBMARINES AT GROTON

SIGNAL A DEADLY INTENT.

AS A GATEWAY TO THE ATLANTIC,

CONNECTICUT PLAYS A VITAL PART \h\h\hIN THE NATION‘S DEFENSE.

\h\h\h\hON THE BANKS OF THE THAMES RIVER,

\h\h\h\hGROTON IS HOMEPORT TO 16 ATTACK SUBMARINES--

AND AN IMPRESSIVE NAVAL MUSEUM.

\hTHE USS NAUTILUS IS MORE THAN AN EXHIBIT.

IT WAS THE FIRST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\hWITH ITS KEEL LAID BY PRESIDENT TRUMAN IN 1954,

THIS GROUNDBREAKING VESSEL

EMBARKED ON A CAREER \h\hOF MANY FIRSTS,

INCLUDING THE FIRST CROSSING \hOF THE NORTH POLE BY SHIP.

\hTHE SHIP WAS FINALLY DECOMMISSIONED IN 1980

AND BROUGHT HERE IN 1986.

WHILE SUBMARINES OPERATE \h\h\hMILES OUT AT SEA,

\h\hTHE THAMES RIVER PLAYED ITS OWN PART

IN THE HISTORY OF U.S. WARFARE.

AT THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1781,

FORT GRISWOLD WAS ATTACKED \h\h\h\hBY A BRITISH FORCE

\h\h\h\hLED BY AMERICA‘S MOST INFAMOUS TRAITOR--

CONNECTICUT NATIVE \hBENEDICT ARNOLD.

THE MARKS OF THE ORIGINAL FORT

CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN \h\h\hFROM THE AIR.

ARNOLD WAS GIVEN DETAILED PLANS OF THE BUILDING

BY ANOTHER TURNCOAT.

\h\h\h\h\hWITH SUCH KNOWLEDGE, VICTORY WAS ALMOST GUARANTEED.

BUT THE STATIONED SOLDIERS

REFUSED TO SURRENDER \h\hWITHOUT A FIGHT,

AND THERE WERE HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES.

EVENTUALLY ARNOLD‘S FORCES WON.

JUST ACROSS THE THAMES

STANDS THE MORE IMPRESSIVE \h\h\h\h\h\hFORT TRUMBULL.

BUT BACK IN 1781 IT WAS ONLY \h\h\hA THREE-SIDED RAMPART

AND GARRISONED BY JUST 23 MEN.

ARNOLD TOOK IT EASILY.

MISSING OUT ON ONE CONFLICT,

FORT TRUMBULL FINALLY HAD \h\h\h\hA MILITARY ROLE--

OVER 150 YEARS LATER.

DURING THE COLD WAR IT SERVED

AS A TOP-SECRET LABORATORY \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE NAVY.

TODAY THE FORT COMPLEX \h\hCONTAINS A MUSEUM

\h\h\hWITH OVER 225 YEARS OF MILITARY HISTORY ON DISPLAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hA FLOTILLA OF SMALL SAILING BOATS

TAKES SAFE HARBOR IN ONE OF CONNECTICUT‘S JEWELS:

MYSTIC SEAPORT, THE MUSEUM \hOF AMERICA AND THE SEA.

\hTHIS IS THE COUNTRY‘S LARGEST MARITIME MUSEUM,

AND MANY SAILING SHIPS \hFROM AMERICA‘S PAST

HAVE BEEN BROUGHT HERE...

INCLUDING THE CHARLES W. MORGAN,

THE NATION‘S ONLY SURVIVING \h\h\h\hWOODEN WHALING SHIP.

AND THE JOSEPH CONRAD,

NAMED FOR THE AUTHOR \h\hHEART OF DARKNESS,

A NOVEL THAT WOULD LATER INSPIRE

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA‘S \h\h\h\hAPOCALYPSE NOW.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE MUSEUM ALSO HOUSES A 19th-CENTURY FISHING VILLAGE.

ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE HOUSES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE AUTHENTIC,

THEY WERE MOVED HERE

FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS \hAROUND NEW ENGLAND.

WATERBURY WAS ONCE FAMOUS \h\h\h\hFOR MAKING CLOCKS,

SO IT‘S ONLY FITTING

\hTHAT THE LARGEST TIMEPIECE IN NEW ENGLAND RESIDES HERE.

