We've Moved! ​
Preservation Worcester has a new home in the historic Salisbury House. We are energized by this ambitious move and how it will continue to advance our mission!
The mission of Preservation Worcester is to maintain for future generations the sites and structures which are significant to the culture, history, and architecture of the city and to encourage excellence in future design with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.​
Announcing the Deborah Packard Salisbury House Endowment​
​
We've created an endowment fund to honor former Executive Director Deborah Packard's 21 years of service and her upcoming retirement. To honor Deb’s extraordinary contributions and ensure her legacy endures, we are establishing the Deborah Packard Salisbury House Endowment Fund for the ongoing restoration and preservation of our headquarters, Salisbury House. This has been a signature project for Preservation Worcester, and one that has been made possible through Deb’s passion and energy. Join us in celebrating Deb’s incredible legacy and supporting the future of historic preservation in Worcester.
​
​​​
​
Docent Talk
Music and Manufacturing
Free to attend
Reservations not required
Thursday, August 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Park View Room
Presented by PW Docent Mindy Marchand
The Hammond Organ Reed Factory at 9 May Street was once the largest producer of organ reeds in the world and played a key role in Worcester’s industrial success. At the dawn of the 20th century, its founder, Andrew Hammond, was considered one of the city’s most prominent manufacturers. His story illuminates both the creativity and the cutthroat competition of manufacturing. But his story also extends beyond business.
This lecture explores how Hammond’s rise reveals the deep connections between Worcester’s manufacturing growth and its rich musical culture. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, music permeated everyday life across lines of race, class, and gender. Through the instruments, the people who played them, and the spaces—from parlors to public halls—where music was made, Hammond’s story opens a window onto a vibrant cultural world whose echoes remain in Worcester today.
Off Limits Tour: Bancroft Tower
Saturday, August 22
Tours offered at 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, and 2:30
Bancroft Tower, Bancroft Tower Road, Worcester
Join us for an unforgettable opportunity to step inside Bancroft Tower, the 56-foot-tall granite and natural stone landmark that resembles a miniature medieval castle. Closed to the public for decades, the tower offers spectacular panoramic views and a fascinating glimpse into Worcester's architectural heritage. During this exclusive experience, you'll explore the tower's architecture, hidden features, and remarkable history while enjoying access to an interior that has been largely closed to the public since the 1980s.
Constructed in 1900 by Stephen Salisbury III as a memorial to historian and diplomat George Bancroft, the tower remains one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.
