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Old Sturbridge Village

Photo Credit: Thomas Neill

What's past is past, but at Old Sturbridge Village, what's past is present. This nonprofit museum painstakingly recreates a rural town during the years 1790 to 1840, when exciting technological and social changes rapidly transformed the lives of New Englanders.

Opened in 1946 and now the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, the 200-acre Old Sturbridge Village includes more than 40 restored buildings from throughout New England. Visitors can step inside homes, a district school, a country store, a bank, a law office, a printing office, a Friends (Quaker) meeting house, a cider mill, a sawmill, a gristmill, a blacksmith shop, and a shoe shop.

Authentically costumed staff perform the daily activities of an early 19th-century community-plowing fields, hammering horseshoes, making glass, shearing sheep, and baking bread in a fireplace oven. Special events may include a symposium on healing with herbs, a 19th-century wedding ceremony, a shooting match, breakfast on a working farm, and an evening of 19th-century games.

Weather permitting, a boat ride takes guests down the Quinebaug River that cuts through town. Two taverns serve traditional American food as well as early-American fare. Merchandise at the village gift shop ranges from books and reproductions to toys and gardening accessories.

Location
Old Sturbridge Village is located at 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, about one hour southwest of Boston in Sturbridge. Driving directions can be found at the Old Sturbridge Village Web site.

Hours of operation
Hours are 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. throughout most of the year, except October 28 through January 1, when closing time is 4 p.m. The village is open seven days a week and is closed only on Christmas.

Admission

Adults	$20
Senior citizens (age 65+)	$18
Children ages 6-15	$10
Children under age 6	Free

Advance registration is required for all special events, for which the costs vary.

Contact information
Call (508) 347-3362, toll-free (800) SEE-1830, or the TTY line at (508) 347-5383.

Disabled access
For those in wheelchairs, the "Guide to Access" provides details on access to the village and its programs. Requests for a sign language interpreter must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Special considerations

• If you get your ticket validated upon leaving, you can get free admission on the following day.
• Livestock should not be approached, touched, or fed.
• Smoking, eating, and drinking are not permitted in buildings.
• Only service animals will be admitted to the Village.
• The boat ride down the Quinebaug River requires a small additional fee.
• Some buildings cannot accommodate baby strollers or wheelchairs.

Additional information
Visit the Old Sturbridge Village Web site.

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.