Connecticut will always be first in my heart, but it also happens to be true that Connecticut was the first at a lot of pretty impressive things. The tiny state is often forgotten, but the truth is that its long standing history in America has contributed to a lot of the everyday things we take for granted. But that’s what you get when you’re dealing with one of the oldest states! So without further ado, here’s Connecticut’s official brag sheet.
- The first to establish a constitution.
Tony Swartz/Flickr Adopted in 1639, it established a representative government. That’s why we’re the Constitution State!
- The first to establish a municipal public library in America.
techbint/Flickr It was a bequest to the “towne of New Haven” in 1656.
- The first to publish a newspaper.
Bill Couch/Flickr The Hartford Courant has been published since October 29, 1764.
- The first to publish a dictionary.
Flickr/TedXNJlibraries The household item known as the Webster Dictionary was published by Noah Webster in Hartford in 1783.
- The first to establish a law school.
Joe Mabel/Flickr Litchfield Law School was established in 1784 and some of its graduates include John C. Calhoun and Aaron Burr.
- The first to start a factory town.
Tom H/Flickr Planned and established in 1806, the town of Seymour was eager to improve the area’s wealth.
- The first to offer insurance.
UBC Library Digitization Centre/Wikimedia Formerly the ITT Hartford Group, Inc., The Hartford started covering “loss of life or personal injury while journeying by railway or steamboat” in 1810.
- The first to award a PhD.
Queen’s University/Flickr In 1861, Yale University bestowed one of their students with a PhD in Philosophy.
- The first to have a phone exchange.
Martin Cathrae/Flickr Achieved in 1877, you can thank Bridgeport for the superior communication network we have today!
- The first to serve a hamburger.
Dan Adinolfi/Flickr It was served at Louie’s Lunch in New Haven way back in 1895.
- The first to set up a permanent public planning body in America.
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers/Flickr When Hartford’s Commission on the City Plan met in 1907 they made history. But their real goal was just to make a difference!
- The first folks to throw a frisbee.
andy_t/Flickr Yale students began tossing the empty pie cans from Mrs. Frisbie Pies back in 1920.
- The first to build a successfully operating helicopter.
Randy Levine/Flickr Connecticut resident Igor Sikorsky designed the first successful helicopter in 1939. It was the first in the whole Western Hemisphere.
- The first to establish an FM radio station.
Alan Levine/Flickr WDRC-FM began broadcasting in Hartford in 1939.
- The first to launch an ultra high frequency UHF television station.
André Harvey1/Flickr Starting in 1949, KC2XAK in Bridgeport operated every day.
- The first to launch a nuclear submarine.
Defence Images/Flickr It was launched in New London in 1954.
Incredible! Did you know we were first to do all of these things?
Tony Swartz/Flickr
Adopted in 1639, it established a representative government. That’s why we’re the Constitution State!
techbint/Flickr
It was a bequest to the “towne of New Haven” in 1656.
Bill Couch/Flickr
The Hartford Courant has been published since October 29, 1764.
Flickr/TedXNJlibraries
The household item known as the Webster Dictionary was published by Noah Webster in Hartford in 1783.
Joe Mabel/Flickr
Litchfield Law School was established in 1784 and some of its graduates include John C. Calhoun and Aaron Burr.
Tom H/Flickr
Planned and established in 1806, the town of Seymour was eager to improve the area’s wealth.
UBC Library Digitization Centre/Wikimedia
Formerly the ITT Hartford Group, Inc., The Hartford started covering “loss of life or personal injury while journeying by railway or steamboat” in 1810.
Queen’s University/Flickr
In 1861, Yale University bestowed one of their students with a PhD in Philosophy.
Martin Cathrae/Flickr
Achieved in 1877, you can thank Bridgeport for the superior communication network we have today!
Dan Adinolfi/Flickr
It was served at Louie’s Lunch in New Haven way back in 1895.
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers/Flickr
When Hartford’s Commission on the City Plan met in 1907 they made history. But their real goal was just to make a difference!
andy_t/Flickr
Yale students began tossing the empty pie cans from Mrs. Frisbie Pies back in 1920.
Randy Levine/Flickr
Connecticut resident Igor Sikorsky designed the first successful helicopter in 1939. It was the first in the whole Western Hemisphere.
Alan Levine/Flickr
WDRC-FM began broadcasting in Hartford in 1939.
André Harvey1/Flickr
Starting in 1949, KC2XAK in Bridgeport operated every day.
Defence Images/Flickr
It was launched in New London in 1954.
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