Worcester lies between Boston and Springfield. Features of interest are the Art Museum (Dutch and Italian paintings) and the Higgins Armory (medieval and Renaissance weapons).
The EcoTarium complex features wildlife exhibits, a planetarium, nature trails (a tree top walkway), and a train to tour the grounds. The EcoTarium has three floors of natural history exhibits and living wildlife for visitors to learn about the New England environments such as freshwater and forest ecosystems.
Address: EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604-1809, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 929-2700, Fax: 1 (508) 929-2701
Hours:
10am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
The Higgins Armory Museum features a unique collection of weapons and armor from medieval Europe, feudal Japan, as well as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Address: Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606-2478, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 853-6015, Fax: 1 (508) 852-7697
Hours:
10am-4pm; Sun:12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: Martin Luther King's Birthday - USA (3rd Monday, January ), New Year's Day (January 1), President's Day - USA (3rd Monday, February ), Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May ), American Independance Day (July 4), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September), Columbus Day - USA (2nd Monday, October ), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
The Worcester Historical Museum was founded in 1875. Permanent and changing exhibits related to the town and area history are featured in Salisbury Mansion, built in 1772.
Address: Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609-2504, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 753-8278, Fax: 1 (508) 753-9070
The Worcester Art Museum features more than 35,000 pieces from modern to ancient times. Highlights of the collection include European and North American paintings, prints, photographs and drawings; Asian art; Greek and Roman sculpture and Contemporary art.
Address: Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-3123, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 799-4406, Fax: 1 (508) 798-5646
Hours:
11am-5pm; Sat:10am-5pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), American Independance Day (July 4), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Open the third Thursday of each month until 8pm. Free first Saturday of each month.
Tower Hill features a variety of gardens and woodland trails on this 132 acre site. The project began in 1986 and is schedule to be complete in 2040. The Orangerie is a large conservatory that houses temperate and subtropical plants while the Orchard has 119 pre-twentieth century, heirloom apple varieties.
Address: Worcester County Horticultural, 11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01505-1008, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 869-6111, Fax: 1 (508) 869-0314
Hours:
May 1 to August 31: 10am-5pm; Wed:10am-8pm; Closed: Mon
September 1 to April 30: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Tips: Admission is half-price after 4:30 pm on Wednesdays May through August. Garden tour every Sunday at 2pm.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Willard House and Clock Museum displays clocks made by Benjamin Willard and his younger brothers Simon, Ephraim and Aaron. Benjamin Willard began making clocks in 1766. The home is the original birthplace of the Willards', which also served as their workshop.
The museum houses over 80 Willard clocks along with family portraits, furnishings and other Willard family heirlooms.
Hours:
January 2 to March 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
April 1 to December 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Mon, Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), American Independance Day (July 4), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Tips: Groups of 8 or more are welcome by appointment.
First incorporated in 1738 as a small agricultural community, Sturbridge later became the site of numerous mills, many of which still exist today albeit in redeveloped properties. The town is best known for being the home of "Old Sturbridge Village," a living history museum.
Old Sturbridge Village recreates life in New England as it was it the early 1800's. More than 40 buildings from different parts of the region were brought to this 200-acre site. Among them are historic homes, craft shops, a law office, general store, mills, and farm buildings. Visitors can observe costumed interpreters demonstrate some of the daily tasks that were essential to life in the period. There are farmers plowing fields, blacksmiths hammering shoes, mill-workers, women making crafts, cooks and more. The J. Cheney Wells Clock Gallery has ongoing craft exhibits along with a notable collection of New England clocks. A child's area offers hands-on activities and other "kid's" attractions like drawings, contests, and crafts projects.
Hours:
March 13 to May 27: 9:30am-5pm; Closed: Mon
May 28 to October 24: 9:30am-5pm; Closed: Mon
October 25 to March 12: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon
Tips: Call for more information on the village's program of seasonal demonstrations and special events.
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.