Old Sturbridge Village

A trip to Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, is a journey through time to a rural New England town of the 1830s. Visitors are invited into more than 40 original buildings, each carefully researched, restored, and brought to the museum site from towns throughout New England. These include homes, meetinghouses, a district school, country store, bank, law office, printing office, carding mill, sawmill, gristmill, pottery, blacksmith shop, shoe shop, and cooper shop.

Authentically costumed staff, called history interpreters, carry out the daily activities of an early 19th-century community. Here you may wander country roads and visit with a farmer plowing fields, listen to the blacksmith's rhythmic hammering, or smell the aroma of bread baking in a fireplace oven. With four unique seasons and more than 200 acres to explore, there is always something new to see at Old Sturbridge Village.

The period portrayed by Old Sturbridge Village, 1790-1840, is of major significance because it was a time in which the everyday lives of New Englanders were transformed by the rise of commerce and manufacturing, improvements in agriculture and transportation, the pulls of emigration and urbanization, and the tides of educational, political, aesthetic, and social change.

The Village's portrayal of the past is grounded in award-winning historical research that includes archaeology, scientific analysis of 19th-century objects and buildings, and painstaking study of letters, diaries, account books, and other documents.

Museum Purpose

Old Sturbridge Village's purpose is to provide modern Americans with a deepened understanding of their own times through a personal encounter with New England's past.

The museum is a nonprofit educational institution. Its collections, exhibits, and programs present the story of everyday life in a small New England town during the years 1790 to 1840.

Museum History

Old Sturbridge Village traces its beginnings to the remarkable collection amassed by industrialists Albert B. and J. Cheney Wells of neighboring Southbridge. The Wells family brought together a wealth of early New England artifacts, including tools, utensils, furniture, glassware, and clocks. The family later dedicated itself to the idea of displaying the collections within a working village, where visitors could better understand how the items were originally crafted and used.

Old Sturbridge Village first opened to the public on June 8, 1946. In the more than 60 years since, more than 21 million adults and children have visited the Village, and the museum has attained international recognition for its innovations in research and education.

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Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd.

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Directions/Transportation/Parking

Old Sturbridge Village outdoor history museum is located on [Route 20] in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and is easily accessible by car from [I-84] and the Massachusetts Turnpike [I-90].

Address:
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566

Phone: 800.733.1830

GPS
Find Old Sturbridge Village as a point of interest or use the physical address:
40 Stallion Hill Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566

By Bus or Train
Amtrak, Peter Pan and Greyhound are serving the city of Worcester. Red Cab Taxi is available from the train or bus station to transport you to Sturbridge, MA.

By Air
Old Sturbridge Village is easily accessible from Logan International Airport in Boston, TF Green in Rhode Island, Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, Worcester Regional Airport or Southbridge Municipal Airport. Rental cars and limousine services are available from these airports.

Parking
FREE parking is available at our museum.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston
Take [I-90 West] towards Springfield for approx. 55 miles. Portion Toll. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Worcester
Take [Route 290 West] toward Auburn for approx. 6 miles. Take Exit 7 to [I-90 West]. Stay on [I-90 West] for approx. 12 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Springfield
Take [I-90 East] towards Boston for approx. 26.5 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Hyannis, Cape Cod
Take [Route 6 West] toward Boston for approx. 13 miles. Take Exit 1 toward [Route 6A]. At the end of the ramp turn left onto [Route 6A] toward the Bourne Bridge. Stay on [Route 6A] for approx. 3 miles. At the rotary take your first exit to go over the Bourne Bridge. Continue on [Route 25 West] toward [Route 495] for approx. 28 miles. Continue on [Route 495 North] for approx. 39 miles. Take Exit 22 to [I-90 West]. Go through toll booths and travel on [I-90] for approx. 28 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

