Connecticut Trivia & Tidbits

Looking for Connecticut trivia? Try our list Connecticut little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford opened in 1842 as the first public art museum in the nation. In 1931, the museum staged the nation's first exhibition of surrealism and, in 1934, exhibited the first major Picasso retrospective.

first appeared: 11/1/2009

In 1965, Connecticut passed a law requiring fluoridation of public water systems that supply populations of 20,000 people or more. It was believed the fluoride would help prevent dental decay.

first appeared: 10/18/2009

The nation's first patent for a pill was granted in 1796 to Samuel Lee Jr. of Windham (pop. 22,857) for his composition of bilious pills. Not long afterward, New London (pop. 25,671) resident Samuel H.P. Lee began marketing his bilious pills, resulting in patent rights disputes.

first appeared: 10/4/2009

The Children's Garbage Museum in Stratford (pop. 49,976), run by the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority, builds its displays with discarded items, including soda cans, old toys and electronic equipment. The showpiece is a 24-foot-long "Trash-o-saurus," an imposing reminder to recycle.

first appeared: 9/20/2009

Wilbur Olin Atwater, who earned a doctorate from Yale University in New Haven for his studies on corn, is credited with developing agricultural chemistry. A professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown (pop. 43,167) from 1873 to 1907, Atwater studied the effects of fertilizers in farming and in 1875 established the nation's first agricultural experimental station.

first appeared: 9/6/2009

By the time basketball player Mike Gminski of Monroe (pop. 19,247) graduated from Duke University in 1980, he was the school's all-time leading rebounder, third-leading scorer, a two-time All-American and a three-time Academic All-American. Gminski, whose NBA career spanned 14 years, was named one of the top 50 basketball players in ACC history during the organization's 50-year celebration.

first appeared: 8/23/2009

In 1999, the first successfully cloned farm animal in the United States was born at the University of Connecticut at Storrs (pop. 10,996). The Holstein calf, Amy, was delivered by cesarean birth after having been cloned from ear skin cells of a 14-year-old adult cow.

first appeared: 8/9/2009

At Action Wildlife Foundation in Goshen (pop. 2,697), animals from countries around the world are on display in realistic settings. The foundation also showcases live reptiles and offers children a chance to touch and feed smaller animals in a petting zoo.

first appeared: 7/26/2009

—Born in Hartford, Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) was one of the world's most distinguished researchers and a leader in the development of maize cytogenetics. She earned the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work.

first appeared: 7/12/2009

—Boxer Marlon "Magic Man" Starling, of Hartford, captured the World Boxing Association's welterweight title in 1987 and the World Boxing Council championship title in 1989.

first appeared: 6/28/2009

—More than 40 vehicles are on display at the Golden Age of Trucking Museum in Middlebury (pop. 6,451). Each truck has been restored and is in working condition. The museum was founded by Richard Guerrera, who owned a trucking company.

first appeared: 6/14/2009

—What began as a backyard project by homeowner Jeff Wells has become Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, a village of Montville (pop. 18,546). The park features sculptures of more than 35 of the extinct creatures, including a tyrannosaurus made from a submarine hull.

first appeared: 5/31/2009

—Doctoral student Robert McGinnis and his adviser Menachem Elimelech, of Yale University in New Haven, published in 2008 the results of their research on engineered osmosis to extract freshwater from non-potable sources such as seawater, which could lead to affordable clean water.

first appeared: 5/17/2009

—Known for his modernization of the rules of football, Walter Camp (1859-1925), of New Haven, introduced the line of scrimmage and downs system. He also helped build the popularity of college football with his All-America picks.

first appeared: 5/3/2009

–The Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum in Cheshire (pop. 28,543) provides a nostalgic look at American childhood with its vast collection of comic strip, cartoon, western, television and advertising memorabilia. The 80,000 items on display represent America's childhood delights dating back to 1873.

first appeared: 4/19/2009

—The West Cornwall Covered Bridge spans the Housatonic River as it passes through West Cornwall (pop. 1,434). Originally thought to have been built in 1841, the bridge recently was found to have been constructed in 1864. For added weight support, a concealed steel deck was added in 1973.

first appeared: 4/5/2009

—The Palace Theatre in Stamford Center for the Arts is a 1,580-seat former vaudeville house built by architect Thomas Lamb and opened in 1927. Live theatrical performances, comedy, concerts and dance are presented at the restored theater.

first appeared: 3/22/2009

—The All Wars Memorial that stands along Route 202 in Litchfield (pop. 8,316) commemorates veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, from the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts.

first appeared: 3/8/2009

—The buildings and lands of the Henderson Cultural Center, located on Hunt Hill farm in New Milford (pop. 27,121), are preserved through a nonprofit trust established in 2003 by Skitch Henderson, founder of The New York Pops, and his wife, Ruth. The farm includes the Skitch Henderson Museum, which showcases the late conductor’s life, and The Silo, a combination cooking school, art gallery and gourmet kitchenware/food store.

first appeared: 2/22/2009

—The Pardee Rose Garden in East Rock Park, which straddles the border between New Haven and Hamden (pop. 56,913), features many varieties of roses that reach peak bloom in June and July. In addition to roses, the garden blossoms with other flowers, expanding the blooming season from April to October.

first appeared: 2/8/2009

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