Worcester

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.

Burnside Fountain

Is known to locals as "Turtle-Boy". The fountain features a boy and a turtle engaged in what any reasonable observer would have to conclude is an obscene -- or at least nonconsensual -- act. Not many, if any, people know what it truly represents, so judge for yourself.

Cantor Art Gallery

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

Clark University

Clark University maintains a scenic campus in the heart of Worcester's Main South Neighborhood.

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester's oldest and prettiest institution of higher education. Explore the warren of old brick buildings perched on a hillside overlooking the city.

EcoTarium - A Museum of Science and Nature

Great zoo with a Polar bear and working, kid-sized diesel train and more. $10; Seniors, students ages 3-18 $8. Planetarium, train, tree walkway are extra.

Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM

Elm Park

The grand old lady of Worcester parks. The land the park sits on was purchased by the city in 1854 making it one of the first purchases of land to be set aside for a public park in the U.S. The park is undergoing renovations, but the old iron bridge over the pond in the middle has been restored.

Green Hill Park

This 480-acre (210-ha) park is by far the largest in the city. In fact, it's so large, you may forget that you're in the middle of a city at all. Green Hill Park is on top of a hill northeast of downtown and has walking trails, a lake, the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a public golf course complete with club house restaurant.

Hadwen Arboretum

Century-old trees & 40 plant species share space at this campus woodland offering trails & a garden. Part of Clark University.

Hadwen Park

50-acre park in South Worcester that has easy hiking trails and some wildlife.

Institute Park

Sweeping park overlooking Institute Pond, built on donated land in 1887. Holds many festivals and concerts throughout the summer.

Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans' War Memorial

Dedicated in June 2002, the 4-acre location includes a pond, walking paths and the memorial. A place to provide a dignified, quiet, natural location for reflection and learning. The memorial is designed in three sections called places. These consist of the Place of Flags, Place of Words and Place of Names. The Place of Words shows text from letters written home by some of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who died in Vietnam. The Place of Names proclaims in stone the name of each and every Massachusetts resident who died in combat or as a result of wounds received while in action in Vietnam.

daytime·Free

Newton Hill

Part of Elm Park, but you must cross Park Ave to get to it. Newton Hill has a disc golf course and trails leading to the top. The view would be impressive if not for the trees.

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.

Seelos Theater

This theater shows a selection of Oscar-nominated and blockbuster movies once a week during the semester for free. Open to the general public. In fact, most of the audience is usually non-students.

Soldiers' Monument

60-foot (18-m) monument built in 1874 in honor of Worcester's Civil War dead.

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

Worcester City Hall

Worcester City Hall is a sight to see. Built in 1898 at the height of Worcester's industrial prominence, City Hall was built in the Italianate style and has an imposing granite exterior.

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.

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

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The older parts of this campus are perched on a ridge line between Highland Avenue and Institute Park.

ArtsWorcester

Art gallery displaying local contemporary works.

Thu-Sat noon-4PM