This week, we are going to take a look at some of the off-kilter things that help give Hartford character. If anything has been overlooked, let us know about it in the comment section (read comment policy before posting).

Little Free Libraries

A brand new library on Oxford Street

Hartford has a number of brick-and-mortar libraries, between Hartford Public Library’s main building and branches, and those inside of the universities and colleges. We also have a bunch of Little Free Library boxes, with a new one opening on Oxford Street within the last week. In areas where there are no library branches, these honor system libraries can fill a gap. We’ve seen three in person — Oxford Street, Charter Oak Cultural Center, and TrinfoCafe — and have heard rumor of at least four others within city limits. On Laurel Street, there is a Little Free Pantry.

The University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy Medicine Garden in Elizabeth Park

This is a garden of poisons and medicines.

from the University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy Medicine Garden in Elizabeth Park

From Foxglove to Poppies to Wormwood to Tobacco, you can see the plants and learn what each is used for medicinally.

Other Randomness in Elizabeth Park

From the (in season) Halloween display to the giant chair next to the Pond House to oversized cowboy boots to random installations, Elizabeth Park has a whimsical side…in case roses feel too conventional after awhile. Most of the oddball artsy things appear around the Pond House, but we’ve seen someone release a possum at Sunrise Overlook. And, we can’t forget the Art Sled Derby which takes place here every February.

One of the random things seen in Elizabeth Park

Joseph Steward’s Museum of Natural and Other Oddities

One of the most delightful places in Hartford is the oddities room in the Old State House. This is where you can find a two-headed calf and a lot of taxidermy in what is basically a large wunderkammer.

The bottom level of the Old State House is also worth a look while you’re there, but everything else will be a disappointment in comparison with drawers full of eggs.

Stegosaurus

Stationed between the Wadsworth Atheneum and Hartford’s City Hall, you can walk under this sculpture.

Hartford Art School

Or, if you need to scream, you can gather a few dozen of your friends and vent right here.

Scarborough Street Mansion Yard Art

We have a lot of opinions about a lot of the things that happen on Scarborough Street, but we can’t complain about the wacky lawn ornaments that can be seen on the end of the street closest to Albany Avenue. You can’t take it all in while speeding along in a car. You’ll know you’ve found the property when you see the dinosaur.

The Wallace Stevens Walk

Thirteen stones inscribed with passages from Stevens’ famous poem, arranged along what was the writer’s commute to-and-from his day job.

Our Lady of Hartford Shrine

Scarborough Street Mansion Yard Art. This dino would literally fill my entire front yard.

Erected in 1999, the shrine was at the time, more complex and ornate, yet it still exists nearly twenty years later. As we understand it, the shrine was built after someone allegedly saw the Virgin Mary’s image somewhere on the hillside along Colt Park. Someone else apparently saw the image of Jesus in a tree. We’re not about to argue with people about what they believe they have seen. We admit to not really understanding the whole shrine concept, but find it remarkable that this has remained intact for as long as it has.

Geographic Center of Hartford

Someone decided it was important to install a marker to indicate the geographic center of Hartford. Given that cities can change boundaries and render such markers incorrect makes the practice of this seem futile. Still, we’ve got one.

The Francis Avenue House

A former Casa Linda, this house on Francis Avenue by the Parkville Station needs to be seen by walking by. There are lawn ornaments aplenty. We love it.

A Buried River

Curiosities in the Old State House

Only a section of the Park River is buried, you can see where that happens, and it’s not too difficult to access that burial point on foot. Yes, there used to be boat tours of the underground river. Yes, there continue to be people who attempt (and succeed) to do this now, even if it’s not exactly encouraged.

The Hartford/Windsor Streets

We understand why a town line might cut across a long avenue, or even intercept shorter streets at intersections, but the diagonal divide of Sunset and Violet streets continues to perplex.

Behind the Hartford Art School

Nothing is labeled, so there’s lots of room for imagination and interpretation of what the art works found here actually are supposed to be. There’s always something odd in the area between the building and the Park River.

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