Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center
The Great Falls Discovery Center hosts community programs and events, rotating art exhibits in our Great Hall and a Coffee House hosted by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.
Between 1870 and 1915, millions of logs were driven down the Connecticut River from the North Woods to Holyoke. Let’s explore the log drives and the brazen men who made it happen.
Ever wonder what people used before refrigerators? Ice boxes! Let’s learn about ice harvesting on the Connecticut River which provided ice for food storage and winter jobs. See tools used in ice harvesting and what it took to be an ice harvester. Image courtesy of Montague Historical Society.
An easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Join others seeking fresh air and exercise. A DCR Park Interpreter highlights local history, weaving in topics from the Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather […]
Come be the first to see the Smithsonian Exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, in Turners Falls! Get the scoop on how rural America has changed since 1900. The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center board members, expert hosts of the monthly Great Falls Coffeehouse series, provide coffee and refreshments for this big day. […]
An easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Join others seeking fresh air and exercise. A DCR Park Interpreter highlights local history, weaving in topics from the Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather […]
Join us at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls to jump start your Crossroads experience with storytelling, a short local film, and live music. Hear an introduction to the Crossroads exhibit and related programming with Leo Hwang, UMASS Amherst Assistant Academic Dean. Enjoy the documentary short film, “A Sweet Tradition,” by filmmaker Steve […]
Find out what industries were created throughout Franklin County, before, during and after industrialization of the Turners Falls canal. Learn how much industrial activity there once was along the streams and rivers in some of our now-quiet towns and villages and how that activity related to the larger industries in our region. Presenters: Jim Terapane, […]
Why is there a canal in Turners Falls? Think flatboats, cutlery, and turbines! During our February School Vacation Week open hours, visit with Department of Conservation and Recreation park interpreters to explore the three reasons for the canal, including a few glimpses of life here before the canal was built. Learn how the canal has […]
Join silversmith Steve Smithers as he explores the story of the first tradesmen/artisans who came to Greenfield and the surrounding towns in the late 18th century, which eventually led to the emergence of the great metal industries of our region. Steve will also discuss and demonstrate the tools and techniques of these early makers. Then, […]
New England Public Media presents with the Nolumbeka Project, a talk with Dr. Margaret M. Bruchac (Nulhegan Abenaki), Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. Free Event. This program is continuing as planned at 4 p.m. at the Shea Theater. Native American memories and histories in the valley of the Kwinitekw (Connecticut River) […]