40 Connecticut Firsts

1639 - 1802
1639 -- First constitution adopted, establishing representative government 
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
1783 -- First dictionary, published by Noah Webster, born in West Hartford
1784 -- First law school in America, Litchfield Law School graduates included
              John C. Calhoun, Aaron Burr, Horace Mann, Oliver Wolcott, Jr. and Noah Webster
1788 -- First State House in America, built after the Federal Constitution ratification
1794 -- First cotton gin, Eli Whitney of New Haven patented this invention
1803 -- First town library, tax-supported and organized in Salisbury

1806 - 1853
1806 -- First factory town in America, planned and established in Seymour
1808 -- First movable parts mass production in use, making clocks 
1810 -- First insurance company, ITT Hartford Group, Inc. officially opened
              for business and people were able to take insurance for the
              "loss of life or personal injury while journeying by railway or steamboat"
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
1853 -- First ice-making machine 

1858 - 1920
1858 -- First can opener 
1861 -- First Ph.D. Degree, Yale University awarded in Philosophy
1868 -- First tape measure 
1877 -- First pay phone 
1877 -- First telephone exchange, established in Bridgeport
1892 -- First collapsible toothpaste tube
1895 -- First hamburger, served at Louie's Lunch in New Haven 
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 - 1979
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
1953 — First wiffle ball to be widely used, invented by David N. Mullany in Fairfield
1954 -- First nuclear submarine, launched in New London
1982 -- First artificial heart, Dr. Robert K. Jarvik, a Stamford native,
             invented the world's first artificial heart
1979 -- First all-sports cable channel, ESPN, launched in Bristol

CONNECTICUT STATE QUARTERS WERE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 12, 1999 AS THE FIFTH COIN IN THE STATE QUARTER SERIES. EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBER ANDY JONES, MFA, PRODUCED THE CHARTER OAK DESIGN USED FOR THE U.S. MINT’S CONNECTICUT QUARTER, THE FIRST ISSUED TO HONOR THE CONSTITUTION STATE.

For more Connecticut firsts and daily highlights of state history, visit Today in Connecticut History.