The achieved hydration and developed microstructure of the cement paste component of concrete has a major influence on the strength and transport properties of the finished product. The concurrent goals of hydration are to connect the original (isolated) cement particles into as strong a network as possible and to disconnect as much as possible the original water-filled capillary pore space. Understanding the influence of curing practices on this microstructure development is critical to developing rational curing practices and integrating curing into the mixture design process. The experimental program summarized in this paper provides fundamental information that can be used to provide support for the criticality of proper curing and to foster innovation in tailoring curing practices to the mixture design, environmental exposure, and desired performance attributes of the in-place concrete.