Once described in a 1950 article as "The Town That Wants to Be Out of Date," Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts is a lovingly recreated village of early 19th century New England. You'll be whisked back to the dawn of modern commerce and experience what life was like in a typical New England Village of that time.
This is the second part in the series of popular attractions for New England vacations with a historical theme. Others in the series are Plymouth Plantation, Mayflower II, and Mystic Seaport.
Old Sturbridge Village opened to the public in 1946 and received 5,000 visitors in its first year of operation. Today nearly half a million visitors a year experience the authentic buildings and wonderful collections of artifacts on display.
Located 60 miles west of Boston off exit 9 on Route 90, Sturbridge Village is set among 200 acres of rural Central Massachusetts.
Since opening nearly 60 years ago the village has survived a destructive hurricane, flooding, and the occasional fire - look for the high water mark notched on the Gristmill on the millpond from Hurricane Diane.
Where Plymouth Plantation focuses on the early years of settlement in the region, Old Sturbridge Village covers the beginning of prosperity, and a more sophisticated existence built around the emerging commerce of 1830s America.
A word about the buildings?
Many of the structures are original and moved here from villages in Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Reconstructed and restored with painstaking care they tingle your senses with their rustic charm, and simple designs.
Unpaved country roads lead you around the common and to outlying areas of inviting barns and craftsmen establishments, such as the shoe and tin shops. Here you'll see and talk to role-playing 19th century craftsmen. Marvel as they skillfully produce goods using only the tools and resources available in the 1830s.
Both a museum and educational resource, Old Sturbridge Village is primarily a place to explore for all ages. The centerpiece is the recreated New England town and outlying areas containing more than 40 buildings to visit, experience, and enjoy.
Sturbridge Village contains both residential homes, as well as a bank, printing office, and stores and shops. You'll learn why banks didn't do personal loans, but who did. And why the buildings called Meetinghouses, weren't called churches - even though each Sunday most villagers spent four hours worshipping in them.
Pay a call on the Salem household in their handsome Towne House, and then stop by and have tea at the Parsonage before visiting the Fenno and Fitch dwellings. These residential homes on the common in Sturbridge Village are full of surprises and homely comforts.
And if you need to stop for refreshment, Sturbridge Village has plenty of picnic areas if you've brought your own food, or you can purchase hot and cold fare at Bullard Tavern, or treats at Little Cakes. Options to eat change with the seasons so be sure to check the guide the day you visit.
The vision of the original founders of Old Sturbridge Village was for a place to learn by doing and direct experience ? an active outdoors museum. I've always found Sturbridge Village a welcome change of pace and reminder that quality of life has nothing to do with a car or the latest wide screen TV.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours at Old Sturbridge Village. Remember a ticket to Sturbridge Village is good for two days within a 10-day period. For more information on schedule, events, and ticket prices, check out the official web site at: www.osv.org.
Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of the new england vacations guide . You can read more about Old Sturbridge Village and get a free travel report at his new england vacations guide site.
Highland Park charter limousine .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhen you're on the Internet looking for discount camping gear,... Read More
Zambia is Africa's best kept secret as far as safaris... Read More
New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More
Climbing the glaciers to the summit of Mount Chimborazo in... Read More
This truly beautiful country at the southern tip of dark... Read More
If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More
A canoe trip is a great way to appreciate Nature!A... Read More
Have you taken up hiking as a new form of... Read More
Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More
Six different islands in Hawaii are open to tourism. Most... Read More
River rafting is a major attraction in California. The most... Read More
Don't all of us love to have the money to... Read More
Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More
Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in... Read More
Dude Ranches first gained popularity in the 1920s, in large... Read More
Welcome to Bragg Creek! Bragg Creek is located in the... Read More
HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED?MINERALS are naturally occuring, inorganic solids, with... Read More
Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was... Read More
Why should you use hiking poles is perhaps the first... Read More
Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More
The state of Goa on the West coast of India,... Read More
Soon, the busy summer tourist season will be over in... Read More
Antigo car service to O'Hare ..Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
Why ultralight backpacks? Devotees of ultralight backpacking know you reduce... Read More
Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain, after Kilimanjaro. It... Read More
Every year around 40 million visitors come to Florida for... Read More
Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More
Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More
If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More
When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?... Read More
Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120... Read More
This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Read More
My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the... Read More
When you search online for a camping gear outlet you... Read More
The sport of river rafting was practically invented in Colorado.... Read More
We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and... Read More
1st day : Airport / Amman, O/N Our representative will... Read More
(NC)-With approximately 42,000 mosquitoes for every person in Ontario, most... Read More
Live your golfing dreams on an Ireland golf vacation.The K... Read More
Up to now the preponderant view held by many historians... Read More
Packing in general can be a hassle. But when going... Read More
My river-rafting adventure started on a bicycle. The small daypack... Read More
It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter... Read More
We recently planted our saskatoon berry trees. I am sure... Read More
The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare... Read More
Recently we stayed at a state campground in Michigan near... Read More
The call of the wild can be seductive. The exquisite... Read More
Outdoors |