Coltsville Special Resource Study

Northeast Regional Office » Coltsville Special Resource Study » Document List

The Coltsville Special Resource Study, in accordance with previous legislation (Public Law 105-391 – the Coltsville Study Act of 2003) has been published for public comment. The study examines whether the Coltsville Historic District should be designated a unit of the national park system.

Following NPS criteria, the study examines the national significance of the Coltsville Historic District, its suitability and feasibility for potential designation as a unit of the national park system, and the need for NPS management of the resource versus management by other public or private entities. This report was developed by the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service (NPS).

The Coltsville Historic District in Hartford, Connecticut, was the site of important contributions to manufacturing technology made by Samuel Colt (1814-1862) and the industrial enterprise he founded, Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company (Colt Fire Arms Company). The Coltsville Historic District (Coltsville) is a cohesive and readily identifiable 260-acre area, most of which was originally listed as the Colt Industrial District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Also in the district, the home of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt was designated the Armsmear National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1966. On July 22, 2008, the Coltsville Historic District was designated an NHL by the Secretary of the Interior.

The study team concludes that the Coltsville Historic District NHL meets the criteria for national significance and suitability. The study team is unable, however, to conclude that the historic district meets the criteria for feasibility and need for NPS management for reasons explained in the report.

The special resource study has four chapters: 1) describes the purpose and background of the study process; 2) discusses the history and resources of Coltsville from its development by Samuel Colt in 1855 until the present day; 3) analyzes whether the resources of the district meet the various criteria for potential unit designation including national significance, suitability, feasibility, and need for NPS management; 4) describes the required consultation and coordination that occurred during the study, including a summary of public meetings and written communications.




Contact Information

James O'Connell, Project Manager
National Park Service
15 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
617-223-5222
Jim_O'Connell@nps.gov