Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village is one of the first outdoor museums in America. It’s a re-creation of an early 19th century New England village consisting of 40 buildings on 200 acres. Authentically dressed interpreters perform the tasks of daily village life during that time, such as spinning, weaving, printing, blacksmithing, etc. The village is open year round, except for Mondays and Christmas day. For information on their hours, rates, and activities, visit www.osv.org. The village is located at the intersection of I-90 (Mass. Pike) and I-84 just about an hour west of Boston.

I love history and have tried over the years to instill the same in the kids. We’ve taken them to Plymouth, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Boston Freedom Trail, etc., etc., and I think, or at least I hope, that it’s given them a sense of how our country came to be what it is today. I think they really enjoy these types of places and don’t even realize that I’m trying to sneak in some learning. Old Sturbridge Village is really easy to reach. It is located right near the junction of Route 84 and the Mass Pike, right over the Massachusetts border. We have passed the signs for it so many times in the past, but this time I was determined to stop. Like Plymouth and Williamsburg, Old Sturbridge Village is a living museum with interpreters dressed in period costumes acting as if they actually live in this time and place. In the case of Old Sturbridge, the time and place is an early 19th century New England village. There are over 40 buildings to visit, and at each of them you get to watch the interpreters going about their daily tasks. We saw people spinning, weaving, printing, pressing apple cider, and farming, but for some reason the kids’ favorite thing to do was watch the blacksmiths forging metal over a hot fire. They were mesmerized.