Discover the Nutmeg State: 10 Amazing Fun Facts About Connecticut for Kids!

1. Lollipop Paradise

Who you gonna call? Lollipop busters! Connecticut was the candyman’s paradise when it came to busting out lollipops faster than you could say "sugar rush": In fact, the Racine Confectionery Machine Company in Wisconsin introduced the first automated lollipop production, churning out 2,400 delicious treats on sticks per hour that were then sold in Connecticut and all across the nation.
Source => oldtimecandy.com

2. Cow-urban Jungle

Have you ever played "spot the cow" in an urban jungle? In West Hartford, Connecticut, you might have found Corn on the Cow and Diamonds are for Heifer frolicking among the humans: In 2003, CowParade saw the town's center filled with 60 fiberglass cows, decked out by local artists, and sponsored by various companies. The charity auction that followed allowed cow-loving fans to bid on their favorites, with proceeds benefiting the Connecticut Children's Medical Center and other specified charities.
Source => nhregister.com

Did you know Rhode Island was the first colony to call for a Continental Congress and the last of the original thirteen states to ratify the Constitution? Discover more about this feisty little state's role in American history!

=> Fun Facts about Rhode-Island

3. Books to Blast Furnaces

In a novel twist of fate, Connecticut's once upon a time entrepreneurs went from books to blast furnaces like a real page-turner: The Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, Connecticut, became the first publicly supported free town library in the United States in 1803, thanks to a generous donation of 200 books by local blast furnace owner Richard Smith.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Birthplace of Hamburgers

In a world where ketchup and mustard battles have stained countless T-shirts, one unsung hero from Connecticut remains unapologetically original in its pursuit of burger excellence: Louis' Lunch in New Haven is the Birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich, recognized by the Library of Congress! Serving their iconic blend of five cuts of meat ground fresh daily since 1895, this legendary joint has been featured on The Travel Channel and Food and Wine Magazine and remains in the same family's hands, now run by the 4th generation. So if you're craving history with a side of fries, check out Louis' Lunch's website for operating hours, and get ready to feed your nostalgia!
Source => louislunch.com

5. The Oldest Newspaper

Imagine getting your news from a dinosaur that just won't go extinct: The Hartford Courant, founded way back in 1764, holds the record for the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States! Thanks to some zealous printing aficionados like Thomas Green, Ebenezer Watson, and his wife Hannah Bunce Watson, this resilient paper has persisted through challenges like the notorious British Stamp Act and pesky paper shortages during the American Revolution, and remains a cherished news source for Connecticut kids (and grownups) today.
Source => connecticuthistory.org

6. First Candy Factory

Sweeten your life with a stroll down memory lane: Connecticut boasts the first candy factory in America, built by PEZ in 1973. Located in Orange, this sugary paradise churns out the classic brick-shaped candies and now houses the PEZ Visitor Center, where you can get a taste of this iconic treat's history – peppermint beginnings and all!
Source => us.pez.com

7. World's First Practical Helicopter

Whoever said "What goes up must come down" clearly didn't know about helicopters: Connecticut was the home of the world's first practical helicopter, the VS-300, invented in 1939 by Igor Sikorsky in Stratford. Featuring a single main rotor and tail rotor design, along with variable pitch blades, Sikorsky's invention had its first successful tethered flight on September 14, 1939, and went on to revolutionize how we take to the skies. If you're ever spinning your way around in Michigan, stop by the Henry Ford Museum to see this game-changing aircraft up close!
Source => connecticuthistory.org

8. Witch's Dungeon Movie Museum

When not casting spells, even witches enjoy a trip down memory lane: Connecticut is home to the unique "Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum" in Bristol, which since 1966, honors the spooky nostalgia of classic horror and sci-fi films with life-size figures of legendary actors and creatures, making it the longest-running exhibit of its kind.
Source => preservehollywood.org

9. Vintage Train Wonderland

Choo-choo-choose this adventure: Connecticut has a hidden gem in the Danbury Railway Museum – a 1903 train station turned educational wonderland that houses a historic treasure trove of New England railroading artifacts, over 60 pieces of vintage railroad equipment, and even offers weekend train rides for the whole family! Thomas the Tank Engine may not be in attendance, but the Easter, Autumn, and Christmas special event trains are sure to bring joy and excitement to little engineers everywhere.
Source => danburyrail.org

10. Giant Frogs & Sewing Box Bridge

What do you get when you cross a group of giant frogs with a sewing box? Welcome to Willimantic, Connecticut: Home to a quirky bridge decorated with enormous frog sculptures sitting atop thread spools, a creation by the imaginative 84-year-old artist Leo Jensen. This eccentric art project pays homage to a bizarre 18th-century incident where a froggy invasion led to a noisy, overnight fiasco, turning the town into Connecticut's laughing stock for years.
Source => roadsideamerica.com