Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

Great Barrington MA / Nature-Parks-Paddle-Hike

East Mountain State Forest

Cheshire MA / Bike Rides

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail – Lanesborough, Cheshire, Adams, No. Adams, Mass

Norfolk CT / Perform.Arts-Music-Theatre-Dance

Litchfield County Choral Union & LCCU Festival Orchestra

Falls Village CT / Educational Programs-Lectures

Great Mountain Forest – Norfolk & Falls Village, Conn

Norfolk CT / Historic Societies

Norfolk Historical Society & Museum – Norfolk, Conn

Sharon CT / Educational Programs-Lectures

Sharon Audubon Center & Miles Wildlife Sanctuary – Sharon, Conn

Kent CT / Educational Programs-Lectures

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association – Kent, CT

Norfolk CT / Land Trusts & Protections

Campbell Falls State Park – Norfolk, Conn

Canaan CT / Educational Programs-Lectures

Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument – East Canaan, Conn

Monterey MA / Land Trusts & Protections

Beartown State Forest, MA – Monterey, Mass

Lee MA / Land Trusts & Protections

Goose Pond Reservation – Lee, Mass

Great Barrington MA / African American Heritage

Friends of Du Bois Homesite – Gt. Barrington, Mass

Ashley Falls MA / African American Heritage

African American Heritage Trail – Gt. Barrington, Mass

Great Barrington MA / African American Heritage

Housatonic River Walk National Recreation Trail – Gt. Barrington, MA

Sheffield MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Sheffield Historical Society & Dan Raymond House Museum – Sheffield, Mass

Great Barrington MA / African American Heritage

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center – Gt. Barrington, Mass

Lanesborough MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Mount Greylock State Reservation & Scenic Byway to Summit – Lanesborough,MA

Ashley Falls MA / Nature-Parks-Paddle-Hike

LAKES & PONDS – Free Public Boat Launches/Access

Stockbridge MA / Land Trusts & Protections

Stockbridge Land Trust – Stockbridge, Mass

Lenox MA / Gilded Age Mansions

Colonial Carriage and Driving Society – Orleton Farm – Lenox, Mass

Hancock MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Hancock Shaker Village – Hancock, Mass

Becket MA / Historic Houses & Landmarks

Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway — Route 20 in Becket & Lee, Mass

Cornwall Bridge CT / Educational Programs-Lectures

Housatonic Valley Association – Cornwall Bridge, CT & So.Lee, MA

Lenox MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Ventfort Hall Mansion & Gilded Age Museum – Lenox, Mass

Pittsfield MA / Land Trusts & Protections

Pittsfield State Forest – Pittsfield, Mass

Stockbridge MA / Formal & Estate Gardens

Naumkeag Museum and Gardens – Stockbridge, Mass

Becket MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival – Becket, Mass

Lenox MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

The Mount – Edith Wharton’s Estate – Lenox, Mass

Stockbridge MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Berkshire Botanical Garden – Stockbridge, Mass

Pittsfield MA / Educational Programs-Lectures

Arrowhead, Home of Herman Melville – Pittsfield, Mass

Experience the rich history, culture and nature in the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area through hiking, biking, historic homes, river experiences and more.

What’s Happening

The Latest News About the Housatonic Heritage Area.

Plan Your Visit

Find what you need to know when planning your visit.

Support

Your donation allows us to continue important work. Thank you for supporting our mission!

Events

Upcoming events in the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.

Applications

Find all the applications needed for our various Partnership Grants.

Programs & Initiatives

We seek to to tell the story of the Upper Housatonic Valley by interpreting our unique heritage in compelling and engaging ways.

Heritage Area Map

The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area includes nine towns in Connecticut and twenty in Massachusetts.

EVENTS

All Events >

Oct

Wed

Lenox, MA–Evening at the Beaver Ponds

Oct 18 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Location: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox Audience: All (suitable for children 3 – 18 years) Members: Adult $6.00, Child $3.00 Nonmembers: Adult $8.00, Child $4.00 Enjoy an evening searching for beavers and other wildlife attracted[...]

