History You Can Touch

Focus on All Things New England! [New England Focus Logo]( History You Can Touch These immersive museums keep the flames of history burning. [Logo]( Sponsored by: [The Heart of MA]( [Forge fires burning at Old Sturbridge Village.] Feel the heat as blacksmiths keep the forge fires burning at Old Sturbridge Village. Carol M. Highsmith Archive/Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Whether it’s the warmth of a blacksmith’s forge, the radiance of iconographers’ divine art, the lessons of war, or the spark of ideas, museums in the heart of Massachusetts ensure the past is more than just a distant flicker. You won’t merely see objects when you visit—you’ll feel something, even when you can’t touch. But in many cases you can … Step into Another Century Few living-history museums in the country rival Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, where it’s always the 1830s. Maybe you’ve explored the New England village’s 40 antique buildings and working farmstead before, observing craftspeople and chatting with authentically attired historians. If so, you’ll be surprised by all that’s new at this 200-acre attraction. From a reconstructed 19th-century piggery (for adorable pigs!) that might be the last of its kind, to 3D tours you can enjoy from your couch, OSV’s innovations abound. Keep an eye on the events calendar for opportunities to try forging a door latch, plowing with oxen, or building a wooden bucket in coopering class. [Time-traveling trolley at the Samuel Slater Experience] It’s 1910 again when you board the time-traveling trolley at the Samuel Slater Experience. Samuel Slater Experience If you haven’t heard of the Samuel Slater Experience in Webster or even of the man it’s named for, you’re in for quite the introduction to the traitor-hero at the region’s newest historic attraction. Opened in 2022, this museum has artifacts, sure. But as you journey across the Atlantic with Slater, who smuggled secrets that launched America’s Industrial Revolution, it’s the multisensory effects that will wow you. Get ready to talk to holograms, hear the sounds of a recreated textile mill, design your own fabrics, and board a trolley for a virtual ride down Main Street in 1910, when Webster was a boom town thanks to the Slater-built mills’ wild success. [Escape the chill!]( Discover the vibrant Heart of Massachusetts—just an hour from Boston, Providence, Hartford, or Manchester. Our guide unlocks endless adventures in this colorful season. Stay, play, and embrace cherished traditions! [Read Now]( SPONSORED [A bejeweled mid-eighteenth-century Russian icon] A bejeweled mid-eighteenth-century Russian icon depicting The Miracle of Saint George and the Dragon is one of the treasures on view at the Icon Museum and Study Center. The Icon Museum and Study Center Admire What Faith Inspires Icons, painted on wood with egg tempera since the 7th century, are more than religious paintings. They are portals to the sacred. The largest collection of these works outside Russia is in Clinton, Massachusetts. Visit the Icon Museum and Study Center, and you don’t have to subscribe to Orthodox Christian beliefs to be moved by the prayerful passion behind these paintings. Most were amassed during his lifetime by founder Gordon B. Lankton, and the recently renamed museum (formerly the Museum of Russian Icons) is newly committed to expanding its holdings to include icons from other Orthodox cultures. You can’t touch, but scavenger-hunting kids can get wicked close to brushstrokes by using provided magnifying glasses. And for those with deep interest, public programs illuminate new understandings and keep this artistic tradition alive. [A bejeweled mid-eighteenth-century Russian icon] The American Heritage Museum fosters appreciation for the technological advances war efforts demand. American Heritage Museum Honor Those Who Have Served The ground rumbles beneath your feet; artillery fire rings in your ears. You’re in a World War I trench, and the American Heritage Museum in Hudson is about to awaken your appreciation for those who have fought for Americans’ freedoms and America’s interests, from the Revolution through the ongoing War on Terror. To say exhibits and living-history events are immersive is inadequate, especially if you add on a ride or driving experience in a World War II–era tank. This 66,000-square-foot facility was built to showcase Jacques M. Littlefield’s incredible collection of armored vehicles, but those who contributed to its opening in 2019 conceived of a place where turbulent chapters in American history are brought to life. Most memorable of all may be chatting with veterans who continue to serve, now as museum volunteers, ensuring their sacrifices are not diminished and their stories are never forgotten. Veterans also play a vital role in engaging visitors at the small Fort Devens Museum in Devens. The history of New England’s one-time largest Army base stretches back to 1917, and here you’ll learn about the many ways this city-sized post was utilized. You’ll also encounter the personal effects and stories of some of the million-plus servicepeople who trained, worked, or passed through and the 5,000 German POWs held here during World War II. [Ad-300x250]( SPONSORED [New England]( [TRAVEL]( [FOOD]( [LIVING]( [WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE TV]( [YANKEE MAGAZINE]( [SHOP]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( You received this email because you signed for updates from [NewEngland.com](. If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletters in the future, please [click here to manage your preferences or unsubscribe](. *Please do not reply to this e-mail* © 2024 Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444 [Contact Us]( [View web version](