Points of interest Fitchburg, Massachusetts

1 points of interest

1.1 fitchburg art museum
1.2 rollstone boulder
1.3 crocker field
1.4 top fun aviation museum
1.5 fitchburg historical society
1.6 coggshall park

points of interest
fitchburg art museum

north central massachusetts treasured cultural institution world-class family-friendly museum permanent collection spanning 5,000 years. museum founded in 1925 through bequest of artist, collector , fitchburg native eleanor norcross (1854–1923). extraordinary talents , educational vision highlights important pioneer in american social history. museum s 4 building complex features on 20,000 square feet of gallery , educational workshop space , includes historic cross barn built in 1883, , impressive simond s building completed in 1989. visitors can experience masterpieces in 12 beautifully designed galleries feature american, european, african, egyptian, greek, roman, asian, , pre-columbian art.

rollstone boulder

the rollstone boulder, on summit of rollstone hill in 1909.

fitchburg noted rollstone boulder , 110-ton specimen of porphyritic granite, in small triangular park adjacent city green. boulder feature of summit of rollstone hill; exploded , reassembled on green in 1929 , 1930. plaque attached boulder today reads, in part:

this boulder, carried last glacier mt. monadnock, new hampshire summit of hill name commemorates it, centuries land mark indian , settler. threatened destruction quarrying operations, saved popular subscription...

crocker field

listed on national register of historic places, athletic facility gift of alva crocker, in 1918, city of fitchburg’s school children. alvah crocker hired famous olmsted brothers landscaping , design firm of brookline, ma design “field of dreams.” babe ruth once visited crocker field , asked clarence amiott, fitchburg high school athletic director, “what professional team plays here?” mr. amiott answered “the fitchburg high school teams.”

top fun aviation museum

this first—and only—toy museum in world that’s devoted aviation-related toys. included in museum’s collection of on 2000 toys tin toys japan, hungary, germany, , united states.

fitchburg historical society

the society houses more 200,000 items related history of fitchburg. included in archives original sentinel newspapers 1838 1976, city directories, photographs, scrapbooks, manuscripts, family genealogies, postcards, files on industries in city, , books , pamphlets on fitchburg’s history 1700s present. in addition there extensive civil war collection , collection on railroad. research library open public.

the society has remarkable collection of artifacts tell story of fitchburg—early iron hearth cooking tools, first printing press of fitchburg sentinel, machines illustrating strong industrial heritage of city, stellar collection of paintings, , clothing representing many decades in fitchburg. comprehensive strategic plan completed in 2001 pointed out need find building better suited our needs in order continue collecting , preserving history of fitchburg , conducting programs students , general public. historical society in final stages of renovation , upgrading our building located @ 781 main street. result of renovations h. m. francis phoenix building society has moved new location of 781 main street, fitchburg, ma.

coggshall park

coggshall park victorian park miles of wooded trails branching out around mirror lake, encircled walking path. stone steps built hillside face gazebo on water, making popular spot weddings , photos. classic stone house on property overlooks mirror lake. tables , benches scattered around park draw picnickers seeking place relax. children there s playground sits adjacent pond , frisbee golf course.

coggshall park gift city mr. henry coggshall, executive of fitchburg gas company, , wife in 1894. initial donation included 86 acres (35 ha), couple subsequently purchased , donated additional parcels create 212-acre park exists today. coggshall park abuts large parcel of conservation land , bird sanctuary, providing total of approximately 300 acres (120 ha) visitors enjoy.

the friends of coggshall park founded in 1992 when approximately $1 million in state , federal funds used renovate park. since group s founding, friends have contributed upkeep , beautification of coggshall park. annual spring clean-up projects, friends contribute both volunteer labor , supplies (including more 60 yards of mulch each year), ensure park s landscaping remains well-kept. other investments made friends have been more significant, such purchase of new fountain mirror lake , specialized off-road firefighting vehicle use in coggshall or elsewhere around city needed.