THIS ENORMOUS CLOCK TOWER \h\h\hWAS A LATE ADDITION

TO PLANS FOR THE WATERBURY \h\h\h\h\h\hTRAIN STATION.

IN 1909, THE PRESIDENT

OF THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN \h\hAND HARTFORD RAILROAD

HAD GONE TO ITALY WITH HIS WIFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE WAS SO ENTRANCED BY THE TORRE DEL MANGIA OF SIENA

THAT, UPON HIS RETURN,

HE DECIDED TO CREATE A REPLICA \h\h\h\h\hOF THAT TOWER HERE.

HE ENLISTED THE SAME \hARCHITECTURAL FIRM

THAT CREATED ELLIS ISLAND‘S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGREAT HALL

AND THE ORIGINAL PENN STATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN NEW YORK.

HE SPARED NO EXPENSE TO ADD THE 245-FOOT TALL STRUCTURE

AND THE 16-FOOT CLOCK.

IN CONNECTICUT YOU ARE NEVER FAR FROM WATER.

\h\hBUT IT‘S LARGEST AND MOST FAMOUS LAKE

WAS ACTUALLY MADE \hBY HUMAN HANDS.

THIS 16-MILE-LONG BODY OF WATER

WAS CREATED BY THE CONNECTICUT \h\h\h\hLIGHT & POWER COMPANY,

AND IS USED TO GENERATE \h\hHYDROELECTRIC POWER

FOR THE AREA.

BACK IN 1928,

\hTHE LAKE PROJECT COST A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION--

WHICH IS HOW MUCH SOME OF THE HOMES

ON ITS MANUFACTURED SHORELINE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE NOW WORTH.

BENEATH THE SURFACE, DIVERS CAN STILL SEE OLD ROADS,

HOUSES, FARM IMPLEMENTS \h\h\h\h\h\hAND MODEL-Ts

ABANDONED WHEN THE WORKERS \h\h\h\h\h\hLEFT THE AREA.

IN ITS EARLY DAYS, THE LAKE \hWAS KNOWN BY MANY NAMES--

\hBUT CANDLEWOOD WAS THE ONE THAT STUCK,

AFTER THE NEARBY MOUNTAIN.

EVOCATIVE NAMES ARE EVERYWHERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN CONNECTICUT,

AND PERHAPS NONE MORE SO \hTHAN LILLINONAH LAKE,

\h\hALONG THE HEADWATERS OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER.

IT‘S NAMED AFTER ONE HALF OF A TALE OF DOOMED LOVE.

ACCOUNTS SAY LILLINONAH

HAD RESCUED A LOST WHITE MAN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE FOREST

AND FALLEN FOR HIM.

THE YOUNG LOVERS EVENTUALLY \h\h\hCONVINCED HER FATHER,

\hAN INDIAN CHIEF, TO LET THEM MARRY.

BUT FIRST, THE PROSPECTIVE GROOM

LEFT TO PAY A LAST VISIT \h\h\h\h\hTO HIS PEOPLE.

\hWHEN THE YOUNG MAN DIDN‘T RETURN SOON,

LILLINONAH‘S FATHER ARRANGED \h\hHIS DAUGHTER‘S MARRIAGE

TO A YOUNG MAN OF THE TRIBE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hDISTRAUGHT, LILLINONAH TOOK A CANOE

OUT IN THE HOUSATONIC RIVER AND TOSSED AWAY HER PADDLE,

BARRELING TOWARD CERTAIN DEATH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE RAPIDS.

SUDDENLY SHE SAW HER BELOVED \h\h\h\hCALLING OUT TO HER--

AND HE DOVE INTO THE RAGING \h\h\h\hWATERS TO SAVE HER.

IN THEIR FINAL EMBRACE,

THE COUPLE DISAPPEARED \h\h\hINTO THE FALLS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLEGEND HAS IT THAT THEIR RECOVERED BODIES

\h\hWERE STILL LOCKED IN EACH OTHER‘S ARMS.

\h\hHYDROELECTRIC DAMS HAVE ELIMINATED THE ACTUAL FALLS,

\h\h\h\hBUT THE GORGE AND ITS MODERN BRIDGE

ARE NOW NAMED LOVER‘S LEAP \h\h\h\h\hIN THEIR HONOR.

