Where the American 4 3 Historic Venues


THE PUBLICK HOUSE HISTORIC INN STURBRIDGE, MA


Stay in gorgeously period- decorated rooms and dine at this historic 1771 inn & country lodge where the Revolutionary -era travelers once visited.


SAMUEL SLATER EXPERIENCE WEBSTER, MA


Gather where America’s Indus- trial Revolution in New England comes to life. This museum boasts holograms, interactive and iconic large-scale displays.


Revolution Really Begins and Innovation is Ongoing


Central Massachusetts is home to bold ideas, rich history, and modern amenities in the heart of New England.


2 5 6 1 Revolutionary Outings


SALISBURY MANSION 1 WORCESTER, MA Salisbury Mansion tells the story of Worcester, was built in 1772, and was the scene of preparations for the ‘Worcester Revolution’ of 1774.


AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM HUDSON, MA A unique chance to interact with exhibits featuring tanks, military vehicles, and aircraft spanning nearly 100 years under one roof.


AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY 2 WORCESTER, MA Visit a nationally renowned library founded by Isaiah Thomas, housing an 18th-century printing press & Revolutionary War-era materials.


WILLARD HOUSE & CLOCK MUSEUM 3 GRAFTON, MA Visit the birthplace and original workshop of the Willard clockmakers, a signifi cant three-generation legacy founded in 1766.


WATERS FARM 4 SUTTON, MA Featuring a 1757 homestead, the open-air, living-history museum on 120 acres of farmland off ers a bucolic escape with colonial signifi cance.


WELLSWORTH HOTEL STURBRIDGE, MA Wellsworth Hotel off ers modern hotel and conference center amenities, while refl ecting 160 years of heritage as American Optical Co.’s headquarters.


MECHANICS HALL WORCESTER, MA Renowned for its elegance and sound qualities, Mechanic’s Hall has been judged by architectural historians as the nation’s fi nest pre-Civil War concert hall.


DiscoverCentralMA.org/250th DISCOVER GUIDE, EVENTS & MORE ONLINE


OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE 5 STURBRIDGE, MA This living history museum recreates rural New England life in the early 1800s, and hosts reenactments and demonstrations year-round.


OPTICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM 6 SOUTHBRIDGE, MA The region’s deep-rooted innovations in optics—shaping millions of lives —are showcased through thousands of items in the museum’s collection.


Iconic Ideas and Innovations


• 1774 The peaceful ‘Worcester Revolution’ overtook district courts on September 6th, which ended British rule in Central Mass.


• 1776 Isaiah Thomas held the fi rst public reading of the Declaration of Indepen- dence in Massachusetts in Worcester.


• 1860 Worcester hosted the fi rst National Women’s Rights Convention on Nov. 23rd.


• 1926 Robert Goddard launched the fi rst liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, MA.


• 1960s NASA space suits for missions Mercury to Apollo, manufactured in Worcester, MA.


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