12 Bizarre Roadside Statues And Rocks In Connecticut

We’ve got plenty of weird attractions in Connecticut. Sure, our popular tourist destinations are great, but don’t you ever get the urge to check out more unusual places? Here are 12 odd rocks and statues in Connecticut that vary from slightly off-the-wall to just plain bizarre.

Giant Bear Statue: Tidal Marsh Trail, 200 Universal Dr, North Haven, CT 06473

Fatma Ozen/Alltrails This 14-ft. tall polar bear stands on the Tidal Marsh Trail in New Haven. He’s made from wood and items reclaimed from the abandoned building behind him. He was created by Connecticut artist M. J. DeAngelo. You can find a map and more information about the Tidal Marsh Trail on Alltrails. Tidal Marsh Trail, 200 Universal Dr, North Haven, CT 06473, USA

Frog Bridge: Thread City Crossing, South Street, Willimantic, CT

Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia Commons The Frog Bridge is a beloved spot in Willimantic that is just as quirkily charming as it sounds. It was created to memorialize the 1754 “Battle of the Frogs,” when Willimantic residents thought that ribbiting frogs were actually warring invaders. Learn more about this amusing bit of history in Connecticut in this article.

Grave of XYZ: Fountain Hill Cemetery, 57 High St, Deep River, CT 06417

Cara MacDonald/Google Maps The Grave of XYZ is an unidentified grave that’s featured in a Connecticut urban legend. The Deep River Savings Bank was robbed in 1899 by four unidentified men. One was shot and killed by a night watchman. According to legend, he was not identified and no one claimed his body. Supposedly, for years after the robbery, a strange woman in black came and visited the grave, leaving flowers in memory of XYZ, whoever he was. In actuality, the robber was identified shortly after the shooting and there was no woman in black. However, the urban legend lives on and even today, many tourists come to visit the XYZ grave in the cemetery. Fountain Hill Cemetery Association, 57 High St, Deep River, CT 06417, USA

Judge’s Cave: West Rock Ridge State Park, New Haven, CT 06515

Peter Davis/Google Maps In 1659, 59 British judges sentenced King Charles I to death. His beheading resulted in the dissolution of the British monarchy. A year later, Charles I’s son came into power and decided to take vengeance on the judges who ruled against his father. He sentenced all of the judges to death. Three of the men fled England and headed to Connecticut to try to escape the sentence. A group of Puritans hid them in the woods of New Haven and supported them by sneaking them food. The judges hid in a small cave and lived there until later fleeing to Massachusetts, where they lived out their lives in peace. Find out more about this interesting story from Connecticut history here. Judges Cave, New Haven, CT 06515, USA

Powder Hill Dinosaur Park: Powder Hill Road, Middlefield, CT 06455

Sara/Google Maps This is a neat little park that is a great attraction for dinosaur lovers of all ages. Three different kinds of dinosaur footprints are preserved in the rocks here. It’s amazing to walk here and imagine prehistoric creatures roaming the area! Powder Hill Dinosaur Park, Middlefield, CT 06455, USA

Severed Arm of St. Edmund: Enders Island, CT

Enders Island/Google Maps The Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption is a beautiful little retreat on tiny Enders Island. It’s a great spot to visit for some peace and quiet. Oddly enough, it’s also home to the severed arm of a 13th-century English priest. At the time of St. Edmund’s death, it was common for “relics” to travel to different churches throughout the world. “First class relics” were pieces of canonized saint’s bodies, most often small pieces of bones, but in some cases, entire limbs, such as Edmund’s arm. Find out more about visiting the home of this unusual artifact at the St. Edmund’s Retreat website. Enders Island, Stonington, CT 06355, USA

Statue of Rover: Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06106

Justin Clark/Google Maps Hartford Hospital may seem like your typical city hospital, but it’s home to an adorable statue just outside of the main entrance. The statue depicts a dog named Rover who waited faithfully outside of the home for his sick owner to be discharged. According to one version of the story, Rover’s owner passed away in the hospital and Rover, too, stayed there until he died. We prefer the happier version of this Connecticut tale, where Rover’s owner was released and brought the dog home to live out their days together! Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06106, USA

Noah Webster Statue: 20 S Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107

Shannon Plaquet/Google Maps Korzcak Ziolkowski publicly sculpted this magnificent piece of art back in 1941. The subject is Noah Webster, the father of the American dictionary. Vandals have repeatedly broken off several of his fingers, which have been reattached by the city. Noah Webster Statue, 20 S Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107, USA

Statue of Jack the Pardoned Turkey: Riverside Park, 20 Leibert Rd, Hartford, CT 06120

Andrea Hanks/Trump White House Photo Archive/Flickr Did you know there’s a statue in front of the Connecticut River of the first turkey to be pardoned by a President? The lucky tom was named Jack and was pardoned by President Lincoln in 1863. He was intended to be part of the family’s Christmas dinner, but Lincoln’s young son Tad begged for his father to spare him. Riverside Park, Hartford, CT 06120, USA

Sybil Ludington Statue: Danbury Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810

Adrián Fs/Google Maps Sybil Ludington’s name is not as well-known as other Revolutionary War heroes. The 16-year-old girl was the daughter of a colonial colonel. She made an overnight ride to notify colonial militias that Danbury had been burned by British soldiers. Her ride was not as famous as Paul Revere’s, but nevertheless, she is memorialized in a statue in front of the Danbury Library. Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA

Hat Maker Statue: Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, CT 06810

C. Wang/Google Maps In the past, Danbury was one of the leading hat producers in the country. In 2016, the history of the town’s best-known profession was immortalized in a 14-foot tall statue of a hatter. Interestingly, hatters often suffered from mercury poisoning that caused psychological and physical issues. Most are familiar with this due to the Mad Hatter character in the novel and film “Alice in Wonderland.” 155 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, CT 06810, USA

Miantonimo Monument: Sachem Park, Elijah St, Norwich, CT 06360

Stan CT/Google Maps Hidden away in Norwich’s Sachem Park is a small monument recognizing the grave of Miantonimo, a Narragansett chief who was executed in what is now the park. Miantonimo was killed there in 1643 and the monument was erected way back in 1841. Elijah Street, Elijah St, Norwich, CT 06360, USA

Did you know about these strange attractions in Connecticut? Do you know of any other weird statues or rocks in Connecticut? Share your ideas in the comments!

