North Adams

North Adams is a town of 13,000 people (2020) in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. In the 19th century it was the industrial center of the region. Old factory buildings are now being recycled to other uses, including the new Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The town's rail access was improved by one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century, the Hoosac Tunnel. North Adams is chock-full of interesting historic houses, only a few of which are pictured in this article.

See
  • 🌍 Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), 87 Marshall Street, ☏ +1 413 664-4481. varies seasonally; see website for details. Six old factory buildings made into more than 250,000 square feet of galleries, studios, performance venues, shops and cafés. $. 
  • 🌍 Natural Bridge State Park, McAuley Road (off Rt. 8), ☏ +1 413-663-6392, +1 413-663-8469 (off-season). Daily 9AM-4:30PM, Memorial Day through Columbus Day. This 48 acre park features a natural arch of bedrock marble that was carved by glacial meltwater. A quarter-mile walkway runs above and through the 60 ft gorge which the bridge spans and there is a half-mile wooded trail. Interpreters are available in summer to explain the geologic processes. Picnic tables and grills (carry out your trash), restrooms, pets OK on leash. No swimming, rock climbing or alcohol. Parking $5 (MA resident) or $10 (non-MA resident). (updated Oct 2016)
  • 🌍 Western Gateway Heritage State Park, 115 State Street, ☏ +1 413-663-6312. 10AM-5PM daily. The Hoosac Tunnel is a 4.75-mile-long (7.64 km) railroad tunnel through the Hoosac Mountains. Built 1851-1875 to link Massachusetts to Albany, NY, it cost 195 workers their lives. At the Visitor's Museum exhibits depict the effect of the tunnel. Children and adults can experiment with a vintage floor scale that was used for weighing loads up to half a ton. A 30-minute documentary provides a concise, yet detailed, history of the Hoosac Tunnel. The facilities are also used for concerts, lectures, freight yard walking tours and gallery for temporary exhibits. Allow approximately one hour to view the exhibits. Universally accessible. 
  • Gallery 51, 51 Main Street, ☏ +1 413-664-8718. Daily 10AM-6PM. MCLA Gallery 51 features the work of international, national and local artists, including MCLA faculty and students. The gallery hosts ten exhibitions each year and countless events and happenings. Staffed by mostly student workers, MCLA Gallery 51 provides students with hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a gallery. MCLA Gallery 51 is a project of MCLA's Berkshire Cultural Resource Center. 
  • studio21south, 189 Beaver St. (Route 8), ☏ +1 413-652-4518. Located in a historic mill loft, studio21south primarily features contemporary realism, but also includes abstract artists working in traditional media. Located adjacent to Natural Bridge State Park, and a mile from Mass MoCA. Open year-round, but hours vary by season, so check website or call first. 

Do

Appalachian Trail

  • MCLA Presents!, ☏ +1 413 664-8718, +1 413 662-5204 (for tickets). MCLA Presents! brings to North Adams and the MCLA campus some of the world's finest performers in music, dance, theatre, and spoken word.
    From large musical festivals held in the school gym and on the grounds, to intimate one-person theatrical events and evenings of poetry held in the college's art galleries downtown, MCLA Presents! shares a unique performance series with the Northern Berkshire community.
    In addition to showcasing world renowned artists, MCLA Presents! is committed to showcasing the talent of its own community as well as the work of MCLA students.
    MCLA Presents! is a project of MCLA's Berkshire Cultural Resource Center.     $12. 
  • DownStreet Art Festival, Downtown North Adams. The DownStreet Art Festival every Thursday evening from June to October, when empty storefronts are converted into art galleries featuring local and national talent. The event draws crowds from all over the region. This is public art project of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Berkshire Cultural Resource Center designed to revitalize downtown North Adams, harnessing existing arts organizations and events, and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations. It also offers the opportunity to talk with the artists, curators and others connected with the exhibits at the ongoing DownStreet art exhibits and at the art openings. 

Buy

Eat
  • Gramercy Bistro, 24 Marshall Street, ☏ +1 413 663-3372. 
  • Brewhaha, 20 Marshall Street, ☏ +1 413-664-2020. 7AM to 5PM daily; closed Wednesday. They offer a diverse menu including vegetarian and vegan fare, using fresh ingredients. Muffins are baked on site, their salad is popular with customers and they also make specialty coffee drinks (featuring illy Espresso). Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Major credit cards accepted. Non-smoking. 
  • The Hub, 55 Main Street, ☏ +1 413-662-2500. Tu-F 11AM-9:30PM, Sa 8AM-9:30PM, Su 8AM-1:30PM, closed M. Breakfast is served on weekends only, Sa 8AM-11AM and Su 8AM-1:30PM. Offers comfortable, casual dining with good food, good atmosphere, good service, at a good price. The Hub also offers takeout and has a fully stocked bar with large flat-panel television. You can ask about the create-your-own omelette or try the smoked salmon bagel, breakfast burrito or steak and eggs. 
  • 🌍 Public Eat+Drink, 34 Holden Street, ☏ +1 413-664-4444. (updated Oct 2016)
  • Jack's Hot Dogs, 12 Eagle St, ☏ +1 413-664-9006. M-Sa 10AM-7PM. Serving hot dogs since 1917. (updated Oct 2016)

Drink

Sleep

Go next
Routes through North Adams
Troy ← