Welcome to Worcester, Massachusetts, a city steeped in history and adorned with magnificent historical buildings and monuments. Nestled in the heart of New England, Worcester boasts a rich and vibrant past that has shaped its present-day identity.
From its humble beginnings as a colonial settlement in the 17th century to its rise as a thriving industrial hub in the 19th century, Worcester has played a pivotal role in the development of the United States.
In this article, we will delve into the fascinating history of Worcester and explore its impressive array of historical landmarks. From iconic churches and museums to stately mansions and architectural gems, Worcester’s historical buildings and monuments stand as testaments to its enduring legacy.
Join us as we take a journey through time, unraveling the stories behind these remarkable structures and uncovering the significant events that have shaped Worcester’s heritage. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Worcester’s past and discover the captivating tales that lie within its historic walls.
A brief history of Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts, was initially inhabited by the Nipmuc tribe, who called the region Quinsigamond. English settlers arrived in 1674 and established a settlement after obtaining land from the Nipmuc people. The area experienced conflicts during King Philip’s War and Queen Anne’s War, resulting in abandonment.
In 1713, Worcester was resettled for the final time by Jonas Rice and incorporated as a town in 1722. It became the county seat in 1731 and played a role in the American Revolutionary War, with Isaiah Thomas moving his newspaper to Worcester.
The city’s economy shifted to manufacturing in the 19th century, particularly after the opening of the Blackstone Canal and Worcester and Boston Railroad.
Worcester became a city in 1848 and attracted immigrants, including Irish, Scottish, French, German, Swedish, Lithuanian, Polish, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Syrian, and Lebanese populations. The city thrived with prominent industries such as wire manufacturing, machinery, power looms, and corsets.
After World War II, Worcester experienced a decline in manufacturing and population. Urban renewal projects, including the construction of the Worcester Center Galleria, aimed to reverse the decline but faced challenges. The city was also affected by a devastating tornado in 1953 and the division caused by Interstate 290.
In the late 20th century, Worcester’s economy rebounded through biotechnology and healthcare, with institutions like UMass Medical School and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park. The city’s colleges and universities, such as Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Clark University, contributed to its revitalization.
Worcester faced tragedy in 1999 when a fire at the Worcester Cold Storage & Warehouse Company claimed the lives of six firefighters. Efforts to rejuvenate downtown led to the reopening of Union Station, the construction of a convention center, and the redevelopment of Franklin Square Theater into the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The city has also welcomed refugees from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Somalia, Bhutan, Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. Worcester continues to evolve and attract new investments, contributing to its vibrant future.
The Worcester City Hall and Common
The Worcester City Hall and Common, located at 455 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic city hall and town common. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The Common was established in 1669 and originally covered about 20 acres, but it now spans 4.4 acres. In 1719, a meeting house was built on the Common, which later became known as The Old South Meeting House. It was on this site that Isaiah Thomas publicly read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in New England on July 14, 1776.
Designed by Peabody & Stearns and constructed by the Norcross Brothers in 1898, Worcester City Hall is an Italianate structure made of granite. Its architectural style was influenced by Italian Renaissance palazzos, with a tower reminiscent of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The interior features marble, decorative arches, and balconies with round arches. City Hall stands as the fourth tallest building in Worcester.
The building measures 219 feet in length and 85 feet in width, with a clock tower that rises 205 feet above Main Street. Its front door is multi-level, featuring a balcony where politicians traditionally address crowds during events and protests.
The interior of City Hall resembles the palazzos found in Italy, such as the Cancelleria in Rome. It has multiple rows of arches supported by columns, circular ornaments between each arch, and barrel-vaulted ceilings with intricate plaster designs.
The use of cast iron for City Hall’s construction distinguishes it from the stone used in Italian palazzos. The building’s interior also boasts a marble staircase that splits into two paths, decorative brackets, dentils, and eaves under a low-pitched roof, all characteristic of the Italianate style.
City Hall’s design seeks to achieve beauty through harmonious form and mathematical precision. Symmetrically placed windows of varying shapes and sizes, stone pilasters, porches, balconies, columns, and arches contribute to its sense of strength, sophistication, and order.
Arabesques and opulent ornaments, including animal heads, intertwining leaves and branches, and garlands with medallions, can be found both on the exterior and interior, reflecting the influence of Italianate design.
The Bigelow Monument
The Bigelow Monument is a public monument located in Worcester, Massachusetts, honoring Timothy Bigelow, a Patriot of the American Revolutionary War. Dedicated on April 19, 1861, the monument stands in a small cemetery at the center of Worcester Common.
Timothy Bigelow, born on August 12, 1739, in Worcester County, was a blacksmith by trade and a colonel during the American Revolution. He led minutemen from Worcester in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, played a role in the Saratoga campaign and Valley Forge, and commanded the Springfield Arsenal. He passed away on March 31, 1790, at the age of 51.
The monument’s construction was authorized in 1859, and it was designed by architect George Snell. The dedication ceremony on April 19, 1861, featured speeches by notable individuals, including Mayor Davis, Governor Lincoln, and descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers.
The monument’s base is built of Italian marble in an English Gothic style and sits on a square granite platform. Inscriptions on each face of the pedestal commemorate Timothy Bigelow’s life and military engagements.
The monument originally stood 30 feet tall, but some stones on the upper portion were replaced, reducing its current height to 20 feet. An iron fence surrounds the plot of land, and a time capsule containing documents from the colonial era is buried beneath the monument. The Bigelow Monument shares Worcester Common with the Soldiers’ Monument, forming two of the only memorials in the area.
Over the years, the monument has been assessed and featured in various events, including a military drill and wreath-laying ceremony in 2009. Despite modifications to its height, the Bigelow Monument continues to stand as a symbol of honor for Timothy Bigelow’s contributions to the American Revolution.
The Soldiers’ Monument
The Soldiers’ Monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a Civil War memorial located on Worcester Common. Designed by Randolph Rogers, the monument features a granite Corinthian column with a bronze goddess of Victory on top. The column rests on a three-tiered pedestal adorned with bronze plaques and surrounded by four bronze statues representing different branches of the military.
The monument includes relief plaques on the top tier depicting the City of Worcester seal, the Massachusetts state seal, the United States seal, and crossed swords encircled by a laurel wreath.
The middle tier features relief busts of President Abraham Lincoln and Governor John A. Andrew, a battle scene, and a dedication plaque. The bottom tier displays plaques listing the names of the 398 Worcester soldiers who died in the war.
Commissioned in 1871, the monument was dedicated on July 15, 1874, with funds provided by the City of Worcester and private subscriptions. Originally standing approximately 66 feet tall, subsequent modifications and ground-level changes have reduced its height to around 4 feet shorter.
The dedication plaque expresses that the monument was erected by the people of Worcester in memory of their sons who sacrificed their lives for the unity of the republic during the years 1861-1865. The Soldiers’ Monument stands as a solemn tribute to the fallen soldiers and their significant contribution during the Civil War.
The Burnside Fountain and Turtle Boy statue
The Burnside Fountain in Worcester, Massachusetts, features a pink granite basin and a bronze statue known as Turtle Boy. Designed by architect Henry Bacon and sculptor Charles Y. Harvey, the fountain was commissioned in 1905 to provide fresh water for people, horses, and dogs in memory of a prominent lawyer. It was originally installed in Central Square in 1912 and later moved to Worcester Common in 1969.
The 12-foot-wide pink granite basin has large bowls for horses and a smaller bowl for dogs. In the center of the basin sits the bronze sculpture officially titled “Boy with a Turtle.” This sculpture depicts a young boy riding a sea turtle.
Turtle Boy, as it is commonly known, has become an unofficial mascot for Worcester, similar to Brussels’ Manneken Pis. Its popularity stems from risqué misinterpretations and has been referenced in stories, songs, and even inspired a music contest and a local microbrew.
Turtle Boy gained popularity when it appeared in a children’s book about Worcester landmarks in 1916. Over the years, the statue has been dressed in festive clothes, featured in songs, and even appeared on postcards.
However, due to its ambiguous portrayal, it has sparked controversy and bawdy insinuations. The statue has occasionally surfaced on social media and was even mentioned on comedian Daniel Tosh’s blog.
