Connecticut

Imagine a long, twisty river that gives the land a big hug. Trees with bright green and red leaves stand tall all around. You can feel the little waves splash your toes if you stand near the shore. It feels so nice and cool. My name comes from a very old word that means 'beside the long tidal river'. It is a special name for a special place. I am Connecticut.

For a long, long time, my first families lived here. They were called the Mohegan and Pequot people. They loved me very much. They fished in my rivers and told stories under my stars. They built warm homes and sang happy songs. Then, one day, big ships with white sails came across the ocean. In the 1630s, new friends arrived and built cozy little towns near my river. Everyone had to learn how to live together and share the land. We all became one big family. On a chilly day, January 9th, 1788, I became a state in a new country. That's why people call me 'The Constitution State'. It's a grown-up name that means I helped make important rules for everyone.

I am a place where people love to make new things. It is so much fun. Some people here invented silly toys that bounce and fly. Others built special boats called submarines that can dive deep, deep under the water to see the fish. Today, families laugh and play in my parks. Boats with white sails float on my rivers, and children build sandcastles on my shores. I love being a home where old stories and new ideas can play together. Come visit me, and you can dream up your own wonderful ideas too.