Fatma Ozen/Alltrails

This 14-ft. tall polar bear stands on the Tidal Marsh Trail in New Haven. He’s made from wood and items reclaimed from the abandoned building behind him. He was created by Connecticut artist M. J. DeAngelo. You can find a map and more information about the Tidal Marsh Trail on Alltrails.

Tidal Marsh Trail, 200 Universal Dr, North Haven, CT 06473, USA

Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia Commons

The Frog Bridge is a beloved spot in Willimantic that is just as quirkily charming as it sounds. It was created to memorialize the 1754 “Battle of the Frogs,” when Willimantic residents thought that ribbiting frogs were actually warring invaders. Learn more about this amusing bit of history in Connecticut in this article.

Cara MacDonald/Google Maps

The Grave of XYZ is an unidentified grave that’s featured in a Connecticut urban legend. The Deep River Savings Bank was robbed in 1899 by four unidentified men. One was shot and killed by a night watchman. According to legend, he was not identified and no one claimed his body. Supposedly, for years after the robbery, a strange woman in black came and visited the grave, leaving flowers in memory of XYZ, whoever he was. In actuality, the robber was identified shortly after the shooting and there was no woman in black. However, the urban legend lives on and even today, many tourists come to visit the XYZ grave in the cemetery.

Fountain Hill Cemetery Association, 57 High St, Deep River, CT 06417, USA

Peter Davis/Google Maps

In 1659, 59 British judges sentenced King Charles I to death. His beheading resulted in the dissolution of the British monarchy. A year later, Charles I’s son came into power and decided to take vengeance on the judges who ruled against his father. He sentenced all of the judges to death. Three of the men fled England and headed to Connecticut to try to escape the sentence. A group of Puritans hid them in the woods of New Haven and supported them by sneaking them food. The judges hid in a small cave and lived there until later fleeing to Massachusetts, where they lived out their lives in peace. Find out more about this interesting story from Connecticut history here.

Judges Cave, New Haven, CT 06515, USA

Sara/Google Maps

This is a neat little park that is a great attraction for dinosaur lovers of all ages. Three different kinds of dinosaur footprints are preserved in the rocks here. It’s amazing to walk here and imagine prehistoric creatures roaming the area!

Powder Hill Dinosaur Park, Middlefield, CT 06455, USA

Enders Island/Google Maps

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption is a beautiful little retreat on tiny Enders Island. It’s a great spot to visit for some peace and quiet. Oddly enough, it’s also home to the severed arm of a 13th-century English priest. At the time of St. Edmund’s death, it was common for “relics” to travel to different churches throughout the world. “First class relics” were pieces of canonized saint’s bodies, most often small pieces of bones, but in some cases, entire limbs, such as Edmund’s arm. Find out more about visiting the home of this unusual artifact at the St. Edmund’s Retreat website.

Enders Island, Stonington, CT 06355, USA

Justin Clark/Google Maps

Hartford Hospital may seem like your typical city hospital, but it’s home to an adorable statue just outside of the main entrance. The statue depicts a dog named Rover who waited faithfully outside of the home for his sick owner to be discharged. According to one version of the story, Rover’s owner passed away in the hospital and Rover, too, stayed there until he died. We prefer the happier version of this Connecticut tale, where Rover’s owner was released and brought the dog home to live out their days together!

Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06106, USA

Shannon Plaquet/Google Maps

Korzcak Ziolkowski publicly sculpted this magnificent piece of art back in 1941. The subject is Noah Webster, the father of the American dictionary. Vandals have repeatedly broken off several of his fingers, which have been reattached by the city.

Noah Webster Statue, 20 S Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107, USA

Andrea Hanks/Trump White House Photo Archive/Flickr

Did you know there’s a statue in front of the Connecticut River of the first turkey to be pardoned by a President? The lucky tom was named Jack and was pardoned by President Lincoln in 1863. He was intended to be part of the family’s Christmas dinner, but Lincoln’s young son Tad begged for his father to spare him.

Riverside Park, Hartford, CT 06120, USA

Adrián Fs/Google Maps

Sybil Ludington’s name is not as well-known as other Revolutionary War heroes. The 16-year-old girl was the daughter of a colonial colonel. She made an overnight ride to notify colonial militias that Danbury had been burned by British soldiers. Her ride was not as famous as Paul Revere’s, but nevertheless, she is memorialized in a statue in front of the Danbury Library.

Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA

C. Wang/Google Maps

In the past, Danbury was one of the leading hat producers in the country. In 2016, the history of the town’s best-known profession was immortalized in a 14-foot tall statue of a hatter. Interestingly, hatters often suffered from mercury poisoning that caused psychological and physical issues. Most are familiar with this due to the Mad Hatter character in the novel and film “Alice in Wonderland.”

155 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, CT 06810, USA

Stan CT/Google Maps

Hidden away in Norwich’s Sachem Park is a small monument recognizing the grave of Miantonimo, a Narragansett chief who was executed in what is now the park. Miantonimo was killed there in 1643 and the monument was erected way back in 1841.

Elijah Street, Elijah St, Norwich, CT 06360, USA

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