mASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL GROUPS

HISTORICAL COMMISSIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS

The Historical Commissions of Massachusetts were founded in 1963 to identify, evaluate, and protect important historic properties that help to establish our sense of place and define the character of our communities. The staff available to the community through state and local organizations includes historians, architects, archeologists, and preservation planners. Our Archives, where our MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System) files and genealogical records are kept, are open the first Saturday of each month, from 9 to 12, or by appointment.

Massachusetts Historical Society, founded in 1791, is the nation’s first historical society. It strives to enhance the understanding of our nation’s past and its connection to the present, demonstrating that history is not just a series of events that happened to individuals long ago but is integral to the fabric of our daily lives.
The Berkshire County Historical Society is a non-profit corporation dedicated to collecting, preserving, and disseminating the history of Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. In addition, the Berkshire County Historical Society is committed to the preservation and interpretation of Arrowhead, home of author Herman Melville, designated a National Historic Landmark. 
The Commonwealth Museum brings the story to life with state of the art interactive exhibits. Its dramatic “treasures gallery” holds the great historic documents that protect our liberties.