Guides

If you love Massachusetts historical sites and learning about the days of yore, then there is no limit to the number of places you can visit in Berkshire County to inspire and awe you. Many of these venues offer tours and lectures on architecture, the Gilded Age, the incredible literary archives of this area, and what life was like here during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of these experiences are free or cost a nominal fee, so clear your calendar to visit one or more of the following Berkshire County venues.

The Top Massachusetts Historical Sites in Berkshire County

1. The Mount: Edith Wharton's Home. Located in Lenox, the Mount was once the home of famed author Edith Wharton. After her passing, it became a historic museum, and over the years it has further transformed into a cultural hub where visitors can attend literary talks, garden and mansion tours, and other artistic programs.
2. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Ventfort Hall is a historic Jacobean Revival mansion in Lenox, built in 1893, when Lenox became a popular Gilded Age resort.Ventfort Hall now offers audiences the chance to understand the changes that have occurred in American society and industry during the 19th century through lectures, exhibits, and performances.
3. Hancock Shaker Village: This landmark destination consists of over 700 acres, 20 Shaker buildings and 22,000 Shaker artifacts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered the most well-documented Shaker site in the world, as well as the oldest working farm in Berkshire County. They offer tours, live demonstrations, and costumed reenactments. There is a children’s center where the littlest visitors can try on vintage Shaker clothing, learn how to milk a fake cow, and engage in a wide assortment of Shaker themed craft activities.
4. Herman Melville's Arrowhead: Who hasn’t heard of Melville’s famous book, Moby Dick? If you want to see where this masterpiece was written, come visit his old farmhouse residence located in Pittsfield and enjoy one of the many tours of the house and grounds. Arrowhead is also on the National Register of Historic Places and is preserved by the Berkshire County Historical Society.
5. Chesterwood Museum: This National Trust Historic Site is located in Stockbridge and served as the summer home and studio of Daniel Chester French - the artist who sculpted The Lincoln Memorial. Many of his original plaster sketches can be viewed in this gallery today. Chesterwood offers tours and many rotating outdoor sculpture exhibits.
6. Naumkeag: This “Berkshire Cottage” from the Gilded Age is widely known for its magnificent 44-room mansion and expansive collection of gardens. Naumkeag is considered an architectural masterpiece of the 19th century and a link to Berkshire history. Naumkeag offers many types of guided tours during the warmer months and is a place where visitors can recharge amid the beauty all around.
7. W.E.B. Du Bois National Historic Site: Located in Great Barrington, this was the site of this activist’s childhood home. This venue offers guided, self-guided, and educational tours so that visitors can better understand the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.
8. Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio: Interested in Bauhaus style architecture and art? Come visit this 46 acre estate in Lenox to learn about the work of American Abstract artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen. This venue offers tours of the studio, house and art collections.
9. Bidwell House Museum: If learning about the early settlement of the Berkshires fascinates you, you will want to visit this museum in beautiful Monterey. This gorgeous Georgian saltbox began as a parsonage in 1760, but is now completely restored and is filled with antiques that tell the special story of how the Berkshires was developed. Open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, this museum offers daily tours.
10. Sheffield Historical Society: Established in 1972 by a local group of residents interested in preserving the story of the oldest town in Berkshire County. The Society comprises 7 structures, including a museum, a gift shop and gallery, an educational center, a 19th-century Carriage Barn, a 1820 Law Office, a 19th-century Greek Revival Smokehouse, and a Research Center. The Society offers lectures and tours to keep the spirit of this little historical town alive through the ages.