Opinions on Turtle Boy’s artistic merit differ, with some perceiving innocence and joy while others interpret it differently. Despite varying interpretations, the statue remains a distinctive and talked-about symbol of Worcester.
The Statue of George Frisbie Hoar
The George Frisbie Hoar statue in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a public monument dedicated to the politician. Designed by Daniel Chester French, the statue was unveiled in 1908.
Hoar was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1826 and had a successful career in law and politics. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the Massachusetts Senate, and the United States House of Representatives before becoming a U.S. Senator until his death in 1904.
After Hoar’s death, Worcester Mayor Walter H. Blodgett organized a meeting to discuss creating a memorial. A memorial fund was established, and sculptor Daniel Chester French was selected to design the statue. The monument was placed on the northern side of Worcester City Hall. The dedication ceremony took place in 1908 and included speeches by prominent figures and the playing of “America.”
The monument features a bronze statue of Hoar sitting in a chair, holding a manuscript. Inscriptions on bronze tablets affixed to the pedestal detail Hoar’s life and achievements. The monument highlights Hoar’s character, ideals, and contributions to American history. It was funded by donations from over 30,000 townsfolk.
The inscriptions on the tablets express Hoar’s beliefs in God, the American people, liberty, good government, and the belief that the world is constantly improving. The monument stands as a lasting tribute to Hoar’s personal virtue and public service.
The American Antiquarian Society
The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the oldest historical society in the United States with a national focus. Established in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, it serves as a learned society and research library dedicated to pre-twentieth-century American history and culture.
AAS’s mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to printed records spanning from the first European settlement to 1876. The society offers programs for scholars, students, educators, artists, writers, genealogists, and the general public.
The AAS houses a vast collection of over four million books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, graphic arts materials, and manuscripts. It holds copies of two-thirds of all known books printed in the United States between 1640 and 1820, including rare and unique volumes.
The repository encompasses historic materials from all fifty U.S. states, most of Canada, and the British West Indies. Notable items in the collection include the Bay Psalm Book, the first book printed in America, and a substantial assortment of newspapers, sheet music, games, pottery, diaries, photographs, and children’s literature.
In addition to its library resources, the AAS organizes public lectures and seminars, with a particular focus on printing technology in eighteenth-century British North America.
The society places a strong emphasis on preserving printed records, maintaining an on-site conservation department equipped with materials for the preservation process. The main building, Antiquarian Hall, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark that stands as a testament to the society’s rich legacy.
The Union Station in Worcester
Union Station is a historic railway station situated in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1911 by the New York Central Railroad, it served as a vital transportation hub during the golden age of railroading in the United States.
Today, it acts as the western terminus for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line, offering convenient inbound service to Boston. Additionally, Union Station serves as a stop along Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited passenger line and provides intercity bus routes for Peter Pan and Greyhound. It is also a central hub for the local Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) bus service.
After a period of decline and abandonment in the 1970s, Union Station underwent a comprehensive restoration led by the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. The restoration, carried out by Finegold Alexander & Associates, revived the station’s architectural splendor and reopened its doors in July 2000.
The station features remarkable elements such as the Grand Hall with its original stained-glass ceilings, marble columns, and mahogany wood trim. Visitors can enjoy the ambiance of Luciano’s Cotton Club, a 1920s gangster-themed restaurant located within the station. Union Station also offers a parking garage with 500 spaces and direct access to the station, catering to the convenience of commuters and travelers.
In a unique addition, the Cannabis Control Commission established its state headquarters in Union Station in 2019. This further highlights the station’s adaptive reuse and its continued relevance as a significant landmark in Worcester.
The Bancroft Tower
Bancroft Tower is a striking 56-foot-high castle-like tower made of natural stone and granite, located in Salisbury Park, northwest of downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. Constructed in 1900, it stands as a memorial to George Bancroft, a notable Worcester politician, historian, and statesman.
Designed by architects Earle and Fisher, the tower cost approximately $15,000 to build and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story tower showcases an asymmetrical design with crenellated square towers at the corners and a taller circular tower off-center. The structure, crafted from boulders and cobbles, features a rock-faced granite exterior and an arched gate on its right side.
