Learning About the History of Worcester
We had friends of ours tell us about the free admission and free guided tour being offered at the Worcester Historical Museum and never having been before my boys and I decided this was the perfect time to visit.
It was so nice to get out and see a new museum. We have been homeschooling for so many years that we were starting to feel like we had run out of places to explore.
The Worcester Historical Museum is a smallish museum with only 4 or 5 rooms but it is chuck full of information about the history of Worcester--- it's people, buildings, streets, businesses, and culture are really brought to life through the displays and even some hands on exhibits.
We started our time at the museum in the Water Street Exhibit room where the guided tour was being offered. Our tour guide talked a bit about life behind the scenes for a museum curator too and we learned a lot about how the exhibit was put together. Water street was rich with Jewish culture and history and much of it was destroyed when the highway was built. Churches were torn down and many businesses closed shop when they lost all the traffic that used to pass them on the street.
We moved through the rest of the museum and my kids had a lot off fun learning about diner lingo, playing with old time card punch clocks, and seeing what life was life in early factories. We learned that Worcester played quite a roll in developing shredded wheat cereal, boxed pizza mixes, and even the labels used today on everyday bottles we use in the shower and around the sink.
There was a whole room dedicated to Worcester's many factories and the products they made.
It was so nice to get out and see a new museum. We have been homeschooling for so many years that we were starting to feel like we had run out of places to explore.
The Worcester Historical Museum is a smallish museum with only 4 or 5 rooms but it is chuck full of information about the history of Worcester--- it's people, buildings, streets, businesses, and culture are really brought to life through the displays and even some hands on exhibits.
We started our time at the museum in the Water Street Exhibit room where the guided tour was being offered. Our tour guide talked a bit about life behind the scenes for a museum curator too and we learned a lot about how the exhibit was put together. Water street was rich with Jewish culture and history and much of it was destroyed when the highway was built. Churches were torn down and many businesses closed shop when they lost all the traffic that used to pass them on the street.
We moved through the rest of the museum and my kids had a lot off fun learning about diner lingo, playing with old time card punch clocks, and seeing what life was life in early factories. We learned that Worcester played quite a roll in developing shredded wheat cereal, boxed pizza mixes, and even the labels used today on everyday bottles we use in the shower and around the sink.
There was a whole room dedicated to Worcester's many factories and the products they made.
We could have easily spent hours reading every single sign and I'm still not sure we would have seen it all!
It was a fun morning of learning!
I just love museums. I wish we had more in our area. We have done them all over and over again. That one looks like a little gem.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
I am starting to feel that way too; we have visited so many of the same ones over and over again. We are slowly travelling a but further and trying out other small museums like this one that we ignored thinking they wouldn't interest us. They aren't the flashiest museums but at least we have a few new places to explore.
DeleteLoved homeschooling my kids too. The field-trips were some of the best times with them growing up.
ReplyDeleteHappy Adventures,
Kippi #kippiathome
I just love going on field trips with my boys. It is one of the best parts.
DeleteSo neat to learn about that! I heard Worcester has a great Jewish history!
ReplyDeleteIt really does; the whole water street exhibit is all about Jewish history.
DeleteThis looks like lots of fun and quite a learning experience. We don't homeschool, but sometimes I also have that feeling that we have visited most of the cultural/educational places here in town. Thanks for linking up with Hello Monday! Tanya - The Other Side of the Road
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSo interesting! The Jewish exhibit would be of interest to me especially!
ReplyDeleteIt was really neat to read about the community they created and the business they opened.
Delete