Pump House Gallery, Hartford

Tucked into the southeast corner of Bushnell Park, the Pump House Gallery is a unique blend of infrastructure and art. Originally constructed in 1947 by the Army Corps of Engineers, the building was part of the Connecticut River Flood Control Program, launched in response to the devastating floods of the 1930s. Architect H. Hilliard Smith designed the structure to resemble a charming Cotswold cottage with Tudor-style touches, using stones salvaged from the footbridges removed when the Park River was buried underground.

While its primary function remains as a pumping station helping redirect the buried river’s waters to the Connecticut River, the building’s southern portion has taken on an artistic life of its own. Since 1947, the Pump House Gallery has showcased the creativity of local artists, offering an intimate venue to admire-and even purchase-their work. Over the decades, the space has also functioned as a restaurant, café, and event venue, with live music performances adding to its vibrant atmosphere, especially on weekends.

Currently managed by the Bushnell Park Conservancy on behalf of the City of Hartford, the gallery and its courtyard are available for public rentals, supporting both the arts and the continued care of the park. Though the Pump House has seen some closures in recent years, community clean-ups and revitalization efforts-like those during Hartford’s Week of the Parks-keep it poised for new exhibitions and gatherings, including seasonal events like Winterfest, where visitors might even find Santa himself inside.

Located on Elm Street, the Pump House Gallery stands as a symbol of artistic spirit, civic utility, and Hartford’s ongoing relationship with its natural and cultural landscape.