Bancroft Tower was commissioned by Stephen Salisbury III, who honored his father’s childhood friend, George Bancroft, through its construction. Originally part of a trio of towers, it is the only surviving one today. Salisbury retained ownership of the tower and park until his passing in 1907, after which it was bequeathed to the Worcester Art Museum.
Eventually, the tower found its home under the care of the Worcester Parks Department in 1912. Recognizing its historical significance, the Bancroft Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.
Noteworthy features of the park surrounding the tower include two half-compasses positioned in front of and behind the structure. While these compasses are marked as pointing to the Seven Hills of Worcester, including Bancroft Hill, their accuracy is debatable when observed from the hill’s summit.
The Mechanics Hall
Mechanics Hall, a concert hall in Worcester, was constructed in 1857 in the Renaissance Revival style. Originally built to support the worker’s improvement movement, it has been restored and is now a renowned concert and performing arts venue. Ranked among the top concert halls in North America and Europe, Mechanics Hall also houses a recording studio.
The hall was established by the Mechanics Association in 1857 as a center for educational and cultural activities. With exceptional acoustics, the large concert hall became a prominent venue for speakers and musicians. Over the years, Mechanics Hall hosted notable figures such as Charles Dickens and Susan B. Anthony, as well as renowned performers like Enrico Caruso and Ella Fitzgerald.
During the mid-20th century, downtown Worcester faced a decline, and Mechanics Hall fell out of favor as a meeting place. It was rented out for various sporting events, and the building deteriorated. To save it from demolition during urban renewal, the Worcester Heritage Society led a restoration effort in 1977. The successful restoration not only revived Mechanics Hall but also contributed to the revitalization of downtown Worcester.
Mechanics Hall’s Great Hall features a collection of portraits that honor distinguished Americans representing the values of the Mechanics Association founders. These portraits include mechanics, social reformers, Civil War heroes, and political leaders.
The collection grew over time, with additional portraits donated by local organizations and individuals. In recent years, initiatives have been undertaken to honor women and Black Americans by adding their portraits to the gallery.
The Main Hall of Mechanics Hall houses the Hook Organ, built in 1864 by E. & G.G. Hook. It is an unaltered four-keyboard pipe organ, considered the oldest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The organ underwent restoration in 1982, preserving its historical significance.
Today, Mechanics Hall stands as a testament to Worcester’s rich cultural heritage, attracting audiences and performers from around the world to its magnificent concert hall and serving as a symbol of the city’s renaissance.
The Arad Alexander House
The Arad Alexander House, located at 53 Waverly Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic Greek Revival residence. Believed to have been built around 1845, it is one of the city’s most elaborate examples of this architectural style.
The house features a front temple front design with Corinthian columns, an entablature, and a pediment adorned with modillion blocks. It was possibly designed by Elias Carter, a notable local architect. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.
Originally situated closer to downtown Worcester, the house was moved to its current location in the 1860s by Arad Alexander. It is a two-story wood-frame structure with a front gable roof. Over time, the house was divided into multiple units.
Notably, Samuel Fine, a prominent resident of the 20th century, lived in the house and acted as a mediator for disputes within the city’s Jewish community.
The Samuel Copeland House
The Samuel Copeland House, located at 31 Harvard Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic Greek Revival residence. Constructed around 1847, this elaborate house is one of two in the city featuring a full temple front. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.
Situated on the northern fringe of downtown Worcester, the Samuel Copeland House is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure with a front-facing gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. It is one of only two Greek Revival houses in the city with a temple-front design, the other being the Arad Alexander House.
The impressive facade showcases a two-story portico supported by four fluted Corinthian columns. The triangular pedimented gable above the entrance is adorned with foliate decoration, and the main facade’s windows feature molded caps on consoles. Pilasters embellish the corners of the building, while a single-story ell extends to the left of the main block.
Samuel Copeland, a toolmaker and founder of the Copeland Hardware Manufacturing Company in approximately 1865, commissioned the construction of this house. Copeland, originally from Thompson, Connecticut, worked for various local manufacturers before establishing his own company and was credited with inventing the first iron planing machine. Copeland owned the house until around 1863, and subsequent owners included a druggist, merchant, and county treasurer.
The Chamberlain-Flagg House
The Chamberlain-Flagg House, located at 2 Brookshire Road in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic timber frame residence. Believed to be among the city’s oldest buildings, its exact construction date remains unclear.
Thought to have been constructed around 1742, the Chamberlain-Flagg House originally stood on land owned by the Chamberlain family, early settlers in the area. However, it has also been associated with other early Flagg family members. By 1800, the house was owned by Elisha Flagg, whose wife had ties to the Chamberlain family.
Situated in a suburban area of northwestern Worcester, at the intersection of Brookshire Road and Flagg Street, the Chamberlain-Flagg House is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure featuring a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. The architectural style of the house aligns with those of the earliest settlers in the region, and certain features, such as the forward placement of the central chimney, indicate 18th-century modifications to the structure.
The front facade consists of three bays with slightly asymmetrical window placement around the center entrance. This entrance, showcasing a 20th-century Colonial Revival style, includes sidelight windows and a large gabled hood. The house is complemented by a two-story ell on the left side and a screen porch on the right.
This well-preserved 18th-century house is recognized as one of Worcester’s finest and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Dowley-Taylor House
The Dowley-Taylor House, located at 770 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic mansion built in 1842 and designed by architect Elias Carter. Renowned for its well-preserved high-style Greek Revival architecture, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Situated south of downtown Worcester, the large two-story rectangular block features a hip roof adorned with a sizable cupola and surrounding porch. The front facade showcases a full-height portico supported by Corinthian columns.
A central front door is flanked by sidelight and transom windows, topped by an elaborate entablature upheld by pilasters. The building’s corners are accentuated with pilasters, and the front windows are embellished with molded caps. The house originally had a parapet crowned by an eagle, which has since been removed.
Constructed in 1842, the Dowley-Taylor House is the most well-preserved example of Greek Revival mansions in Worcester. Its first occupant was Levi Dowley, a leathermaker and banker. Later, armsmaker Ethan Allen acquired the property and relocated it to its current site in 1853.
The house passed through the hands of notable individuals, including Frank H. Kelley, a former mayor of Worcester. In 1882, Ransom Taylor, a prominent local real estate developer, purchased the house, which remained in the Taylor family until 1957. It was then sold to Worcester Junior College, which converted it into classrooms.
The Bancroft Hotel
The Bancroft Hotel, located at 50 Franklin Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic Beaux Arts building constructed in 1912 and expanded in 1925. It is renowned for its architectural style and was the city’s most luxurious hotel for many years.
Now known as Bancroft on the Grid, it has been converted into luxury residences. Designed by architects Esenwein & Johnson from Buffalo, New York, the hotel was named after Worcester historian and politician George Bancroft.
The building features a ten-story structure with a steel frame and a facade of brick, terracotta, and stone. The ground floor showcases a marble arcade, while the second floor displays sash windows with intricate terra cotta surrounds. The remaining floors consist of rectangular openings with uniform sash windows. The corners of the building are accentuated with light-colored stone, creating a contrast with the darker brick.
The Bancroft Hotel was an important location, hosting events such as a women’s tea during John F. Kennedy’s 1952 senatorial campaign. Although it operated as a hotel until 1964, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, it stands as an iconic landmark in downtown Worcester, facing the Worcester Common and City Hall.
The Pleasant Street Firehouse
The Pleasant Street Firehouse, located at 408 Pleasant Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a historic former firehouse. Built in 1873, it was one of three fire stations constructed by the city and served as Worcester’s oldest active firehouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and has since been repurposed for commercial retail use.
Situated at the southwest corner of Pleasant and Winslow Streets, the former firehouse is a two-story brick building with a hip roof crowned by an open cupola. The main facade features a pedimented gable with an oriel window atop the center section.
The ground floor originally had three equipment bays, but they have since been enclosed with wood frame walls clad in shingles. The outer bays retain doors, with the right bay also featuring a plate glass window to its right. The central bay contains two similar glass windows, while the second floor windows are adorned with eared granite lintels.
