Right Here in Town
Historic Deerfield
On Old Main Street off Rtes 5&10, Deerfield, MA
A museum of New England decorative arts opening doorways to the past in twelve perfectly preserved, original 18th and 19th-century houses. Deerfield Inn house guests receive a discount of 10% in the museum store, and $4 off each adult admission ticket to view the houses and the Flynt Center of Early American Life with its changing exhibitions and fascinating visible storage in the museum attic.
Memorial Hall Museum
On Memorial Street off Rtes 5&10, Deerfield, MA
Our children loved this place when they were little. Nineteen exhibition rooms on three floors full of local antiquities, quilts, and Native American artifacts. A charming museum that is home to Bangwell Putt, the oldest rag doll in America, the world’s largest pumpkin pie pan, tombstones, and other delights.
To the West
Hancock Shaker Village
Junction of Rtes 20 & 41, Pittsfield, MA
This museum of Shaker life includes twenty original buildings including the great Round Stone Barn. A sustainable working farm with blissful piglets and other baby farm animals, large collections of graceful Shaker furniture, tools, textiles and inspirational art. A village of contemplative tranquility and one of our favorite places.
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
225 South St, Williamstown, MA
A fabulous collection of European and American art and sculpture located on 140 acres of walking trails. Another favorite for us, particularly for the French impressionist paintings and the delightful works of Mary Cassatt.
The Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Rte 183, Stockbridge, MA
Another family favorite for us – the largest collection of Rockwell anywhere and the best in the field of other American illustrators as well.
To the East
Sturbridge Village
Rte 20, Sturbridge, MA
Working farmers, housewives, craftsmen, musicians and infantrymen demonstrate early 19th-century New England life in the historic buildings of this 200 acre village.
Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square, Salem, MA
A museum of art, architecture and culture contained within 30 galleries and stately mansions. You are guaranteed to get museum feet looking at works from the 1700s to today, so wear your trainers. This is where you can see the Huang family ancestral home – a museum house within a museum. Spectacular!
Salem Witch Museum
Washington Square, Salem, MA
This museum presents the history and a recreation of the Salem witch trials of 1692. Children go for it in a big way.
Heritage Plantation
67 Grove St, Sandwich, MA
An antique car museum with more than 30 beauties, including Gary Cooper’s 1931 Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster. Beautiful gardens and a changing gallery for special exhibitions.
Plimoth Plantation
137 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA
A living history museum where the daily life of the village of Plimoth in 1627 is recreated.
To the South
Mystic Seaport
75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT
The museum of America and the sea. A maritime museum featuring a 19th-century village, exhibition galleries and a shipyard. The 1841 Charles W. Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaleship and the oldest American commercial vessel still in existence is being restored here.
