Connecticut State Firsts
Elizabeth Park, Prospect Avenue at Asylum
Avenue, Hartford CT; 860-722-6514. The U.S.'s first municipal rose garden features 15,000 rose bushes.
Fundamental Orders — The first state constitution in the United States (1639).
1656 — first municipal public library in America, a bequest to the town of New Haven
1670 — first survey for the first turnpike in America, between Norwich and New London
1729 — first medical diploma, granted by Yale University
1764 — first newspaper, The Hartford Courant, published since October 29, 1764
1775 — first submarine, launched by David Bushnell of Saybrook, Connecticut
1777 — first trimmed and illuminated Christmas tree in Windsor Locks
1783 — first dictionary, published by Noah Webster
1784 — first law school in America: Litchfield Law School, founded by Tapping
Reeve
1788 — first State House in America, built after the Federal Constitution ratification
1794 — first cotton gin. Eli Whitney of New Haven patented this invention.
1796 — first American cookbook, by Amelia Simmons of Hartford
1796 — first U.S. statehouse in Hartford
1803 — first town library, tax-supported and organized in Salisbury
1806 — first factory town in America, planned and established in Seymour
1806 — first dictionary by Noah Webster of West Hartford
1808 — first movable parts mass production in use, making clocks
1810 — first insurance company, ITT Hartford Group
1819 — first industrial training school, established by Josiah Holbrook in Derby
1836 — first revolver
1842 — first public art museum
1843 — first portable typewriter
1844 — first use of anesthesia
1846 — first sewing machine. Elias Howe procured a patent for the first practical sewing machine.
1846 — first U.S. amusement park, Lake Compounce Theme Park in Bristol
1853 — first ice-making machine
1858 — first can opener
1861 — first Ph.D. Degree. Yale University awarded in philosophy.
1868 — first tape measure
1873 — first football game, played at Yale University
1877 — first pay phone
1877 — first telephone exchange, established in Bridgeport
1881 — first three-ring circus, staged by P.T. Barnum of Bethel
1892 — first collapsible toothpaste tube
1895 — first hamburger, served at Louie's Lunch in New Haven
1900 — first submarine
1903 — first U.S. municipal rose garden, the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in
Hartford
1907 — first permanent public planning body in America: Hartford's Commission on the City Plan
1908 — first lollipop
1920 — first Frisbee. Yale students discovered empty pie plates from Mrs. Frisbie Pies in Bridgeport could be sailed across the New Haven Green.
1933 — first vacuum cleaner
1934 — first Polaroid camera
1939 — first FM radio station. WDRC-FM began broadcasting in Hartford.
1939 — first helicopter. Igor Sikorsky designed the first successful helicopter in the Western Hemisphere.
1948 — first color television
1949 — first ultra high frequency UHF television station to operate on a daily basis: KC2XAK in Bridgeport
1954 — first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, launched in New London
1975 — first woman elected governor, Ella Grasso
1982 — first artificial heart. Dr. Robert K. Jarvik, a Stamford native, invented the world's first artificial heart.
