Bringing Heritage to Life

The preservation of the folk and cultural traditions of the Blackstone River Valley are important to retaining a true sense of who we are and celebrating the ethnic makeup of the region. The Heritage Corridor Commission supports activities that perpetuate an understanding of valley heritage – traditional music, dance, language, crafts and trades that connect us to our past.

The further development of the creative community in the Corridor also contributes to a vibrant economy and the chance to bring new life to older buildings and community centers. Bringing heritage to life through the arts is one of the ways we celebrate the Valley for its authentic resources, cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Cultural Sites Listings
Here are just some of the cultural sites in the Blackstone River Valley. For information on sites in Providence, please visit the city's art, cultural and tourism site. For information on places to enjoy in the Worcester area of the Valley, visit Great Museum Adventures in Central Massachusetts.

Higgins Armory Museum
100 Barber Avenue
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 853-2444
www.higgins.org

The Higgins Armory offers a step back in time to medieval and renaissance Europe, feudal Japan and Mediterranean cradles of civilization. Here you can experience heroic legacies of another world and time.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 - 4.Sunday, 12 - 4.

EcoTarium
222 Harrington Way
Worcester MA, 01604
(508) 929-2700
www.ecotarium.org

The EcoTarium, a center for environmental exploration, works to introduce people to new ways of seeing and understanding local, global and regional environments. Enjoy exhibits, a planetarium, the Explorer Express train, and 60 acres of trails and wildlife displays. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.

Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 799-4406
www.worcesterart.org

The Worcester Art Museum is the second largest art museum in New England. It collection includes 35,000 items including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photography and drawings, ranging from Egyptian antiquities to contemporary wroks.
Wed – Sun 11-5, Thur. 11-8, Sat 10-5. Admission charged.

Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 752-5608
www.mechanicshall.com

Mechanics Hall, built in 1857 by the Worcester County Mechanics Association, is one of the nation’s finest concert halls. Over the years speakers such as Charles Dickens and Teddy Roosevelt have spoken here and artist such as Caruso and Ella Fitzgerald have performed on the stage. Mechanics hall is remarkable both as an architectural achievement and as a performance center. Call for events.