Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent FIlm Narrators
about 16 hours ago
The Horn & Hardart Automat was a staple of urban dining in midcentury New York City.
All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors
about 19 hours ago
The Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” on display in Las Vegas.
The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound Changed Live Music Forever
about 24 hours ago
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Connecticut Hartford Statue of Rover

Statue of Rover

A tribute to the truly loyal dog who waited outside a hospital for his owner to come back.

Hartford, Connecticut

Added By
EB Savage
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Rover now has a dog bed … sorta.   Anna Minster / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  k9groomermom / Atlas Obscura User
Hartford Hospital main entrance   Map Data © 2017 Google 
Rover. Go where valet is   k9groomermom / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The story goes that many years ago, at an undetermined date, a man admitted himself into Hartford Hospital after a heart attack. He told his dog, right outside of the door to the hospital, to “Stay.” The dog sat and waited.

The man eventually died in the hospital (according to one version of the story, at least), but his faithful dog, named Rover, never moved from the spot. Although various hospital staff attempted to cajole, tempt, or bribe the loyal pup, he refused to move.

Many of the staff grew to love the dog and tried to take him home out of the rain and wind and hard cement spot he sat and lay on day after day, but he never moved.

In the version of the story where the man died the dog remained waiting outside the hospital until the day that he too died, never moving from the spot. In the version where the man stayed in the hospital for over a month and finally left, the dog was overjoyed at the man's return after his long, agonizing wait. In another version the dog came to the hospital with the man weekly and waited at the spot each time, never distracted by the cars, pigeons, or children passing by tempting him with excitement or bites from sandwiches.

Regardless of the true story, Hartford Hospital erected a statue to the memory of Rover outside the hospital entrance. According to the hospital, the story of Rover represents love, devotion, and commitment. Keeping the story alive inspires the hospital to exhibit these same qualities in treating its patients, families, and community.

Related Tags

Dogs Statues Hospitals Legends Animals

Know Before You Go

When facing the front entrance to the main Hartford Hospital go to the left side of the entrance. The statue is close to the wall near the windows.

Community Contributors

Added By

e1savage

Edited By

Meg, Collector of Experiences, k9groomermom, Anna Minster

  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • k9groomermom
  • Anna Minster

Published

November 3, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Statue of Rover
60-78 Seymour St
Hartford, Connecticut
United States
41.753729, -72.680806
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Coltsville

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Flood 1936 Marker

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Charter Oak Frame

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hartford

Hartford

Connecticut

Places 19
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Coltsville

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Flood 1936 Marker

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Charter Oak Frame

Hartford, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hartford

Hartford

Connecticut

Places 19
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Odate, Japan

    ‘Homesick Hachiko’

    Another statue of Japan's most famous dog stands in his hometown.

  • Dżok the Dog Monument

    Krakow, Poland

    Dżok the Dog Monument

    A statue commemorating a Polish dog who took his role as man's best friend very seriously.

  • Sergeant Stubby giving a salute.

    Middletown, Connecticut

    Sergeant Stubby Statue

    This statue honoring the most decorated dog of World War I stands in a Connecticut park.

  • Cowane’s Hospital

    Stirling, Scotland

    Cowane's Hospital

    This figure of a local merchant is said to reanimate and do a dance during Hogmanay.

  • Statue of Patsy Ann

    Juneau, Alaska

    Patsy Ann Statue

    Known as the “Official Greeter of Juneau,” this dog still welcomes ships and their passengers to Alaska.

  • The Eagle

    Langkawi, Malaysia

    Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)

    This statue of an eagle taking flight welcomes visitors to Langkawi.

  • Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

    Statue of Sallie Ann Jarrett

    The beloved, war-tested mascot of a Union regiment graces their battlefield monument.

  • Mangulica and Pulin

    Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia

    Mangulica & Pulin Statue

    Statues of two of Srem's most well-known animals.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.