Fun Facts

State Capital: Hartford
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
State Fish: Shad
State Animal: Sperm Whale
State Bird: American Robin
State Shellfish: Eastern Oyster
State Insect: Praying Mantis
State Song: Yankee Doodle
State Tree: Charter Oak
State Ship: USS Nautilus
State Hero: Nathan Hale
State Heroine: Prudence Crandall
State Gem: Garnet
State Size: 5,018 Sq. Miles
State Population: 3,460,503 est.
Connecticut has 8 counties and 169 towns and 5 regional tourism districts.
Connecticut is the 5th state, adopted U.S. Constitution in 1788.

Connecticut Firsts:
First written constitution “The Fundamental Orders” 1639
First public library in New Haven 1656
First submarine launched by David Bushnell of Saybrook 1775
First trimmed and illuminated Christmas tree in Windsor Locks 1777
First U.S. traitor Benedict Arnold of Norwich 1780
First law school founded by Tapping Reeve in Litchfield 1784
First cotton gin, Eli Whitney in New Haven 1794
First American Cookbook by Amelia Simmons 1796
First U.S. State house in Hartford 1796
First Dictionary by Noah Webster 1806
First U.S. Amusement park in Bristol, Lake Compounce Theme Park 1846
First Football game played at Yale 1873
First Agricultural experiment station in New Haven 1875
First US Bicycle was made at Pope Manufacturing Company 1878
First Three-ring circus by P.T. Barnum in Bethel 1881
First US rose garden, Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford 1903
First nuclear submarine, The Nautilus 1954
First woman elected governor, Ella Grasso 1975
Connecticut Inventions:
Colt Revolver 1836
Portable Typewriter 1843
Sewing Machine 1846
Ice-making Machine 1853
Can Opener 1858
Tape Measure 1868
Pay Phone 1877
First Hamburger 1895
Collapsible Toothpaste Tube 1892
Electric light socket w/pull chain 1896
Lollipop 1908
Elector set 1911
Frisbee 1920
Vacuum Cleaner 1933
Polaroid Camera 1934
Helicopter 1939
Color TV 1948

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