Overview
DCR Visitors Centers provide many year-round opportunities at which you can learn about our rich natural and cultural history, a heritage that tells fascinating stories of the past.
Hours can vary based on staffing and weather emergencies. Please call ahead.
Northeastern Massachusetts
Breakheart State Reservation, 177 Forest St., Saugus
Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center
Wednesday- Sunday 8:30am-3:30pm
This picturesque visitor center was built in the style of Ben Johnson’s Lodge. Ben Johnson along with two friends built the lodge that opened in 1891 for their private hunting reserve, the origin of Breakheart Reservation. The Civilian Conservation Corps also built much of the park infrastructure. Enjoy the rustic warmth of the visitor center, open daily. Dogs are allowed within the reservation on a leash. Breakheart has a fenced dog off-leash area known as the Barking Lot. Parking is free, but limited. Parking is also available at the shopping center near the approach. Accessible. For more information, please call 781) 233-0834
Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 am—4:00 pm in summer, 9:00-3:00pm in winter.
Our recently renovated visitor center is located in a former World War II station and fire control tower. Engaging exhibits reveal the story of this rocky coast, where Cape Ann granite was quarried from the park’s central feature: Babson Farm quarry stone was utilized to build structures, including buildings, roads and the Sandy Bar breakwater off the coast of Rockport. Military personnel were stationed here for national defense during WWII and radar research in partnership with Lincoln Labs during the Cold War.
Parking fees change seasonally.
Walden Pond State Reservation, 915 Walden St., Concord
Walden Pond Visitor Center
Open daily. Summer hours (April-October 10:00am-4:00pm). Winter hours (November-March 10:00am-3:00pm)
Henry David Thoreau’s legacy has rippled across the globe and is tastefully presented in exhibits and displays. Get a look at our Gold LEED-Certified, earth-friendly, energy efficient building constructed from sustainable materials. View our 22-minute film “Walden,” produced by Ken Burns, on Thoreau’s legacy. A replica of the cabin he built and lived in from 1845-1847 is located near the visitor center for public viewing. No pets are allowed within the reservation. Daily parking fee: $8 per vehicle with MA plates, $30 per vehicle for out-of-state plates. Accessible. For more information, please call 978-396-3254
Lawrence Heritage State Park, 1 Jackson Street, Lawrence
Open Daily, 9am–4pm
Visitor Center Exhibit "City of Workers" - is built into a restored boarding house with two floors of interactive exhibits which tell the tale of Lawrence, one of the nation's first planned industrial cities. Along with stories of Lawrence's mill workers and industry, the workers' role in the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike is relived in images and sounds. Third floor houses a community room that can be booked for group events, with adjacent gallery exhibiting rotating monthly displays.
Free parking and admission. Accessible. For more information please call 978-794-1655.
Central Massachusetts
Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park
287 Oak Street, Uxbridge
River Bend Farm Visitor Center
Open daily 8:30am-4:00pm, Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Come visit us at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center to explore one of the last remaining sections of the canal that witnessed the birth of an industrial revolution. Learn more about its changing landscape over the last four centuries at our Farm to Factory exhibit. Explore all our park has to offer with biking, horseback riding, canoe access, fishing, hunting, picnicking, and more all along the Blackstone.
Parking and programming are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children. For the most up to date programming information, call (508) 278-7604 or visit our website.
Towpath is ADA accessible (subject to weather conditions). For information on accessibility and reasonable accommodations, please call (617) 645-0358 or email moneesha.dasgupta2@mass.gov.
Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester
Friday-Sunday 9am-3pm
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 1pm
Tuesday Closed
Although the Visitor Center’s silhouette resembles one of the city’s many historic factories, this LEED Silver-Certified building is entirely modern, incorporating sustainable and reclaimed building materials as well as large windows that allow for breathtaking natural light. The exhibit hall houses a variety of displays that tell the story of the construction of the Blackstone Canal and Worcester’s subsequent growth into a diverse and booming industrial city. There are several interactive touchscreens and artifacts to check out, as well as a Junior Rangers activity station for kids. The Visitor Center also provides access to a 3-mile segment of the Blackstone River Greenway and features an observation deck that overlooks the historic Blackstone Canal. Guided tours for groups with advance notice. Free Parking and admission. Accessible. For more information, please call (508) 373-7056.
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
345 Mountain Road, Princeton
John Hitchcock Visitor Center
Open daily 8am–3:15pm (Hours may vary based on winter staffing and weather conditions).
The Visitor Center features exhibits detailing the mountain’s geologic history, including the effects of the last glacial period. Exhibits also highlight Wachusett Mountain’s human history, from the Native Americans living in the area who gave the mountain its name to the European colonists who settled the area. The center also features displays explaining the ancient trees found on the mountain, the only old-growth forest east of the Connecticut River. There is also a collection of preserved birds that are found in the area. Hiking information is available in the Visitor Center, and park staff can provide advice on routes and trail conditions. Winter hikers should be equipped for snowy and icy conditions. Restrooms are available in the Visitor Center during open hours. Accessible. For more information, please call 978-464-2987.
