Great Barrington Historical Society and Museum

05/28/2026

Get ready for a treasure hunter's dream! 🏺📚 Join us this weekend for our Antiques, Estate Sale, Flea Market, and Book Sale fundraiser.

Explore vintage finds, old tools, and plenty of unique treasures: plus, enjoy FREE tours of our Historic Museum and Farmstead while you're here!

📍 817 South Main St (Route 7), Great Barrington
Saturday & Sunday | 9 AM - 4 PM

All proceeds benefit the Great Barrington Historical Society. We can't wait to see you there!

05/28/2026

A piece of Housatonic history right in our archives. This Monument Mills shipping chest is more than just a box: it’s a window into the industrial past that put our town on the map.

We're proud to preserve these artifacts that tell the story of the hands that built Great Barrington. Stop by and see what else we’ve found!

05/27/2026

Antiques and Estate Sale, Flea Market, & Book Sale
Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st

Important Fund-raiser for the Great Barrington MA Historical Society & Museum

817 South Main Street (Route 7) Great Barrington, across from the VFW. Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31. From 9 am to 4 pm.

The Historical Society’s town museum will be open for free tours.

You’ll enjoy searching the spacious lawns and barns of the Great Barrington MA Historical Society at our 1771 colonial farmstead. Here you will find good vintage and antique items, collectibles, jewelry, man-cave & she-shed stuff, old postcards, art, glass, china, milk bottles, vintage toys, ephemera, furniture, country, so much more, including lunch.

Our barns will be open rain or shine, but it is the outdoor vendors choice to cancel if it rains.

• Special estate sale - VINTAGE TOOLS and old farm implements of all kinds and old gadgets - in a separate barn – everything must go! Low prices! Proceeds go to the Historical Society.

• Antiques Barn: The old red barn is filled with all kinds of old stuff and low prices. No reasonable offer refused. It will be worth your time. We are here to sell.

• Book Barn Sale: Filled with vintage and nearly new books neatly organized in every category with big selections of Art, Architecture, Women’s Studies, Women’s Bios, Sports, Baseball, Music, Theater, TV & Film, History, Civil War, Military History, Biography, Political, Outdoors, Spiritual, Nature, Collectibles, Travel, Transportation, Poetry, Business, Humor, Health, Fiction, Animals, Birds, Children’s section, much more, most priced at only $1

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, the Great Barrington Historical Society honors the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. As we preserve the stories and history of our town, we are forever grateful for the legacies of courage they left behind. Wishing everyone a peaceful day of remembrance.

05/24/2026

What an incredible turnout for today’s Liberty Tree & Liberty Pole Dedication Ceremony! 🇺🇸

We are truly grateful to everyone who participated, attended, and helped make this event so meaningful. From the powerful performance by the Berkshire Fife & Drum Corps to the presentation of the Colonial Colors and the opening of the “Freedom Isn’t Free” exhibit, today was a beautiful reminder of the sacrifices made for our nation and the strength of our community.

Thank you for coming together with us to honor our heroes.
❤️🤍💙 Photo credit: Liz Krol

05/23/2026

Happening right now!
“We witnessed the beginning of our country right here 250 years ago.”
- Robert M. Krol
Executive Director

05/22/2026

🇺🇸 Join us TOMORROW, May 23rd at 12:30 PM for a special Liberty Tree & Liberty Pole Dedication Ceremony at the museum! Admission is FREE! 🇺🇸
Enjoy a live performance by the Berkshire Fife & Drum Corps, the presentation of the Colonial Colors, and the grand opening of our powerful new exhibit, “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Bring your lawn chairs and honor the brave men and women who sacrificed for our nation.
📍817 S Main St, Great Barrington, MA 01230

05/22/2026

History is hiding right under our feet!

Local enthusiast Max Cane recently uncovered these fascinating artifacts while metal detecting right here at the Wheeler Farmstead. From weathered coins to forgotten household items, every piece offers a unique glimpse into the daily lives of Great Barrington’s past residents.

We love seeing our community help us uncover and preserve these stories. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever found in your own backyard?

05/18/2026

Ever wonder what it was like to catch a show back in 1906? 🎭

These original seats from the Mahaiwe Theatre have witnessed over a century of local history, from silent films to standing ovations. They aren't just furniture: they’re a direct connection to Great Barrington’s cultural soul.

We’re proud to preserve these pieces of the past in our collection. Come by and see them for yourself!

05/16/2026

Great history within view of the Great Barrington roundabout. Click below for the whole story.

According to author, poet, essayist, and suffragist Elizabeth Porter Gould (who referenced Great Barrington town historian Charles Taylor), Mount Peter was also the site of a Revolutionary War-era flag-raising controversy.

05/14/2026

Did you know Great Barrington changed the world in 1886? 💡

It was right here that William Stanley successfully demonstrated the first practical alternating-current (AC) transformer. This milestone didn't just light up our town: it paved the way for the modern electrical grid we use today.

We love keeping this electrifying piece of local history alive! Stop by the museum to see more from our archives and celebrate the spark of innovation that started in our own backyard.