A very interesting museum where you can see the works of local and not so local artists. The museum…read moreis not so large where you get overwhelmed with the volume of pieces. We enjoyed our visit and were able to see some interesting interpretations.

A gem - building, exhibits, and view! An easy must-see!…read more We went on a rainy day - aunty with niece (high school) & nephew (elementary school) - and were able to park right in front of the building, which we found no problem. I just became a member at $45 so admission was free for me, $8 total for them. What a deal! The building is a gem - an old train station and the lobby makes for a welcoming, spacious, and beautiful place to see art. The ticket office is preserved and is the art room for kids and the young at heart. The woman who greeted us - an intern from Marlboro College - was super helpful as well as enthusiastic about the exhibits. We were all enthralled with the Red Grooms exhibit - his art (which is playful & joyful) plays off the white, airy space well. We only had 60-90 minutes but we could have sat on that NY bus all day. The rest of the space - off the main lobby - is less exciting (lower ceilings, nothing reminiscent of an old train station) but the art was well done, especially the Mallory Lake pastels. I just moved from the Bay Area to Western Massachusetts and am thrilled that this place exists. Note the individual membership currently includes a discount to Marlboro's music series.

The Beneski Museum of Natural History is on the Amherst College campus and is one of those smaller…read moremuseums that consistently surprises visitors who arrive without strong expectations. We walked into a building that is modern and elegantly designed, spotlessly maintained, and organized in a way that made navigation intuitive across the three floors. The collection spans three floors and covers fossils, dinosaur skeletons, mineral and gemstone specimens, and an extensive dinosaur track collection with particular connections to the Connecticut River Valley, which produced some of the most significant dinosaur trackways in North America. The dinosaur material is the centerpiece. Two full mammoth skeletons, a T. rex skull, and a range of other fossil specimens give the collection a visual impact that larger natural history museums with more resources and more famous specimens would be proud to have. The dinosaur tracks are a specific strength and the connection to local geology adds a regional dimension that makes the collection feel distinct rather than generic. Staff and professors associated with the collection were present and willing to answer questions in depth, which gave our visit a more engaged quality than a self guided tour at a larger institution typically offers. The museum is free and open to the public, which makes it an easy addition to any visit to the Amherst area without any planning required. For a small college museum that delivers a world class fossil collection in a beautiful modern space, the Beneski Museum of Natural History is a hidden gem in western Massachusetts and well worth a stop. It is the kind of place where you go in for a quick look and end up spending an hour without realizing it.

It's is such a gem! A must see. It's a free museum with a room full of mammal fossils, another of…read moredinosaurs, and a hallway of rocks and gems. You can easily spend an hour or more here, which makes it a perfect stop especially if you're looking for something indoors on a hot or cold or wet day. Our kids enjoyed the exhibits, the free stickers, and the dino toys they got to explore at the front desk.

Former Masonic temple that has been painted inside and out with spiritual Russian art. Beautiful…read morehowever not open to the public except for guided tours and special events. You can inquire re: guided tours (http://mod-ren.com/inside-the-museum/guided-tour/) on their website and add yourself to contact list for museum news (http://mod-ren.com/contact/).

Wow! This place is amazing. It's a former Masonic lodge that has been converted into a beautiful…read moreart gallery. There is framed art hanging in the hallways but the most amazing part is the center meeting place of the former lodge. The walls and ceiling have been painted in beautiful modern Russian paintings. I can't quite describe it adequately. Check out the website. This is a must see. I never knew this existed until it was featured as part of the Somerville Open Studios. Absolutely gorgreous!

This is an interesting, out of the way house museum. We didn't know what to expect going here but…read morewow there's a lot of fascinating history to hear about. Later on we heard some locals talking about the special events they hold around the holidays. It's worth checking out if you're in Keene and looking for something unique to do.

