Worcester
Such performers as Enrico Caruso, Ella Fitzgerald, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Mel Tormé have entertained audiences at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. Completed in 1857, it remains among the nation's most esteemed arenas for concerts and other popular social events. Tours of the Victorian-style building, which was extensively restored in 1977, are available by appointment. Phone (508) 752-5608 for general information.
Besides offering dramatic, musical and civic events, the city shelters several institutions of higher learning, including Clark University and Worcester State University, both of which were founded here in the 19th century. Born in Worcester in 1882, the father of U.S. rocketry, Dr. Robert H. Goddard, received his doctorate at Clark University. He fired his first rocket in nearby Auburn.
Preservation Worcester offers various walking and bus tours highlighting the city's history and architecture; phone (508) 754-8760 for schedule and prices.
Visitor Centers
Central Massachusetts Convention & Visitors Bureau 91 Prescott St. Worcester, MA 01605. Phone:(508)755-7400 or (866)755-7439
Things to Do
American Antiquarian SocietyMass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary