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​
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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.
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Off Limits Tour: Goddard House
Saturday, July 25
Tours at 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, and 2:30
One Tallawanda Drive, Worcester, MA
Our fourth Off Limits Tour of the year offers a chance to step inside the Goddard House, home to Robert H. Goddard, who is considered to be the “Father of Modern Rocketry.” 2026 is the one hundredth anniversary of Dr. Goddard’s successful rocket launch. The house dates back to 1825, when it was known as Maple Hill.
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This special tour showcases the house recently saved from destruction by the nonprofit organization, The Wonder Mission and now the first stop on the first phase of “The National Space Trail.” It currently serves as a museum, library, and resource center to be used to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, explorers, and those who dream big.
Tickets are limited and expected to sell quickly—reserve yours today.
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​Tours begin at Goddard House located at 1 Tallawanda Drive in Worcester. During this exclusive experience, you’ll discover the architectural details, hidden features, and rich history that make this building and room true Worcester landmarks. At the conclusion of each tour, guests will have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Charles Slatkin, President/Creative Director of The Wonder Mission about the building’s current status and its future.
Hear our interns present their summer research projects
Monday, August 3, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Park View Room, 230 Park Ave
Free to attend, open to the public
The Oread Institute: The Castle That Once Was
Researched and presented by Jenny Marks from Clark University
Founded in 1849 by Eli Thayer, the Oread was the country’s first all-women’s collegiate school. Today, there is only a small park to remember the institute by, but in its height, the Oread was a well-respected college, known for its rigorous 4-year curriculum and upstanding educators. This lecture explores how the Oread helped shape Worcester into the city it is today, not only through its physical presence but also through the graduates it produced. Although many women left Worcester following the end of their studies, those who remained became prominent members of society, publishing scholarly works that paved the way for future researchers in their field, organizing clubs that became a pillar of the Worcester community, and sponsoring the creation of memorials which still stand centuries later.
Black Migration to Worcester, 1860-1900: 4 Profiles
Researched and presented by Connor Dunham from Clark University
The discussion of Worcester in the late nineteenth century often focuses on the elaborate Gilded-Age architecture of the period or the many industries that Worcester played a key role in. One less-explored fact is that in the wake of the Civil War, many formerly enslaved individuals came to Worcester in search of opportunity and community.
Focusing on four individuals, this presentation will examine the factors that drew Black migrants to Worcester in particular. It will also explore the neighborhoods in which they lived, the jobs they held, and the community organizations they formed. Through the stories of William Bryant, D.W. Bell, Arries Ann Ward, and Rose Perkins, an oft-forgotten part of Worcester's past will be brought to light.
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.