Oct

Thu

Stockbridge, MA–“Lost Lake” Play Performance by the Berkshire Theatre Group @ The Unicorn Stage

Oct 19 @ 7:00 pm

Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner, David Auburn (Proof), Lost Lake is an engrossing, evocative play. Part drama, part melancholy comedy, Lost Lake follows the story of Veronica and Hogan, imperfect strangers tangled up[...]

Oct

Fri

Pittsfield, MA–Jana Laiz Book Launch Party

Oct 20 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join author Jana Laiz as she launches her latest illustrated children’s book, Billy Budd in the Breadbox, a true story of the vivid imagination and love between the great American author Herman Melville and his[...]

Oct

Fri

Stockbridge, MA–“Lost Lake” Play Performance by the Berkshire Theatre Group @ The Unicorn Stage

Oct 20 @ 7:00 pm

Oct

Sat

Lenox, MA–Birding the Berks – Fall Migrant Waterfowl

Oct 21 @ 7:00 am – 11:00 am

Location: Berkshire Lakes, Various Towns Audience: Adult Members: $10.00 Nonmembers: $15.00 Spend the morning visiting several Berkshire Lakes in search of migrating waterfowl. Stop at Bartlett’s Apple Orchard for hot cider and donuts along the[...]

Oct

Sat

Cornwall Bridge, CT–“Before the Bridge”: a Cornwall Bridge walking tour

Oct 21 @ 10:00 am

Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. Cornwall Bridge National Iron Bank, Junction of Routes 4 & 7 Join us on a walking tour around Cornwall Bridge lead by Town Historian Dody Clarke. This program is free[...]

Oct

Sat

Washington Depot, CT–An Exploration in Nature @ Steep Rock Preserve

Oct 21 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join Dr. Jeffrey Ward, Chief Scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, on a 3-mile hike to wash away stress from today’s hectic life. Come bask in the beauty of autumnal forests and let their[...]

Oct

Sat

Lenox, MA–Mass Audubon: Pleasant Valley Volunteer Day @ Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Oct 21 @ 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Audience: All (suitable for children 10 – 18 years) Members & Nonmembers: Free Help us care for our beautiful native gardens, trails/boardwalks, and education spaces. Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of projects throughout[...]

October 2017 Oct 2017

Experience the Regions Rich and Varied Heritage.

Historic Estate Gardens and Town Districts

Canoe Trip on the Housatonic River

Bike Rides Along Scenic Country Roads

Nature Walks and Trail Hikes

Featured Tours & Walks

FREE WALKING TOURS

Tour historic estate gardens and town districts, enjoy nature walks and trail hikes, and experience industrial-site ruins that were once thriving industries. Also included is a canoe trip on the Housatonic River, bike rides along scenic country roads, interpretive walks at the area’s oldest cemeteries, a Native American village walk and many other kinds of walks.

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GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE EXPERTS

Expert regional historians, naturalists, and environmentalists will lead participants on an exploration to learn about our region’s rich heritage. Historical and cultural venues will open their doors to the public for free behind-the-scenes and estate garden tours; and natural resources organizations will provide access to the region’s most interesting outdoor recreational areas, including the Housatonic River.

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NEW THIS YEAR: FARM WALKS

This year’s Walks include ‘farm walks’ that offer residents and visitors an insider view of the area’s operating farms and an opportunity to meet the farmers and ask questions. Participating farms include Holiday Brook Farm in Dalton, MA, Brattle Farm in Lenox, MA, and Freund’s Farm in East Canaan, CT.

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HERITAGE WALKS

Three Autumn Weekends Are Filled With Free, Guided Tours. The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (Housatonic Heritage) invites you to the 15th annual Heritage Walks Weekends on three autumn weekends –Saturday & Sunday – September 17 & 18, September 24 & 25, and October 1 & 2. More than 50 free, guided tours are offered throughout Berkshire County (MA) and Litchfield County (CT).

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