Historical Markers in
Berkshire County, Massachusetts

1753 House A Contribution that No Other Race Can Make A Day In The Life A Monument to the Automotive Age A Tireless Explorer of Social Truths Adams Overlook: A Town Tied to the Mountain Alternating Current Electrification, 1886 American Legion Post 340 Veterans Memorial Arrowhead Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Barnard Park Bascom Lodge Berkshire County Patriots Berkshire County Vietnam War Memorial Boulder Dedicated to the Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois Cast Steel Bell Cheshire’s Mammoth Cheese Civil War Memorial Coltsville Honor Roll Columbia World War I Memorial Park Democracy and Human Rights Devastating Tornado Early Williamstown House East Hoosuck Society of Friends Revolutionary War Patriots East Main Street Cemetery Elihu Burritt Elkanah Watson Explore Adams History First Agricultural Fair First Congregation Church of Dalton First Congregational Church First Congregational Church First Court House of Berkshire County First Meeting House Francis Joseph Quirico Court Complex Friends Meeting House Gen. Henry Knox Trail Gen. Henry Knox Trail Gen. Henry Knox Trail General Henry Knox Trail Grass Roots Democracy Great Barrington Bi-Centennial Great Barrington Civil War Memorial Great Barrington World War I Monument Hancock Shaker Village Hancock Shaker Village: Powered by the Sun for Over 200 Years Henry Shaw Briggs Here Stood the Big Elm Here Stood the West Hoosac Blockhouse Historic Town Meeting I Have A Sentimental Desire to Keep this Place In Memory of Jonathan Smith James Burt Veterans Memorial Park Lanesborough Remembers Last Battle of Shays Rebellion Laura Ingersoll Secord Lee Lee First Town Meeting Lee World War I Memorial Linwood House Main Street Cemetery Maple Street Cemetery Memorial Street Light Monroe E. Ballou Mount Greylock, elevation 3,491 feet Mount Greylock, Elevation 3,491 Feet Mr. and Mrs. John Chandler Williams Nehemiah Smedley House New Boston New Marlborough: The Stagecoach Era Norman Rockwell’s Studio North Adams Iron Company Off-World Incident Old Parish Church Clock On This Spot One Hundred Years Otis Veterans Monument Paterson / Egleston Peace Party House Peru Honor Roll Pittsfield Elm Tree Pittsfield Soldiers Monument Pittsfield Veterans Memorial Railroad Reconstruction of 1854 Covered Bridge Renfrew Manufacturing Company World War Honor Roll Roman Walter Sadlowski Sergeant Edward J. Burns Sgt. Glenn R. Allison Shaker Color Sheffield World War I Monument Sheffield World War II Monument Site of First Meeting House Site of West Hoosac Fort South Williamstown Five Corners Splitter Stockbridge Chime Tower Stockbridge Civil War Monument Stockbridge Korean War Monument Stockbridge Vietnam War Monument Stockbridge World War I Monument Stockbridge World War II Monument Susan Brownell Anthony The Birthplace of American Foreign Missions · 1806 The First and Second Meeting Houses of Lanesborough The First Inter-Collegiate Baseball Game The House of the Black Burghardts The Mahaiwe Theater The Meeting House of the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ The Mount Greylock Summit The New Boston Inn The Niagara Movement The Rockwell Road To Greylock The Summit: A Peak Experience The Summit: An Island Above the Clouds Town of Becket Korea and Vietnam Memorial Town of Becket Veterans Memorial Town of Becket World War II Memorial Town of Becket World War Memorial Town of Hinsdale War Memorial Ulysses Franklin "Frank" Grant Veteran of the Year Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans War Memorial Tower W.E.B Du Bois W.E.B. Du Bois Birthsite W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite W.E.B. Du Bois: Advocate for Rivers Here at Home W.E.B. Du Bois: Architect of the Modern Civil Rights Movement W.E.B. Du Bois: Champion of Rivers Around the World War and Veterans Memorial War Memorial War Memorial War Memorial Tower Welcome to Mount Greylock State Reservation West College William McKinley William Stanley William Stanley Overlook World War II Memorial Trees World Wars Memorial You Stand Free Because They Served "A Beacon Standing for Peace"
The first public park in America, Boston Common, was established in 1634.
Massachusetts random facts
Berkshire County, located in western Massachusetts, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by the Mohican Native American tribe, who were skilled hunters and farmers. They established numerous villages and had a thriving culture in the area.

European settlers arrived in the 18th century and established several towns, including Stockbridge (1734) and Great Barrington (1761). The area became known for its fertile land and timber resources, leading to the development of farming and logging industries.

In the 19th century, Berkshire County experienced industrial growth with the rise of industries like iron production, textiles, and paper manufacturing. The county's location along major rivers proved advantageous for these industries, leading to economic prosperity and population growth.

Throughout its history, Berkshire County also played a significant role in the arts and culture scene. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the region became a popular retreat for artists and writers, including Edith Wharton and Herman Melville. This artistic tradition continues today, with various museums, galleries, and theaters attracting visitors from all over.

In recent years, Berkshire County has undergone economic changes, transitioning from its industrial roots to a more diversified economy. It now boasts a mix of industries, including healthcare, education, tourism, and technology. With its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Berkshire County remains an attractive destination for both residents and tourists alike.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

  • 1761: Berkshire County is established as a county in the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
  • 1762: The first town, Sheffield, is incorporated in Berkshire County.
  • 1787: The Shays' Rebellion, an armed uprising of farmers against perceived economic injustices, takes place in Berkshire County.
  • 1824: The Berkshire Agricultural Society is established, promoting advancements in agriculture in the region.
  • 1862: The Lenox Library is founded in Lenox, offering public access to books and educational resources.
  • 1893: The Berkshire Museum opens in Pittsfield, showcasing art, history, and natural science collections.
  • 1934: The Tanglewood Music Festival is established in Lenox, becoming one of the world's premier summer music festivals.
  • 1970: The Norman Rockwell Museum opens in Stockbridge, housing the largest collection of Rockwell's works.
  • 2000: The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) opens in North Adams, showcasing contemporary art in a former industrial complex.
  • 2011: The Berkshire County Courthouse in Pittsfield is added to the National Register of Historic Places.