Although Connecticut is one of the smallest states in the Union, it is packed with history, culture and natural beauty.

European settlers began arriving in the area that would become Connecticut in the early 1600's. In 1639 they adopted a document called the Fundamental Orders as the basis of the colony's government. The Fundamental Orders are the first written constitution in the country and account for the state's official nickname, The Constitution State.

A group of Puritan settlers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony arrived in 1664 and the colony continued to grow. Connecticut was one of the thirteen colonies that declared independence from British rule and, after the American Revolution, Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the constitution.

Today, Connecticut is home to many businesses and industries and to many excellent schools and universities, most notably Yale University in New Haven which was founded in 1701. Situated only 100 miles from New York City, the city is an ideal place to live with access to the amenities of New York while offering a smaller, more beautiful urban environment in which to live. Many residents commute to New York City daily.

The state's 600 miles of coastline provide ports and beaches and the state continues its maritime tradition. It is home to the Coast Guard Academy in New London.

Places covered in this book include:

• Hartford and surroundings
• Historic mills, villages, lighthouses and beaches
• William Gillett's Castle
• Submarine Force Library and Museum
• Mark Twain's House
• Yale University
• Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
• Mystic Seaport
• New England Air Museum
• Harkness Memorial State Park.

With its rich history, natural beauty, ideal location and wide range of cities and towns, Connecticut truly offers something for everybody.

Michael Worek is a writer and editor with a special interest in nature, history, and American architecture and urban development. His previous books include Nobel: A Century of Prize Winners and An American History Album.

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