Over the next few days I’ll be sharing some of the cool places The Girl and I have visited on our latest adventure. I hope you’ll follow along and don’t forget to checkout my instagram page for more travel pictures.
The other day The Girl and I decided to check out the Old Sturbridge Village New England Living History Museum with my buddy Heather and her daughter. Sturbridge is about an hour from Boston and let me tell you Bob, I am so glad we stopped by because it was seriously super cool.
The museum opened in 1946, and in the years since, it has evolved into an internationally recognized museum for education. They offer tons of classes for local school aged kids {and adults} on a range of different topics, in addition to their standard exhibits.
The museum houses tons of different artifacts that early settlers from 1790 to 1840 would have used. The museum started largely in part to two American industrialists who, in the 1920’s began collecting antiques from early rural New Englanders.
The men had a deep respect for the craftsmanship and hard work of the early Americans–and much of their collection started the museum. One of the buildings was outfitted with an old printing press. I never knew freshly printed paper was hung to dry. When you think about it, it’s kind of sad how so little we know how handmade things are made these days.
The “living” part of the museum added so much fun to the experience. Museum employees are dressed in time period costume–and kids and adults can interact with several of the exhibits {i.e. candle making, season maple sugaring, sleigh rides, etc.} to really get a feel for what life was like for many New Englanders. Here’s a picture of Heather and I making our own candles!!
The museum isn’t really just one building of artifacts. There are several exhibits throughout the property. My favorite was the farm exhibit {surprised?}. They have recreated a barn from the 1700’s to show you what it would have been like to farm during the late 1700’s to early 1800’s.
I couldn’t help but think that it’s they way we should still be farming, but that’s another topic I guess. I will admit though that some modern day machinery really, really cuts down on the back breaking labor–so I guess there has been some progress.
There are actually several barns on the property, each dedicated to a different aspect of rural life {equipment, farming, etc.}
We missed the maple syrup run by about a month, but I guess it’s pretty cool too. The smell of the sugaring process is supposed to be the “first smells of spring.” But, we did get to ride a horse drawn sleigh in the SNOW!!! How cool is that?
If you’ve never been to Massachusetts, go there, it’s RAD. Seriously, New England is fast becoming my new favorite place. The buildings, the history, the accents… it’s all pretty amazing if you ask me.
~Mavis
Old Sturbridge Village New England Living History Museum
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
(800) 733-1830
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Erin Gaskell says
Oh Mavis, we LOVE Old Sturbridge Village. We live about 30 minutes from there in CT. I am currently planning an overnight there with my girl scouts. They get to have a lantern tour of the village after dark and sleep in the museum. It IS a great place to visit. Plan to come back in the spring or summer…..the village comes alive with lots of visitors, lawn games, and beautiful sunny days. Makes me think about how it must have been to live in the “Little House on the Prairie” days.
Judy says
Mavis I just wanted to mention how great I think it is that your daughter wants to travel every where with you! You must be such a cool mom!! Does monkey boy and HH travel with you?
Mavis Butterfield says
We take a family vacation once a year, otherwise they are content to stay at home and hang out together.
Lisa says
My son lived in MA for about 11 years. He sent us photos from Sturbridge in autumn. At the time I was living in an area without fall foliage changes, so it was so beautiful to see! Now I have my own, and “ooh” and “aah” each fall. Along with making sure I have my camera in the car.
He moved to Rhode Island (Providence) a not long ago, and likes it way more than MA!
sarah says
Hi, I took my kids there two summers back and we had a good day. It was July and the gardens were everywhere. They also were doing pottery, dying wool and playing games on the square. I’m hoping to maybe go up this summer.
Michelle says
Oh my…the farm is amazing! I’d love to visit there…thanks for sharing!
Jen says
I grew up right outside of Sturbridge, and worked at an antique store at the corner of the road that heads back there. My husband worked at the visitor info booth. I haven’t actually visited the village, though, since I was 8–maaaaany moons ago. Now we’re about an hour away.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
Oh how fun! I’ve never been but it’s only about an hour and a half up the road from me and I love living history museums. Must check it out soon. Maybe during maple season. Which really is a spring rite around these parts. I love the smell of the maple sap cooking down. It’s like a lovely maple steam facial when you go in the cooking room (or whatever it’s called).
KK @ Preppy Pink Crocodile
Jim says
I visited Old Sturbridge Village in the summer of 1980. It was awesome then! I can only imagine the improvements now …
Stacey says
When we lived in New England we went on a trip to Sturbridge Village. The kids were young, but old enough to appreciate it. It was during the summer time and they were cutting hay with scythes (is that what they were?) and piling it in a wagon, just like I read about in the Little House books. It was completely cool. New England loves its history, and many people are passionate enough to relive it to share it with others.