Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

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Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Exists To Illuminate The Diverse, Rich Identity Of The Upper Housatonic River Valley Region.

06/08/2026

The House Museum: The Plight of Loyalists on the Eve of Independence
Saturday, June 20 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Free - $25.00

The second history talk of the 2026 season, they take a look at the life of the Loyalists during the Revolutionary War.

Details & Register: https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/the-plight-of-loyalists-on-the-eve-of-independence/

In this lecture, Alexander Cain examines the often-overlooked experiences of American Loyalists from New England and New York during the Revolutionary War. He will explore how unwavering loyalty to the Crown led to the loss of homes, freedom, and security for numerous families.

Drawing on original petitions and firsthand accounts, the presentation traces the harrowing flight of Loyalists from so-called “patriot” mobs and Committees of Safety. The discussion further explores the severe hardships endured by Loyalist families, including those from western Massachusetts, who sought refuge with the British army, facing starvation, violations of civil liberties, and exile. The lecture also highlights the resilience that enabled these individuals to persevere in the face of such adversity.

06/04/2026

WordxWord - Poetry Crawl
Sunday, June 14,
The MOUNT / Edith Wharton Cultural Center
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
FREE

Poets take us on a freewheeling exploration of the Mount's grounds with stops along the way to share their original work.

This is a walking/stopping event where we all (audience and poets) walk together with stops along the way to share poems. Although the walk is short and the Mount's grounds are well maintained, walking shoes are strongly advised.
We long ago learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes WXW work.

The complete schedule of WordXWord events at The MOUNT this summer: https://wordxwordfestival.com/

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.
Word X Word - Poetry Crawl
Sunday, June 14,
The MOUNT / Edith Wharton Cultural Center
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
FREE

Poets take us on a freewheeling exploration of the Mount's grounds with stops along the way to share their original work.

This is a walking/stopping event where we all (audience and poets) walk together with stops along the way to share poems. Although the walk is short and the Mount's grounds are well maintained, walking shoes are strongly advised.
We long ago learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes WXW work.

The complete schedule of WordXWord events at The MOUNT this summer: https://wordxwordfestival.com/

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.

Proudly supported by Housatonic Heritage...

06/02/2026

Berkshire County Historical Society / Melville's Arrowhead -
Author Talk – Julie Dobrow
Wednesday - June 3 at 5:30 pm!
$5 – $10

Author, biographer and Tufts University professor Julie Dobrow’s new book, Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: A Biography of an Extraordinary In*******al Marriage, tells the complicated story of the lives and marriage of Elaine Goodale and Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman. In this talk, Dubrow will discuss her book and the fascinating way in which she first discovered this story.

Purchase tickets: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/berkshirehistory/items/?full-items=yes&back=https://berkshirehistory.org/event/author-talk-julie-dobrow/

$5 for BCHS members, $10 for non-members. Become a member and start receiving discounts on event tickets.

This event is sponsored by Massachusetts Cultural Council and Housatonic Heritage.

05/29/2026

The Caterpillar’s Dilemma: What Invasive Plants Do Differently

Thursday, June 11
Scoville Memorial Library
5 - 6:30 pm

Presented by the The Salisbury Association and Scoville Memorial Library

Michael LaScaleia returns to Salisbury for another spirited talk on caterpillars, native ecosystems, and invasive species. Join us for a 30-minute presentation at the Library (rain or shine) and a walk to the Salisbury Land Trust's Vincent Meadow.

More information and register: https://www.scovillelibrary.org/event/hold-salt-michael-lascaleia-647

05/27/2026

The The Du Bois Freedom Center Summer Tour Series (Bi-Weekly)
Honoring the life and legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois and Black history in Great Barrington and the Berkshires.

Join the guided summer tour series running from late May through September (every other Saturday), led by Marcus Smith and Damion Scott, Ph.D. students in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of African American Studies at UMass Amherst.

Open to K-12 students, educators, scholars of Du Bois, and local residents alike. Come discover the stories, places, and people that shaped Du Bois and the Berkshires.

Dates: May 30 · June 13 · June 27 · July 11 · July 25 · August 8 · August 22 · September 5 · September 19

Time: 1PM - 2:30 PM

Pricing: $25 (General Adult) · $15 (Student and Senior Adults +65) · FREE Children Under 10

05/21/2026

Historical Society - SPECIAL EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION

War Stories: Cornwall in the Revolution
Opening Saturday, May 23, 2026

How did a small farming village take part in a revolution? Between 1775 and 1783, the people of Cornwall found out. The events of these years transformed them from British colonists into citizens of a new American republic. In celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, War Stories: Cornwall in the Revolution invites you to explore a few of their personal stories.

Please join us this Saturday, May 23, from 4–6 PM for the opening reception of this special exhibition. Enjoy light refreshments and meet guest curator Dr. Steven H. Jaffe. Admission is free to all visitors.

CURATOR'S TALK & TOUR: Join us for a special sneak preview on Friday, May 22 at 4 PM. Free and open to the public. Capacity is limited. RSVP is required.

RSVP NOW!

See our upcoming programs and mark your calendars:
https://cornwallhistoricalsociety.org/events/

05/18/2026

Join the Bidwell House Museum via Zoom for our first History Talk of the 2026 season:

The First Massachusetts Constitution, and How Town Actions Derailed It
May 30 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Free - $15.00

Join the Bidwell House Museum on Zoom for the first of four history talks planned for the 2026 season. We start with Western Michigan University Professor Sally Hadden.

Massachusetts enjoys the distinction that its constitution is the “oldest functioning constitution” in the world. But this honor applies to the 1780 state constitution, which is far better known than its proposed predecessor, the Massachusetts 1776 state constitution. Why was that version of the state constitution rejected by the people? What faults did they identify, and how did the 1780 document that John Adams drafted differ from the 1776 version?

This lecture will be held via Zoom. The link will be sent to all ticket holders 2 days in advance of the program.
Details

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-first-massachusetts-constitution-and-how-town-actions-derailed-it-tickets-1987685117694

02/05/2026

WordxWord presents: GESTURE

Tuesday, February 10,
Unitarian Universalist Church
175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA

FREE. The theme is gesture.

The theme is GESTURE. WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation throws out a word and asks poets to respond.

We long ago learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes PCC work. More at https://wordxwordfestival.com/index.html.

Poet interested in participating? See: https://wordxwordfestival.com/pcc/

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.

Address

24 Main Street/PO Box 493
Salisbury, CT
06068

Telephone

(860) 435-9505

Website

http://www.housatonicheritage.org/

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