We are Williamstown’s History Center!
The Williamstown Historical Museum is the OFFICIAL custodian of Town artifacts
(by vote of town meeting, August, 1994)
The Williamstown Historical Museum is an admission-free museum and research center dedicated to explaining the history of the most northwestern township of Massachusetts. read moreFounded in 1941 as the House of Local History, we endeavor to preserve and to promote knowledge of the town’s past. Over the years we have grown into a museum with compelling, informative exhibits and a research center with a substantial archive of photos, objects and documents that relate to the evolution of our town. Our collection includes items from the 1700s to the present day, as well as published works related to the town’s history. Our board of directors, staff, devoted volunteers and loyal members help our organization thrive. To learn more about our organization please visit our museum, explore our website, or give us a call.
Mission and Supporting Statements
The mission of the Williamstown Historical Museum is to promote interest in the history of the Williamstown area by collecting, cataloging, and preserving items of historical significance, and to increase the public’s knowledge of Williamstown’s past through educational exhibits, programs, events, research, publications, and any other functions that further this purpose. The Williamstown Historical Museum is committed to collecting and sharing the stories of all of the residents of this area across the centuries.
The WHM Collection
The museum’s collection consists of items dating from pre-history in the region through the present day, and the collection is always growing. The museum encourages all residents and museum members to share their stories, make suggestions about areas of research and program presentation, and participate in the museum’s activities so a broader understanding of the history of Williamstown can be gained and shared. The museum needs your help to ensure that everyone is represented. Please contribute to the diversity of the collection by sharing your story, your thoughts, and artifacts related to the town’s history. Thank you for your investment in your town.
Land Acknowledgement
Wording from the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Community
“It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that we are learning, speaking, and gathering on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican people, who are the indigenous peoples of this land. Despite tremendous hardship in being forced from here, today their community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all.”
The Williamstown Historical Museum Provides
- Cataloging and archival preservation of items historically significant to Williamstown, MA
- Exhibitions
- Public programs on historical topics
- Programs for school classes
- Assistance to researchers
- Resources for genealogists
- Consultation to teachers, town groups, and other historical societies
Contact Us
We are located in the historic South Center School located at
32 New Ashford Road, Rt. 7 South, Williamstown, MA 01267
Next to the Store at Five Corners
Telephone: 413 458-2160
Email: [email protected]
Hours
Thursday, 10 am – 2 pm
Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
(Appointments can be scheduled at other hours if necessary. Please email or call us to schedule an appointment.)
Staff
Michael Nixon [email protected]