Historic places in Worcester

Historic places in Worcester

1. See

   Bancroft Tower

   A folly built to commemorate the achievements of George Bancroft by Worcester's richest man at the time, Stephen Salisbury. Bancroft Tower sort of looks like it belongs in an old castle. It is in a wooded park at the top of a hill. Usually the interior of the tower is closed to the public, but occasionally it is open and the view from the top looks out over all of Worcester.

2. See

   Cantor Art Gallery

   Campus art gallery showing both historical and contemporary works for the benefit of the community.

3. See

   Salisbury Mansion

   Historic house museum that is part of the Worcester History Museum. Admission to the house is included in admission to the history museum, just keep your ticket and present it at the mansion. Former home of the Salisbury family, once the wealthiest in the city. The house is now the oldest structure in the city, having been built in the 18th century. The tour covers the history of the house and the family who built it, but also touches on aspects of life in the very early history of Worcester.

4. See

   Worcester Art Museum

   The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) is one of the most under-rated attractions in New England. If it weren't for its proximity to the much better known Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, WAM might get more recognition. WAM is the second largest art museum in New England, covering four floors and every period from ancient Egypt to today. The museum acquired the collection of the defunct Higgins Armory museum, giving it the largest collection of arms and armor in the United States. While WAM does not have the space to display the whole collection, they do put on a series of rotating exhibits featuring pieces from the collection integrated with other related art.

   Wed & Fri-Sun 10AM-4PM, Thu 10AM-7PM·Adults $22; Students and Seniors $17; Youth under 17, military, veterans, and EBT/ WIC card holders free

5. See

   Worcester Common

   Worcester, like many Massachusetts towns and cities, has an historic town common at its center. Worcester Common was created in 1669 with 20 acres (12 ha). The city's development has since shrunk that to 4.4 acres (1.8 ha). Worcester Common is undergoing a renovation to add newer and bigger sidewalks in addition to more seating areas.

6. See

   Worcester Historical Museum

   Small museum in a beautiful old building that presents the city's history. Worcester Historical Museum features a rotating art exhibit and a section dedicated to the various manufacturing industries that built the city. Also has a room dedicated to the "smiley face," which was invented in Worcester.

   Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM, Thu 10AM-8:30PM

7. Do Not mapped

   Blackstone Canal District Wagon Tour

   Explore the history of the Blackstone Canal and Worcester's transformation from an agricultural village into an industrial powerhouse. Tours leave from Kelley Square on Thursday evenings in July and August.

   Free

8. Eat Not mapped

   Bocado

   Tapas and wine bar in a restored mill building. Bocado has an enormous, some might say overwhelming menu of mostly Spanish inspired options. In addition to tapas, you can get Paella to share with several people. Although Bocado is in a historic building, the interior is fairly modern and doesn't display much except for some exposed brick. This is a recurring issue in Worcester restaurants. Calling this a splurge is a bit deceiving since it's tapas. You can get a meal here for a completely reasonable amount of money, or break the bank.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Worcester (CC BY-SA 4.0).