Constructed on land purchased from Daniel Waldo Lincoln, a prominent local landowner, the firehouse’s architect remains unknown. Although the city engaged the services of the local firm Earle and Fuller for fire station design in 1873, this particular building deviates stylistically from the others constructed at the time.
It exhibits a somewhat retrograde style, with its cupola and projecting side pavilion reminiscent of earlier Federal and Greek Revival architectural elements rather than the prevailing Second Empire and Renaissance styles of the era. Since being listed on the National Register, the city has closed and sold the building, which has subsequently undergone conversion for commercial purposes.
The Worcester Art Museum
The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a renowned institution housing over 38,000 works of art from various cultures and time periods. Established in 1898, WAM is among the nation’s significant art museums.
Its vast collection includes exceptional Roman mosaics, remarkable European and American art, a major assortment of Japanese prints, and the second largest collection of arms and armor in the Americas since acquiring the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection in 2013.
Initially, the museum consisted of a small three-story building designed by Stephen C. Earle and constructed by Norcross Brothers in 1897-98. Over time, multiple expansions were undertaken, significantly altering the original structure. The first expansion was a rear wing in 1920-21, followed by a distinctive addition facing Salisbury Street in 1931-33, including the Chapter House and Renaissance Court.
Additional expansions occurred in 1939-40, 1970, and 1983, each enhancing the museum’s facilities and exhibition spaces while maintaining architectural cohesion.
A notable acquisition in 1927 was a 12th-century French chapter house from the Benedictine Priory of St. John at Bas-Nueil. Installed in 1932 and connected to the museum via the Renaissance Court, it was the first medieval building transported from Europe to America. The Renaissance Court also features Antioch mosaics dating from the first to sixth century A.D., excavated in Syria.
WAM boasts an extensive permanent collection, including European and North American paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, Asian art, Greek and Roman sculptures, mosaics, and contemporary art.
European paintings encompass Flemish Renaissance pieces, works by El Greco, Rembrandt, Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Gauguin, and Kandinsky. The American painting collection showcases artists such as Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and more. The museum also houses a remarkable collection of Japanese prints bequeathed by John Chandler Bancroft in 1901, spanning the history of woodcut printmaking.
WAM’s commitment to education is demonstrated by its conservation lab and year-round studio art programs for both adults and youth. The museum continually strives to showcase diverse and exceptional works of art, ensuring a captivating experience for visitors.
The Worcester Historical Museum
The Worcester Historical Museum, established in 1875 as the Worcester Society of Antiquity, stands as a unique cornerstone in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. It remains the sole institution wholly dedicated to local history and artifacts, boasting an extensive collection ranging from colonial to twentieth-century treasures, spanning manuscripts, textiles, paintings, and ceramics.
Comprising permanent and temporary exhibits, a research library, and the ownership of the Salisbury Mansion, the museum is a dynamic repository of Worcester’s heritage.
The Fuller Gallery of Industrial History houses the captivating permanent exhibit “In Their Shirtsleeves,” chronicling Worcester’s industrial evolution across a century. Accompanying this centerpiece are three additional exhibit areas showcasing a variety of temporary displays.
Cultural history exhibits, like “Smiley – An American Icon” and “Game On!,” unfold intriguing narratives, including Worcester native Harvey Ball’s iconic Smiley graphic.
Over the past four decades, the museum has celebrated Worcester’s diverse populace through numerous exhibitions. Initiatives like “Water Street: A World Within a World” and “ga till Amerika: Swedes in Worcester 1868-1993” provide windows into historically significant communities.
Presently, collaborations like the Worcester Black History Project have enriched the museum’s collection by gathering oral histories, objects, and photos of local Black history.
The 2018 “For The Record: LGBTQ+ Worcester” exhibit, developed in partnership with educational institutions, underscores the museum’s commitment to preserving and sharing marginalized voices.
Open for a fee, the research library offers public access, while the archives are accessible by appointment. The Worcester Historical Museum stands as an essential resource, preserving Worcester’s rich tapestry for present and future generations.