BACK IN THE 17th CENTURY, PARTS OF SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT

WERE CLAIMED BY THE NEIGHBORING NEW YORK COLONY.

NEW YORK FINALLY GAVE UP ITS CLAIM TO THE REGION,

\h\hLEAVING CONNECTICUT WITH SEVERAL KEY CITIES,

INCLUDING GREENWICH, \h\hFOUNDED IN 1665.

\h\h\h\h\hMORE RECENTLY, GREENWICH‘S COMBINATION

\hOF NEW ENGLAND CHARM AND NEW YORK PROXIMITY

HAS HELPED MAKE IT

\h\h\h\h\h\hONE OF THE STATE‘S MOST DESIRABLE PLACES TO LIVE.

\h\h\h\hWITH THE HIGHEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE NATION,

\h\h\h\hCONNECTICUT‘S SOUTHWESTERN SHORELINE

IS SOMETIMES CALLED \h"THE GOLD COAST."

ONE OF THE MOST EXCLUSIVE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOMMUNITIES

IN THIS VERY EXCLUSIVE TOWN

IS HERE IN BELLE HAVEN.

IN 1975, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THE SITE OF A NOTORIOUS MURDER

WHEN 15-YEAR-OLD MARTHA MOXLEY

WAS FOUND BEATEN TO DEATH \h\h\h\hWITH A GOLF CLUB.

\h\hTHE CRIME REMAINED UNSOLVED FOR MANY YEARS, UNTIL THE 1990s,

WHEN INTEREST IN THE CASE \h\h\h\h\hPICKED UP AGAIN.

\h\h\h\h\hPOLICE RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL SUSPECT,

MICHAEL SKAKEL.

IN 2002, SKAKEL WAS FINALLY \hFOUND GUILTY OF THE CRIME

\h\h\h\hAND SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

WHILE CONNECTICUT HAS \hMANY WEALTHY TOWNS,

THE STATE‘S LARGEST, BRIDGEPORT,

IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING \h\h\h\h\h\hTO RECOVER

FROM THE LOSS OF HEAVY INDUSTRY IN THE 1970s AND ‘80s.

EVERY DAY THOUSANDS COMMUTE

\h\hTHE 60 OR SO MILES TO NEW YORK FOR WORK.

THE CITY HAS NEVER BEEN \h\hSHORT ON CHARACTER.

HOWEVER, ONE SUCH \hFORMER RESIDENT

\h\h\hCERTAINLY KNEW HOW TO DRAW A CROWD.

SOME CALL P.T. BARNUM THE GREATEST SHOWMAN;

OTHERS A MARKETING GENIUS.

BUT THERE‘S NO DENYING

THAT THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN \h\h\h\h\hQUOTED AS SAYING

"THERE‘S A SUCKER BORN \h\h\h\hEVERY MINUTE"

PUT BRIDGEPORT ON THE MAP.

THIS CURIOUS BUILDING \h\hHOUSES HIS MUSEUM,

CHRONICLING A CAREER THAT \h\h\hINVOLVED SHOWCASING

\h\h\hSIAMESE TWINS, AN ALLEGED MERMAID,

AND A MIDGET NAMED TOM THUMB.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBARNUM LIVED TO THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 80.

\hAND IT WAS ONLY AFTER MOST PEOPLE

WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED RETIREMENT

THAT HE MADE HIS MOST LASTING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONTRIBUTION:

A CIRCUS CALLED "P.T. BARNUM‘S \h\h\h\h\h\hTRAVELING MUSEUM,

MENAGERIE, CARAVAN \hAND HIPPODROME."

NEAR BRIDGEPORT A STRANGE RUNWAY REVEALS THE PRODUCTS

OF ONE OF CONNECTICUT‘S \hGREAT SUCCESS STORIES.

IGOR SIKORSKY FOUNDED \hTHE AIRCRAFT COMPANY

THAT BORE HIS NAME IN 1925.

\h\h\hORIGINALLY A MAKER OF FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT,

\h\hSIKORSKY INVENTED THE FIRST MASS-PRODUCED HELICOPTER IN 1942

AND CHANGED AVIATION HISTORY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOREVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTODAY THIS FACTORY MAKES THE BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER

FOR THE U.S. MILITARY.