More than 5 years at Keene State College, and well over a thousand neglectful walks past this old…read moregem, and I never even stopped to think about what could be inside. We rang the bell, and shortly thereafter a thin older lady in a bohemian top and long flowing skirt answered the door. She brought us in, and requested we deposit our coffees on the floor by the front door (although she kept her coffee mug in hand throughout the entire museum). Room after room, she led us through the story of the Colony family, and the generations of community influence that have come through the house's front door. The rooms held cross-generational antiques and oddities, from normal fixtures like rugs and dishes, to an overwhelming collection doorstops, representations of foreign dieties, and thousands of small animal statuettes. Here are some of the top facts that I learned at the Horatio Colony Museum: 1. Canopy beds were created to contain heat in the winter in bedrooms without fireplaces 2. Graphophones not only played cylindrical wax "disks," but one can also record his/her own music on some blank wax 3. The "bun" hairstyle of old Victorian England was inspired by the traditional hairstyle of Japanese Geishas 4. The entire faces of some paintings can follow you around a room. There's more, but this review would take forever. The tour is free... it's a half hour... and it's pretty neat... so check it out.

28th June 2026 Lenox, MA…read more Be prepared to be awed as you enter the 50 acre estate and sanctuary of the famous author Edith Wharton, named The Mount, it is a rather remarkable example of the magnificent oasis she created in 1902, during the height of the Gilded Age. The Mount located in Lenox, MA, served as her primary sanctuary when she was in her 40s, and at the peak of her fame as a Pulitzer prize winning Author, which was extremely rare for a woman at the time. Wharton penned literary classics such as, 'The House of Mirth' here. Today, the property operates as a vibrant cultural center featuring guided house tours, art exhibitions, and sprawling formal gardens which are oft rented for large weddings. We were thrilled to get a glimpse of the vast well-maintained garden grounds and mansion. It is definitely worth a visit whilst in the Berkshires. Entry is $20, which includes a one hour guided tour, but do stay to linger and explore the magnificent grounds of this stunning estate that was refurbished to its glory after millions of dollars were donated in the 1990s, and are continued in the present. Please enjoy my photos, and thank you for reading.

Took the tour. It feels like you are rushing through - so much information is given. The tour lasts…read moreand hour and it hardly seems enough to cover three floors of house. After the tour we were free to wander at our leisure. The gardens are well manicured. A video in the house shows the history of the property and photos of restoration inside and out. Gives a real appreciation of the restoration work done here. Amazing. The woodland path is lovely, shaded and serene. There were childrens programs going on along the path during our wander. There is also a sculpture event happening with pieces scattered along the paths. Park in the dirt lot by the stables where you can purchase tickets and watch an orientation video. It's about a five minute walk to the house from here. A book walk begins here too-a series of signs, each one page of a childrens book. If you need handicap parking, buy tickets online, drive past the stable and park near the house. Very informative tour. An abunfance of information throughout the house. Cafe with prepared food on the terrace overlooking the grounds. Plan to spend two to three hours.

I found the Eric Carle Museum a bit underwhelming for the price. I also wasn't really sure who the…read moretarget audience was. The museum has two galleries, a paint room, a library, and an auditorium. Personally, I could spend a decent amount of time reading through the gallery exhibits, but younger kids can't really see or reach a lot of them, so I think they'd get bored pretty quickly. There are a few interactive activities like creating your own recipe or using the peg boards but they felt a little gimmicky rather than being a core part of the experience. The paint room was probably the highlight for kids since there were lots of supplies and things to create, but I didn't see anything my son couldn't already do at home. With that said, kids could probably spend an hour or more here so it should definitely keep them busy. That's kind of where the museum confuses me. I thought this was aimed at younger kids but many of the exhibits are better appreciated by adults. At the same time, older kids will probably find the children's activities too basic. It ends up feeling like it's trying to appeal to everyone without fully committing to one audience. Admission should be much cheaper or donation based. If you're visiting the area, check with your local library first because many libraries offer free passes, and that's definitely the way I'd recommend going. Ironically, I think I'd enjoy coming back by myself more than with my kids. I'd take my time going through the galleries and learning about Eric Carle's work. With young kids though, I found myself feeling rushed because they weren't really engaged. I could also see it being a worthwhile visit for aspiring writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children's literature.

I came here by myself a few weeks ago. I was shocked by how few exhibits there were and now small…read morethey were. I was expecting them to have more on display about his life, artistic process and some of his more famous books. They had a studio and library which would be fun it you brought a child. The overall vibe was charming and very much in the spirit of his books. I just wouldn't go out of my way to go here. The gift shop and info wall about his life was the best part.

