Our Education Programs
Preservation Worcester offers a wide variety of educational programming for learners of all ages.
privately scheduled programs begin at $200
The Heart of the City
an illustrated talk by Marilyn Polito
Worcester native or newcomer?
Discover interesting things your probably never knew about Worcester Common, City Hall, and the history and architecture of downtown. Hear about the Old Burying Ground, cattle shows, and Worcester’s smallest monument, a bronze star in the sidewalk in front of City Hall.
By The Canal
an illustrated talk by JoAnn Mills
Opened in 1828 and in operation for only twenty years, the now-buried Blackstone Canal had a remarkable influence on Worcester’s future. Learn about this transportation waterway – the catalyst which, over the course of the 19th century, transformed what was then a small, land-locked, county seat into a flourishing industrial city.
Download self-guided walking tour map
The Castle on the Hill
an illustrated talk by Jan Parent
Picturesque Oread Castle once stood overlooking Main Street – where Castle Park is today. Learn about this long-vanished building, about one of the country’s earliest institutions of higher learning for women, and about its founder and headmaster, Eli Thayer, previously headmaster of Worcester Academy.
an illustrated talk by Jan Parent
God's Acre
What do a pious Millerit, a hermit, and the owner of Denholms Department Store have in common? Come learn about the Deed Rock, the Worcester hilltop that was deeded to God, and the hermit who called this hilltop home. Hear about the sumptuous summer home built by the owner of Denholms, which was later the home of the president of Worcester’s Crompton & Knowles loomworks. Trace the history of this summer home to motor club to hotel, ending in a fiery demise.
The Knollwood Estate
One of Worcester’s grandest houses, Knollwood was built as the 20 room private residence of Worcester industrialist Lyman Gordon, a founder of the Wyman Gordon Company, Designed by an outstanding Boston architectural firm, its imposing design was inspired by French manor houses of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Impact of Matthew J. Whittall on South Worcester
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The Brussels Street site of the former Whittall Carpet Company has a long history of carpet manufacturing. This talk includes a short history of carpet making in South Worcester and a brief biography of Matthew J. Whittall, along with the history of the rise and fall of Whittall’s company.
Andrew Haswell Green
and Green Hill Park
Andrew Green of Worcester's Green Hill Park and the driving force behind New York's Central Park and the New York Public Library. Green, his social contributions and unfortunate murder. An interactive and illustrated talk with readings from Green's personal diary, letters, speeches, and archived news articles.
an illustrated talk by Stuart Sadick
an illustrated talk by Breanna Barney
an illustrated talk by Denise O'Connell
an illustrated talk by Harold Albert
Our School Programs
All America City
The All America City program is Preservation Worcester’s premier education program. Designed to fit the Massachusetts third grade curriculum requirements for History and Social Science, the program uses the city’s architecture as a key to unlock students’ understanding of Worcester history. Enriching everyday history and social science classes with site-based learning, the program includes an initial, illustrated classroom presentation followed by a field trip.
Seeing Worcester Architecture
Tailored to the third, fourth, and fifth grades, the Seeing Worcester Architecture program is an expanded version of the Third Grade All America City program. A collaborative effort between Preservation Worcester and school staff, this program gives students a solid grounding in Worcester history and architecture – building from year to year on the lessons learned the year before.
Susan McDaniel Ceccacci
Education Fund
Since 1969 Preservation Worcester has strengthened and enhanced our community though our education programs. Susan has been instrumental in our efforts nearly that entire time both as a volunteer and most recently as staff. The Fund will be used to underwrite trainings, programs and notable speakers to further educate docents and/or the general public on historic preservation matters.
Thank you for supporting our initiatives.
2025 Docent
Training Program
Join us to learn about the history of our city, our buildings, our neighborhoods, and architectural styles.
No prior experience or training is required. All we ask is a commitment to attend ten weekly training sessions (September-November) and during the winter months, complete a final research project that you will present to the class. We will help you select the topic.