\h\hTHEIR LATEST MODELS GO THROUGH PRACTICE RUNS

OVER THE CONNECTICUT \h\h\h\hCOUNTRYSIDE.

\h\h\h\h\hSIKORSKY DIED AT HOME IN EASTON, CONNECTICUT, IN 1972.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAERIAL AMERICA MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

KNOWN AS THE EIFFEL TOWER \h\hOF LONG ISLAND SOUND,

THE FAULKNER‘S ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE STILL STANDS PROUDLY

MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES \h\hAFTER IT WAS BUILT.

THE LIGHTHOUSE WAS COMMISSIONED BY PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON

BECAUSE OF SHIPS BEING WRECKED

\h\h\h\h\hON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM GUILFORD.

CONGRESS AUTHORIZED \h\hITS CONSTRUCTION

AT THE PRICE OF $6,000,

OR ALMOST $120,000 TODAY.

BUT THE LIGHTHOUSE ALMOST HAD \h\h\h\hA VERY SHORT LIFESPAN.

WHEN BRITISH TROOPS LANDED HERE DURING THE WAR OF 1812,

THE KEEPER FEARED THEY MIGHT \h\h\h\h\hDESTROY THE TOWER.

BUT THE BRITISH SOLDIERS KNEW \h\hTHEY NEEDED THE LIGHTHOUSE

TO SAIL IN AND OUT \hOF PORT SAFELY,

AND ASKED ONLY THAT THE LIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\hKEEP BURNING HERE.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE ONLY THREAT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

HAS BEEN MOTHER NATURE.

THE ISLAND HAS HAD A STONEWALL \hADDED TO HELP STOP EROSION.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF LONG ISLAND SOUND

AND THE CONNECTICUT RIVER

LIES OLD SAYBROOK.

\hTHE OLDEST TOWN ON THE SHORELINE,

IT WAS ALSO THE SITE

\h\hOF CONNECTICUT‘S FIRST ENGLISH FORT.

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS OF THIS CLOSE-KNIT COASTAL COMMUNITY

USED TO SEE AN OLD WOMAN \h\hBIKING THROUGH TOWN.

SHE WAS SUCH A REGULAR SIGHT

THAT MOST NEVER GAVE HER \h\h\h\hA SECOND LOOK--

\h\hEVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ACTRESSES

OF ALL TIME:

KATHARINE HEPBURN.

\h\h\hHER FAMILY FIRST SUMMERED HERE IN 1912.

\h\hWHEN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WAS SWEPT AWAY IN A 1938 HURRICANE,

\h\hIT WAS REBUILT-- THIS TIME IN BRICK.

\h\h\h\h\hDURING HER YEARS AS A HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY,

\h\h\hHEPBURN OFTEN CAME HERE TO ESCAPE FOR LONG WEEKENDS--

\h\h\hSOMETIMES WITH GUESTS LIKE SPENCER TRACY OR HOWARD HUGHES.

WHEN SHE GOT OLDER, SHE CAME TO STAY IN OLD SAYBROOK FOR GOOD--

AND THIS WAS WHERE SHE DIED, \h\h\h\h\hAT THE AGE OF 96.

HER 8,300-SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS BEEN SOLD,

BUT SHE DONATED FOUR ACRES \h\hOF BEACHFRONT PROPERTY

TO THE PUBLIC--

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE USED AS A NATURE SANCTUARY.

BEFORE HEPBURN BECAME A STAR,

ANOTHER CONNECTICUT ACTOR, \h\h\h\hWILLIAM GILLETTE,

BUILT GILLETTE CASTLE \h\h\hIN EAST HADDAM.

\h\h\h\h\hHE WAS THE SON OF AN IMPORTANT HARTFORD FAMILY

\hAND EARNED HIS BIG BREAK FROM NEIGHBOR MARK TWAIN,

WHO RECOMMENDED HIM FOR A PART \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE GILDED AGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGILLETTE BUILT THIS ECCENTRIC DREAM HOME

AFTER HIS RETIREMENT.