Cute if you're in the area - no long train rides but they do little minute long rides and blow the…read morehorn which is fun. Very pretty overlooking the pond out back. The little museum inside the old train station is cute, not a ton to see but it is interesting to learn about the trains in the yard. $5 for adults

This is no museum. It is the seventh gate of hell, reserved for the worst of sinners…read more We went here for the sake of a young child's entertainment but, much like the other children there at the time, his joy and excitement (and maybe even his soul) quickly dissipated. There isn't much to see or do, and the staff is comprised solely of people ages 75 and up. One staff member in particular, a half-man named "Matt", was rude and boring. He had no people skills, and couldn't handle the fact that a TWO-year old couldn't tolerate his awful railroad rantings...but neither could any of the adults on the tour. If you want to piss away a perfectly good $9, then stop by this "museum", or your local Subway for lunch.

Free. Originally built as a tavern in 1797, the Farrar-Mansur House is now operated as a historic…read morehouse museum by the Weston Historical Society. The collection includes 18th and 19th century decorative arts and furnishings. The very friendly and knowledgeable host/tour guide was full of facts & details about both families who loved here. How cooking was done on wood fires in the fireplace. Learn about how so many "modern household conveniences" from back in the day were designed and constructed to serve a practical purpose from the materials at hand. The paintings on the walls of the drawing room were gorgeous. Depicted scenes of live in that era as well as infamous locals. The ball room up stairs was most impressive! Maintained solely by volunteers from Weston.

What a beautiful home. Open to the general public for tours at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, the door is kept…read morelocked. We knocked a couple of times before it was opened. We were a bit early for the tour and waited in the hallway until tour time began. One other gentleman joined the tour on this weekday visit. The house was moved from down the hill to it's current location in 1929 leaving behind a kitchen addition and outbuilding. Originally the home was mostly a store with a ground floor kitchen and living quarters over head. Later, the shop space was turned into a small office, central staircase, hallway, dining room and parlor as it is today displayed. The tour included information about the original owners family and their impact on the City of Worcester. The building was temporarily used as rental property, one of which was a men's club who tore down walls to build a bowling alley. Because why not? The museum has restored that area to be as close to period as possible. Some items in the home are original to the family, including a beautiful harp. Other items in the home are appropriate to the period and include some beautiful dresses, furniture and artwork from one of the gentleman's 'tour of the Continent'. One fun piece on display is a Lego mock-up of the home. The tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly. Parking is located next to the building. I'm not sure if it's wheelchair accessible due to it's age. There certainly is no elevator to reach the upper level and the staircase is steep. Some of the wall paper has been reproduced from pieces found during renovation and the lower level floors covered in a reproduced 'floor cloth' which the tour guide described as 'the original linoleum'. Very interesting view into life in Worcester during the late 1700's and early 1800's.

Great tour. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Showing just a few photos so you can see the…read morerest for yourself! Go there - it's awesome!

This was pretty basic, which was a bit of a letdown, but it's still cool to see Frost's house…read more It's not grand, but there's some cool things to see. The one employee did not know anything about Frost, so it was all up to the signage. There is a small gift shop, but mostly all just books and nothing as far as souvenirs with the place name on them. The exhibit signs shine some information on Frost, his family, and his works. There is a live bee collection for unclear reasons. There is an old record player of his records that you can listen to and switch records, so that was cool. At least some of the furniture was original. I wouldn't say this takes longer than 20 minutes to walk through, so only do it if you're nearby or a diehard Frost fan. As a historic site, I'm glad it exists, but it is a bit minimal. An employee who had at least read the signs instead of just a college intern there for credit would do wonders to bringing Frost more to life.

I'm glad we stopped on our way through, I wouldn't go out of the way to visit, but as a pass…read morethrough, it's a nice stop to stretch and look around. There is a lot of information to take in here, about Robert Frost and the Frost family. It's got a good flow to it as you walk through. The young lady working here was helpful in answering out questions. I don't have much else to say about it, though I'm glad I went.