Located on the southwest corner of the Williams College Campus, The Clark is a combined public art museum and art research and higher education center. It is one of the few institutions in the world to have this dual mission and as such it is highly respected nationally and internationally. The building itself was constructed in 1955 and named after its benefactors Sterling and Francine Clark, who donated their extensive collection to the college a few years earlier. It has been significantly expanded since then. The museum's primary focus is on American and European art, consisting of paintings, drawings, sculptures and decorative art. It holds an impressive collection of impressionist paintings by Monet, Degas, Renoir and others. The museum also features a well respected art history library which holds 230,000 volumes.
The Williamstown Historical Museum is preserves the history of Williamstown through exhibits, lectures, and other programs. It was founded in 1941 and its collection includes photographs, documents, and artifacts from the 1700s to today. The Society also publishes works chronicling various topics about the city's past. Many of the materials in the Society's collection are no digitized and can be accessed through the website. There is also the Children's Discovery Room, where children can play with antique toys, dress up in period clothing, read children's books from the 1800s, and other activities. The museum is located in the back of the Williamstown Public Library.
Established in 1926, the Williams College Museum of Art holds 14,000 works of art ranging from ancient to contemporary times. Specifically, it features ancient Egyptian art, modern Chinese art, African art, Indian art, prints and photographs. Its strength is modern and contemporary art. It also houses the largest collection of works by brothers Charles and Maurice Prendergast. The college is regarded as one of the finest college art institutions in the country.
The Blackinton Historic District of North Adams, Massachusetts is a collection of buildings constructed throughout the early 1800s around the Blackinton Mill. The Blackinton District has been well preserved, and now serves as an iconic representation of 19th-century mill communities in the region. Stanford Blackinton’s mill was a major influence on the city of North Adams, and Blackinton himself was incredibly influential on the development and growth of the town.
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is the country's largest institution dedicated to contemporary visual arts. It opened in 1999 in a large complex of former factory buildings that were once owned by the Arnold Print Works (founded in 1860) and the Sprague Electric Company (operated from 1942-1985). The museum features 200,000 square feet of art exhibition space and the same amount for businesses to help offset operating costs and to stimulate economic growth in the region. There is also an indoor and outdoor theatre, outdoor cinema, workshop and art fabrication facilities, and a large rehearsal and production space. Thus far, the museum has facilitated the creation of over 80 new works of art and 50 new performances. At 160,000 visitors per year, the museum is one of the most visited contemporary art museum in the country. The museum buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The North Adams Museum of History and Science is located in building 5A in Western Gateway Heritage State Park. It preserves the history of the town and surrounding area through its 25 exhibits which feature items ranging from Native American artifacts to scientific objects. The are building in the park used to belong to an 1800s freight yard.
These nine individual clapboard row houses feature the Colonial Revival style of architecture that collectively represent a snapshot of the work of Edwin T. Barlow, an architect and builder who made his home in North Adams. Constructed over a stretch of years between 1898, when the first four rowhouses were built, and 1901, when the last five were constructed, The Boardman is a single building that occupies the length of the block, with nine rowhomes included within.
Susan B. Anthony, one of the most important figures of the 19th century, was born in this house in 1820. Born into a Quaker family, Anthony was a staunch abolitionist, a supporter of temperance, and an advocate for women's rights. Over time, she became best known as one of the most significant leaders in the movement to pass laws that would recognize and guarantee women's right to vote. The house now serves as a small museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built by Anthony's father in 1817. The museum features period items, literature, and memorabilia related to Susan's early life and legacy as a suffragist. Her Quaker upbringing is central to her life and work and is a central theme in the museum. Perhaps the most striking part of the museum is a visit to the room in which Susan was born.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
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This twelve-mile drive takes visitors to northwestern Massachusetts to several art and history museums as well as historic landmarks such as the Blackinton Mill and Historic District. The tour concludes at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum.