RHODE ISLAND

Providence
Take [Route 146 North] for approx. 34 miles. Follow signs to [I-90] Boston/Springfield. Take [I-90 West] towards Springfield. Go through toll booths and travel on [I-90] for approx. 16 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Manchester
Take [I-293 South/Route 3A South] for approx. 15 miles. Partial Toll. Continue on [Route 3 South] for 16 miles. Take Exit 32 to [Route 4 South]. Stay on [Route 4 South] for 1.5 miles. Take a right to merge onto [Route 495 South]. Travel on [Route 495 South] for approx. 30 miles. Take Exit 22 to [I-90 West]. Stay on [I-90 West] for approx. 28 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Portsmouth
Take [I-95 South] for approx. 14 miles. Partial Toll. Stay in the right lane to merge onto [Route 495 South]. Travel on [Route 495 South] for approx. 63 miles. Take Exit 22 to [I-90 West]. Stay on [I-90 West] for approx. 28 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

VERMONT

Montpelier
Take [I-89 South] for approx. 53 miles. Merge onto [I-91 South] toward Brattleboro. Stay on [I-91 South] for 113 miles. Take Exit 14 to [I-90 East] toward Boston. Travel on [I-90] for 33 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

MAINE

Portland
Take [I-95 South] for approx. 62 miles. Partial Toll. Stay in the right lane to merge onto [Route 495 South]. Travel on [Route 495 South] for approx. 63 miles. Take Exit 22 to [I-90 West]. Stay on [I-90 West] for approx. 28 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

CONNECTICUT

Hartford
Take [I-84 East] for approx. 40 miles. Take Exit 2 towards [Route 131] Sturbridge/Southbridge. Take the left fork and turn left onto Shattuck Road. At the end of the road turn right onto Old Sturbridge Village Road. Travel on Old Sturbridge Village Road for approx. 1.2 miles. Follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

NEW YORK

New York City
Take [I-95 North] for approx. 62 miles. Take Exit 48 on the left to [I-91 North]. Travel on [I-91 North] for approx. 37 miles. Take Exit 29 for [US-5 North/CT-15] toward [I-84]. Travel on [CT-15] for approx. 1.5 miles and merge onto [I-84 East]. Stay on [I-84 East] for approx. 38 miles. Take Exit 2 towards [Route 131] Sturbridge/Southbridge. Take the left fork and turn left onto Shattuck Road. At the end of the road turn right onto Old Sturbridge Village Road. Travel on Old Sturbridge Village Road for approx. 1.2 miles. Follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Albany
Take [I-87 South] to Exit 21A. Merge onto [New York State Thruway East] toward [I-90 East]. Stay on [New York State Thruway East] for approx. 24 miles. Continue on I-90 East for approx. 78 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

CANADA

Montreal
Take [AUT-15 Sud] for approx. 33 miles. [AUT-15 Sud] turns into [I-87 South]. Crossing Border. Travel on [I-87 South] for approx. 185 miles. Take Exit 21A and merge onto [New York State Thruway East] toward [I-90 East]. Stay on [New York State Thruway East] for approx. 24 miles. Continue on [I-90 East] for approx. 78 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

Toronto
Take [QEW] for approx. 63 miles. Take Exit 37 on the left for [HWY-405] toward Queenston. Merge onto [HWY-405] and stay on it for approx. 5.2 miles. Go over Queenston/Lewiston Bridge and continue on [I-190 South]. Crossing Border. Portion Toll. Travel on [I-190] for approx. 15 miles. Take Exit 16 and merge onto [I-290 East]. Stay on it for approx. 9.4 miles. Take Exit 1-49 for [New York State Thruway East/I-90 East] toward Albany. Travel on [New York State Thruway East] for approx. 286 miles. Continue on [I-90 East] for approx. 78 miles. Take Exit 9 to [I-84 West]. Pay Toll. After the Toll booths take Exit 3B towards Sturbridge and merge onto [Route 20 West]. Stay in the right lane and follow the signs to Old Sturbridge Village.

For more information

Website : http://www.osv.org

Email : osvinfo@osv.org

Phone : 800-SEE-1830

Facebook : oldsturbridgevillage