Wistariahurst Museum

238 Cabot Street
Holyoke, MA
(413) 322-5660

This is a Beaux Arts staircase in the
Great Hall of Wistariahurst.
Photo courtesy of Richard Bordeau

This historic house museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was the home of two generations of Skinners, prominent Holyoke silk manufacturers. Built in 1874 and remodeled extensively until 1928, the building reflects the great prosperity and cultural life of the early twentieth century. Wistariahurst is decorated with carved mahogany paneling and columns, leather and silk wall coverings, and parquet floors. Permanent collections include antique furniture, textiles, and paintings.

Wistariahurst Museum • Holyoke, MA

Wistariahurst offers tours to the public, a visual arts gallery featuring changing exhibits, performing arts in the Music Room, and educational and seasonal programs. A self-guiding tour of the gardens and grounds is available featuring fossils of dinosaur  footprints and labeled botanical specimens. Open Saturday, Sundays and Monday, 12:00 to 4 p.m. year-round. Admission donation is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and under 12 is free. Visit the website for more information at www.wistariahurst.org.

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Children’s Museum at Holyoke

444 Dwight Street
Holyoke, MA
(413) 536-7048

Playing at the replica of the Connecticut River
in the Children's Museum at Holyoke.
Photo courtesy of Charlie Lotspeich

The only Children’s Museum of its size in all of Western Massachusetts, it serves as one of the area’s main family attractions. It is situated alongside a Merry-Go-Round, in a state park in the heart of downtown Holyoke. The Museum’s hands-on, play-is-learning inspired exhibits and programs continue to appeal to families, and children’s groups from near and far.

Exhibits include: a full-size, rideable, honkable, zipped up Forklift; the Puppet Playhouse a mini-house complete with hand puppets and entertainment stage, and Exploration Place where children explore worlds familiar and unfamiliar through interactive tools, completely surrounded by animals and plants in their Rain Forest, Arctic, Desert, Savannah or Estuarine habitats.

Ongoing are the familiar favorites including the two-story curvy climber that graces the entrance, the Cityscape area where children shop for dinner in La Bodega and cook it up in the Do Da Diner. Would you like to be a weatherperson? Try your hand in the WGBYTV Studio. Holyoke’s fame as the paper capital of the world comes alive in the Paperworks exhibit where children and their caregivers can learn the art and science of making paper, and take home their own creation!

How about a birthday party on the back of a large dalmatian dog, or surrounded by chimps, elephants, a beluga whale and an armadillo?  Preschool and school group programs offered year round range from water wheels and boat building to animal adaptations, “small Frydays” and much more. How about the convenience of a Summer or Vacation camp for children 3 through 10 right there in the Museum where the Learning Laboratory is the home base for all projects and possibilities.

For more information visit new website:
www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org - complete with information on birthday parties, education and specialty programs, exhibits, museum rental, directions, and links to other local family friendly attractions. Museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $6; Seniors 61 and older are $3; children under 1 are free. For more information call: (413) 536-KIDS.

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Volleyball Hall of Fame

444 Dwight Street
Holyoke, MA
(413) 536-0926

Volleyball is the second most played sport in the world today.  The Volleyball Hall of Fame is located just a few blocks away from the site of the original YMCA where the game was invented by William G. Morgan in 1895.

Sports enthusiasts and volleyball fans from around the globe and from every state in the union have come to the Hall to experience the excitement and history of the game.

Current exhibits include: an interactive video presentation, the model half court and life-sized player silhouettes, the large scale graphics, and the displays and memorials to the sport’s great men and women, teams and organizations.  A merchandise area provides unique Hall of Fame gifts, souvenirs, and activewear.

The Hall of Fame also maintains a schedule of exciting events.  Foremost is the Induction Celebration held every year in mid-October.

Open Tuesday from noon to 4:30 p.m. Call or email to schedule group tours. Anyone interested in visiting the Hall, attending its events, or seeking additional information can access the website at www.volleyhall.org or send e-mail to info@volleyhall.org.