HE LIKED TO SPY ON HIS GUESTS--

INCLUDING ALBERT EINSTEIN \h\hAND CHARLIE CHAPLIN--

USING MIRRORS FROM HIS BEDROOM.

\h\h\h\hSINCE HE HAD NO HEIRS, HE STATED ONLY THAT HIS CASTLE

SHOULD NOT FALL INTO THE HANDS \hOF "SOME BLITHERING SAPHEAD

\hWHO HAS NO CONCEPTION OF WHERE HE IS OR WITH WHAT SURROUNDED."

\h\hIT WAS ULTIMATELY BOUGHT BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

\h\h\hAND TURNED INTO A POPULAR PUBLIC PARK.

SITTING OFF THE COAST \h\h\h\h\hOF BRANFORD

ARE THE THIMBLE ISLANDS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 200 OF THEM, BUT THE EXACT NUMBER DEPENDS

\h\hON HOW HIGH THE TIDE IS WHEN THEY‘RE BEING COUNTED.

MOST ARE VERY SMALL AND EASILY COVERED--

\h\h\hAND FEWER THAN 30 ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE OCCUPIED.

THE ISLANDS DIDN‘T \hEARN THEIR NAME

FROM BEING AS SMALL AS THIMBLES, BUT FROM THE THIMBLEBERRY,

\h\h\h\h\hA TYPE OF BLACKBERRY THAT ONCE GREW ALL OVER HERE.

BY THEIR VERY NATURE,

\hTHE ISLANDS ARE EXTREMELY PRIVATE,

AND THERE ARE NO HOTELS \h\h\hOR STORES AROUND.

\h\h\h\hIN FACT, THERE ARE FEWER THAN A HUNDRED HOMES

ON ALL THE ISLANDS,

MANY OF THEM VICTORIAN COTTAGES BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900s.

THESE QUAINT SUMMER HOMES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUSUALLY PASS

FROM ONE GENERATION \h\h\hTO THE NEXT--

BUT SEVERAL ISLANDS \h\hARE SO EXCLUSIVE

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY HAVE JUST A SINGLE RESIDENCE.

THE PRIVACY AND EXCLUSIVITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THESE HOMES

HAVE MADE THEM HIGHLY PRIZED,

RESULTING IN HEATED \h\h\hBIDDING WARS.

THE TROPHY OF THE GROUP

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS A 1902 MANSION ON THE 12-ACRE ROGERS ISLAND.

IN 1980 IT WAS ON THE MARKET \h\h\h\h\hFOR $1.8 MILLION.

IN 1985 FOR $3 MILLION.

THEN IN 2003 IT WAS SOLD AGAIN \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR $22 MILLION--

ALMOST EIGHT TIMES AS MUCH.

AT THAT PRICE, THE PROPERTY \h\h\h\hSHOULD AT LEAST COME

\h\hWITH THE PROMISE OF HIDDEN TREASURE.

\h\h\hBUT ALAS, CAPTAIN KIDD IS RUMORED TO HAVE HIDDEN HIS LOOT

\h\h\h\hON MONEY ISLAND A MILE TO THE SOUTHEAST.

OR WAS IT HIGH ISLAND?

THE STORIES VARY.

HORSE ISLAND IS THE LARGEST \h\h\h\hOF THE THIMBLE CHAIN

AND REMAINS AN ECOLOGICAL \h\hSTUDY CENTER FOR YALE.

FROM ITS ISLANDS TO ITS MAINLAND,

\hCONNECTICUT IS A STATE THAT CONTINUALLY REDEFINES ITSELF.

TO SEE CONNECTICUT BY AIR

IS TO SEE ITS RICH HISTORY, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hQUIET BEAUTY,

\h\hAND LASTING MONUMENTS OF ITS STEADY INHABITANTS.

HOME TO INVENTORS AND WRITERS,

WEALTHY MERCHANTS AND THEIR \h\h\hECCENTRIC CHILDREN...

\h\h\hANCESTRAL LANDS TO NATIVE INHABITANTS

AND PURITAN VALUES,

\h\h\h\hANCIENT WHALERS AND MODERN SEAFARERS...

IT HAS LONG BEEN AND CONTINUES \h\h\h\hTO BE A STEADY LEADER

\h\h\h\hIN AMERICA‘S MARCH TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.