Colt Park

Historic Legacy

Colt Park is a 106-acre city park located in the Sheldon/Charter Oak neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut. Established in 1905, the park was gifted to the city by Elizabeth Jarvis Colt, widow of firearms manufacturer Samuel Colt, from their former Armsmear Estate.

Originally designed in High Victorian Gothic style, the park once featured large reflecting pools, rustic furnishings, fountains, urns, statuary, artificial ponds, a deer park, orchards, and fields. While much of this original landscaping has been altered over time, the park still serves its intended purpose of providing recreational space for Hartford residents.

Monuments and Historical Significance

At the western entrance of the park stands the Samuel Colt Monument, commissioned by Elizabeth Colt and completed in 1906. This memorial features four different depictions of Samuel Colt throughout his lifetime, representing significant moments in his career.

Colt Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 1976, as part of the Colt Industrial District. In 2014, the United States Congress authorized the creation of the Coltsville National Historical Park, which includes Colt Park, though the official designation has not yet been formally established.

Modern Amenities

Today, Colt Park offers a variety of recreational facilities for the community, including sports fields, playgrounds, swimming pools, and walking paths. The park also includes Dillon Stadium (now known as Trinity Health Stadium), which was part of the original land gift and opened in 1935.