Recent Stories
Fort Massachusetts
On August 19, 1746, eight hundred French and Indian soldiers, led by General de Vaudreuil, surrounded Fort Massachusetts which was an English fort in what is now in present-day North Adams, Massachusetts. The French and Native American soldiers…
Sprague Electric during World War II
During World War II there were many different companies all over the globe aiding their allies in hopes that they would win. Whether it was through buying bonds, creating new technologies, or supplying the soldiers with what was needed, they were…
The 1970s Sprague Electric Strike
During a 10-week long strike in North Adams, workers stood outside the fences of the Sprague Electric Company in strike for better pay and conditions. This event changed the dynamic of Sprague Electric from fast productions to a much slower pace. The…
The Cascades
The Cascades (also known as the Cascade), a roughly 85-acre park featuring hiking trails and a 45-foot waterfall, has been a popular recreation site for locals and tourists for over a century. It’s history as a city park, however, is much more recent…
Working for a Lifetime at Sprague
In 1926, Sprague Specialties Company was run by Ensign Robert C. Sprague, his wife, Mrs. Florence Sprague, and Mary E. Avery – Molly, to her friends. Sprague Specialties – later to be called Sprague Electric – grew rapidly from a family business to a…
Sprague Electric and the Space Race
In the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, there is a small object, no bigger than a fifty-cent coin. It is made out of silicon and is in the shape of a disk. It may seem unimportant to the untrained eye this silicon disk contains the Apollo 11 Goodwill…
Featured Stories
Mount Greylock Veterans War Memorial Tower
On the streets of North Adams and Adams, you may look up to the summit of Mt. Greylock and wonder why there is a lighthouse on the top. You are not alone. Residents of the surrounding towns asked that…
Wigwam Western Summit
Native Americans were the first to travel along the Mohawk Trail, through the Northern Berkshires and between the Hudson and Connecticut rivers. Today, a scenic drive east from North Adams past the…
Arnold Print Works
Nestled between the north and south branches of the Hoosic River, the Marshall Street complex that now houses MassMoCA has played a major role in the history of North Adams. As the country entered…
Take a Tour
Eagle Street Tour
10 Locations ~ Curated by Ely JanisHillside Cemetery Tour
9 Locations ~ Curated by Ely JanisRoadside North Adams
10 Locations ~ Curated by The Historic North Adams TeamSprague Electric through Workers' Eyes
6 Locations ~ Curated by The Historic North Adams TeamMCLA Narratives
7 Locations ~ Curated by MLCA Students in ARTH 311 Art & Collective IdentityHistoric North Adams
A project by Historic North AdamsHistoric North Adams is a free website and mobile app that puts North Adams’ history at your fingertips. Explore interesting people, places, and events in North Adams’ history, and take historical walking tours of the city. With a growing list of interpretive stories, each point on the interactive GPS-enabled map includes historical information about the location, along with historic images from archival collections and historical publications. Read more About Us