Mass MoCA

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams combines art and culture and presents it to its patrons to inspire, impact, and entertain. 

This museum is known for its contemporary art, education programming and performance events including the bi-annual Solid Sound Festival, the annual FreshGrass Festival, and many more performances. 

Mass MoCA hosts permanent and temporary exhibits in its 250,000 square feet of galleries.

This museum has free parking, dining, cafe and brewery on the campus and is located within walking distance of North Adams' downtown shops and restaurants. 

More information can be found on the museum's website. 

Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, Mass. 

The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South St, is one of the few institutions globally to have a mission that focuses on being both a museum and research center dedicated to increasing the public's understanding of art. 

Sterling and Francine Clark founded the museum in 1950 to store their impressive art collection, opening to the public five years later. 

Today, the Clark is one of the leading international centers for research and discussion in the United States due to its diverse art collection, academic programs, art history library, and events. It operates some of its programming in collaboration with Williams College. 

The rural museum is also known for its beautiful landscape. Surrounding the institution are 140 acres of lawns, meadows, and trails open to the public to freely explore. 

A three-tiered reflecting pool designed by landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand is a focal point of the campus and reduces the Clark's potable water consumption by about 50 percent

Visitors can sit and gaze over the reflecting pool as the sun rises or sets over the trees and meadows. 

More information on the institution can be found here. 

Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, Mass.

The Norman Rockwell Museum, located at 9 Glendale Road, is one of Berkshire Counties' most popular destinations and is dedicated to studying Rockwell's work and his contribution to society while reflecting on the power American illustration has on advancing the values of kindness, respect, and social equity.

Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life. The museum houses the world's largest and most significant collection of his work, many of which were drawn from the surrounding community and its residents.

It features 998 original paintings and drawings. The archive has more than 100,000 items, including working photographs, letters, personal calendars, fan mail, and business documents. 

Rockwell's Stockbridge studio was moved to the museum site and is open to the public from May through October, and features original art materials, his library, furnishings, and personal items. 

Norman and Molly Rockwell founded the museum in 1969 at the Old Corner House on Stockbridge's Main Street; it moved in 1993 to the present location. 

Architect Robert A.M. Stern designed the gallery building that sits on the 36-acre site overlooking the Housatonic River Valley. 

More information here. 

Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, Mass. 

Berkshire Museum combines art, local history, and natural science through its educational programming, events, and exhibits. 

It was founded in 1903 by Zenas Crane with a vision of blending the best attributes of renowned institutions like the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Crane was a third-generation owner of paper and currency manufacturer Crane & Co. which provided him the means to invest his wealth to create a unique experience in Western Massachusetts.

He sought out and purchased many of the museum's first acquisitions. Well-known institutions have borrowed from some of the museum's collections. 

Today, the museum offers a variety of educational programming and events. There is an array of permanent and temporary exhibits from diverse disciplines from fine art, and historical artifacts, to natural science. 

One of the museum's permanent exhibits is the aquarium which holds hundreds of living native and exotic fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

More information here. 

Hancock Shaker Village

Visit Hancock Shaker Village, a beloved community attraction that has been bringing animals and educational programming to the area for generations. 

The museum showcases the diverse history of the Shakers that is ingrained in the 20 historic buildings on the campus. 

Visitors can interact with a variety of animals, including lambs, goats, pigs, cows, and chickens. 

Take your children to the Discovery Barn, a hands-on learning center where they can learn about life in the 19th century by spinning wool, constructing a Shaker chair, weaving on a loom, trying on Shaker-style clothing, and more. 

In the spring, the birds chirp, the grass gets greener, and signs of spring are showing. What better way to celebrate that than by visiting the baby animals at Hancock Shaker Village? 
 
The village's baby animal festival takes place from Saturday, April 13, to Sunday, May 5. Meet the farm's newest editions including lambs, kids, piglets, calves, and chicks. 
 
Festival goers can participate in daily events and activities, including talks about the farm and the Shakers, craft demonstrations, and more. More information here. 

Berkshire Art Museum
North Adams, Mass.

The Berkshire Art Museum was founded by Eric Rudd and his wife Barbara in 2014 providing changing and permanent art exhibits within 25,000 square feet within two restored historic churches. 

The museum is open from June until August, Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. 

The duo founded the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation in 2012 in an effort to preserve six decades of artwork created by Eric through permanent installations and to showcase contemporary art through rotating exhibits.

The main building is located at 159 E. Main Street and has changing exhibitions each season in addition to Rudd’s permanent collection. 

The restored Chapel for Humanity, located at 82 Summer Street, is close to the main building and acts as the museum's annex. 

The annex opened in 2001 and showcases contemporary sculptures including “more than 150 life-sized figures, 250 low-relief figures, and a 9/11 memorial.”

The museum offers guided gallery tours, special programs, lectures, and public receptions, and sponsors the annual Eagle Street Beach.

From September until October, it is open Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. 

Regular admission to the museum costs $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students, and children. Children 5 years and under are free. 

North Adams residents and MCLA college students are also free. 

More information here.