Since the development of photography in the mid-nineteenth century, the camera has been used as a tool of both discovery and preservation. Photographs bring alive our image of the past and can open a floodgate of memories and nostalgia or inspire curiosity and a sense of history. This intriguing visual history contains over two hundred photographs, all from private collections, of Connecticut's capital. These rare and previously unpublished views tell of Hartford's rich history--the Bushnell Memorial, the state capitol without its dome, and the great post office that filled the east lawn of the Old State House. They also tell of favorite places, such as De Pasquale's and Pippi's on Front Street and the Parma and the movie theaters and stores that filled Main Street. The photographs reveal a great deal about change and the energy and vision that has made Hartford the diverse and dynamic community it is today.