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

Lanesborough, MA–Weds & Sat Farmers Market @ Berkshire Mall parking lot

Oct 24 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Oct

Wed

Gt. Barrington, MA–Met Opera Live in HD: Saint-Saëns’s Samson et Dalila @ The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Oct 24 @ 1:00 pm

Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic Samson et Dalila stars Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in the title roles. The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center — 14 Castle Street — Great Barrington, MA 01230 — Box Office: 413-528-0100

Oct

Fri

Washington, CT–11th Annual Cemetery Tour @ Gunn Historical Museum

Oct 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Take a candlelit tour through the Washington Green Cemetery. Meet some of the enterprising residents from Washington’s past – shopkeepers, merchants and farmers! Tour starts at Gunn Historical Museum, 5 Wykeham Road, Washington, CT. Free[...]

Oct

Fri

Washington, CT–11th Annual Washington Green Cemetery Tour: “Tales from the Depot’s Shopkeepers” @ Gunn Historical Museum

Oct 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Take a candlelit tour along a path of 1,000 luminaries through the cemetery and meet some of Washington’s unforgettable residents from the past! The theme of this year’s tour is “Tales from the Depot’s Shopkeepers”[...]

Oct

Sat

Lanesborough, MA–Weds & Sat Farmers Market @ Berkshire Mall parking lot

Oct 27 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Oct

Sat

Washington, CT–13th Annual Native American-Archaeology Round Table Conference @ Shepaug Valley High School

Oct 27 @ 8:00 am – 5:15 pm

The Benefits of Multiple Perspectives for Interpreting Our Local Histories and Cultural Heritage: Decolonizing New England Archaeology and Museum “Colonialism” has been defined as when one nation seizes control of another nation’s natural resources &[...]

Oct

Sat

Norfolk, CT–Tour-de-Forest Bicycle Ride @ Norfolk Curling Club

Oct 27 @ 8:30 am

In the picturesque village of Norfolk the first ever Tour-de-Forest will be held, a bike ride through Great Mountain Forest, on Saturday, October 27th. Rather than a race this unique event is a bike tour[...]

Oct

Sat

Great Barrington, MA–Saturday Farmers Market @ 18 Church St.

Oct 27 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

October 2018 Oct 2018

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

2018 – 17th ANNUAL “HOUSATONIC HERITAGE WALKS”

Sept. 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30–Autumn Weekends Are Filled With Free, Guided Intrepretive Tours:

The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (Housatonic Heritage) invites you to the annual Heritage Walks Weekends. 60+ free, guided tours are offered throughout Berkshire County (MA) and Litchfield County (CT).

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 historic estate garden tours and town districts; natural resources organizations will provide access to the region’s most interesting outdoor recreational areas. 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.

Find out more