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
Cheshires 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 Rockwells 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"
About Berkshire County
Berkshire County Timeline
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.
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.
Berkshire County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey 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.