Thousands of people drive by every week on I-91 without even looking at the distinctive factory building that once fronted the Connecticut River. (The interstate highway now effectively bisects the structure from that river.)
That distinctive blue onion dome seen to the right in this image is topped with the figure of a rampant colt, the original symbol of the Colt Manufacturing Company. That building under the dome? The Colt Armory, where the “gun that won the West” was born and manufactured.
The original “colt” statue that once raked the sky with his hooves can be seen at the Museum of Connecticut History in Hartford, along with many original Colt firearms and related memorabilia.
“The greatest discoveries have come from people who have looked at a standard situation and seen it differently.” – Ira Erwin
While aboard a ship, 18-year-old Samuel Colt was inspired as he watched the action of the wheel used to turn the vessel – and supposedly carved that thought into being as working model of wood.
Coltsville and the related complex of factory buildings and structures may yet be resurrected as a National Park. Until then, the best way to get a taste of the history is to visit the Museum of Connecticut History in Hartford, to see Colt firearms and related memorabilia. The museum is free and offers a fascinating glimpse into the state’s history.
For more about the history of the Colt family and industry in Hartford, Connecticut, see http://historicbuildingsct.com.