Wistariahurst Museum

ART, MUSIC, HISTORY in the heart of Holyoke

Wistariahurst is an established resource for local memory and creative expression in the Pioneer Valley.

Our vision at Wistariahurst Museum is to collect and share stories, art, and performance that keep history alive and relevant for all generations. Our work encourages members of our community to draw inspiration from the past as they lift their voices, make change, and create a better future for us all.

We aim to:

• Be an inviting and open place to visit, learn, and enjoy.
• Build community on site and off.
• Provide accessible cultural experiences.  
• Become a more engaging place, where people can be active participants in our history, our mission, and our community.

Recent and up-coming initiatives include:

Nuestras Abuelas de Holyoke: Empowerment and Legacy:

Summer 2015, Wistariahurst was awarded a Mass Humanities ‘Engaging New Audiences’ grant to produce the photography and bi-lingual text exhibition Nuestras Abuelas de Holyoke: Empowerment and Legacy curated by Waleska Santiago. The project aimed to start a conversation based not on stereotypes or generalizations, but on historical witnesses and personal experiences.

Professional Development for Local Teachers

Increasingly, we are finding ways to utilize our on-staff expertise, spaces, and collections to provide exceptional trainings for teachers, local and national. In collaboration with educational institutions in the Pioneer Valley we offer teachers direct experience with oral history, primary documents, archival research, and active engagement techniques for teaching history.

A Mobile Museum experience in Collaboration with Brick Co-Workshop:

In an exciting new partnership, Wistariahurst has teamed up with a Brick, a shared work environment for artists, fabricators, engineers, and designers that aims to promote community-minded work in Holyoke, to create an exhibit and storytelling space specially designed for the needs of this community. Launching in summer of 2016, this project will enable the Wistariahurst team to take archival and collections materials and storytelling equipment directly to community centers, neighborhood events, schools, and other locations exponentially increasing our educational reach and our ability to collect new stories.

Immigration Experience:

Our flagship school program serves local fourth grade classes by immersing them in history. Using costumes, historic photographs, items from our collection and archives, role-playing, writing, and more, students learn and reflect on what it was like for those leaving their homes behind to start a new life in the United States. In 2015, over 400 students participated.

Historical Firsts, Lavender Blues, Shubert Tea and Beethoven’s Wig

In additional to continuing our tradition of using the Belle Skinner Music Room to showcase exceptional musical performances, for 2016 we are focusing on performances which blend history and artistry in exciting ways for all ages. From a living history storyteller to a cabaret-style musical performance; from tea and Schubert to a comedic introduction to classical music for families, we are supporting those who see the connections between art, music, and history.  

Over the last half century Wistariahurst Museum has become a significant cultural and historic site proudly serving the community and collaborating with other local organizations to create compelling exhibits and inspiring programs. Wide audiences numbering approximately 14,000 include families, educators, youth and adult learners who enjoy the array of activities that the museum offers on an ongoing basis. Support us today in order to ensure that we will continue to be a vibrant space for history, art, and music.