Quabbin Reservoir, 100 Winsor Dam Road, Belchertown
Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitor Center
Sunday - Tuesday: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Thursday - Saturday: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Visitor Center & Exhibits
Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest unfiltered water supplies in the United States. Along with the Wachusett Reservoir and Ware River, it is the source of high quality water for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water supply system. The 412 billion gallon reservoir covers 39 square miles with 181 miles of shoreline. Come learn about the history of the Quabbin Valley and how the reservoir was built. Also, learn about wildlife at the Quabbin and some of the research being done there. Visitors may request viewing one of several short videos about the area as well. For more information, please call 413-323-722.
Southeastern Massachusetts
Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Ave, North Easton
Open Daily, 8am–4pm
Borderland is one of the most historically significant tracts of publicly owned land in the Commonwealth. Created in the early 1900's by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her botanist husband Oakes, Borderland offers many of the same pleasures that the Ames family enjoyed. Learn about the family through the park’s exhibits. Join a guided hike or sign up for a free tour of the historic mansion. A variety of self-guided brochures are available in the Visitor Center vestibule. The Visitor Center and First Floor Mansion Tours are accessible. For more information or directions, please call (508) 238-6566. There is a $5.00 per vehicle parking fee; $20.00 for out-of-state vehicles.
Fall River Heritage State Park, 100 Davol St, Fall River.
Open daily beginning November 10, 2024, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM.
The city of Fall River was once a mighty powerhouse of industry. People from all over the world came to work in the textile mills, contributing to the rich tapestry of the community. Enjoy films highlighting the many facets of Fall River's History. Check out temporary and permanent exhibits that celebrate our Commonwealth's heritage. The Fall River Heritage State Park Visitor Center is a great place to begin your exploration of this vibrant city. The Visitor Center is accessible. For more information call (508) 675-5750 ext. 0. Free parking is available on site at 5 Water St.
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 131 Waquoit Hwy (Rte. 28), E. Falmouth
Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, June-Aug: Daily 10am-4pm
Welcome to Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Come in and explore our exhibits along with a host of self-guided, hands-on activities including animal puppets, leaf rubbings, crafts, animal life cycles and more. Get out on the trails and experience the beauty of the estuary firsthand. The Visitor Center is accessible. For more information or directions, please call (508) 457-0495 x125. Free parking on site.
Western Massachusetts
Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls
Open year-round
November through March: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
April through October: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
The Great Falls Discovery Center is in a preserved historic paper mill building. Exhibits illustrate the natural, cultural, and industrial history of the Connecticut River Watershed and Turners Falls. Engaging wildlife habitat dioramas are accessible and child friendly. Ongoing public programs, cultural events, and a community gallery are offered. Admission is free and open year-round. Four acres of open lawn surround the center with benches, picnic tables, and colorful flower gardens. Wheelchair accessible.
Free parking available. The Center is also accessible by FRTA public transit (Routes 23 & 32). For more information call (413) 863-3221.
Holyoke Heritage State Park, 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke
Summer hours: Open Daily, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Winter hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday), 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
A 7-acre urban greenspace located on a waterpower canal. The Visitor Center depicts Holyoke’s industrial history, exhibiting the city’s rich blend of cultures, people, places and products. Admission is free. Programs, tours, and children’s activities are offered year-round and are free to the public. Play structures, seasonal spray deck, and picnic tables are available in the park. The grounds are wheelchair accessible.
Other venues located within the park are the Children’s Museum at Holyoke, where children discover how the world works through hands-on exhibits; the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, where volleyball legends are honored in the city of the sport’s origin; and The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, a restored antique carousel. These attractions have admissions.
The park is accessible by PVTA public transit. Free parking is available. For more information or directions, please call (413) 534-1723.
Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA
Open daily, 9am–4pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
The Visitor Center, located at the base of the mountain, is the primary orientation site for visitors to Mount Greylock State Reservation. The summit is located 8-miles away along the Mount Greylock Scenic Byway (auto roads to summit are open late-May through late October). The Visitor Center, set amidst scenic fields and woodland, features spectacular views across the Berkshire Hills. Dynamic exhibits and a short orientation film explore the culture and nature of the Commonwealth’s highest point. Regional visitor information available, restrooms, and drinking water. Ongoing public programs and events offered. An additional recreational opportunity here is the Bradley Farm Interpretive Trail, a moderate ability, 1.8-mile loop Healthy Heart Trail hike.
Free admission and parking available. Wheelchair accessible. Call (413) 499-4262 for more information.
Mount Holyoke Range State Park
Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street/Route 116, Amherst
Open seasonally
late-April through late-October, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
mid-November through mid-March, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Located in The Notch on the Mt. Holyoke Range. Provides access to foot trails and long-distance Robert Frost Trail and New England Trail. Notch Visitor Center offers restrooms, drinking water, visitor orientation, trail maps and hiking suggestions, seasonal natural and cultural history programming. Free parking and admission. Wheelchair accessible. Accessible by PVTA public transit (Amherst R38). For more information call (413) 253-2883.
Mount Holyoke Summit House. 30 Skinner State Park Road, Hadley
Open seasonally
mid-May through mid-October, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
A historic mid-1800s-period hotel on the summit of Mount Holyoke, highlighted by sweeping views of the Connecticut River Valley. Free admission. Guided tours of interior and interpretive programs in season. Restrooms, drinking water. Wheelchair accessible. Accessible by foot trail or automobile road. A parking fee applies in season. For more information call (413) 586-0350.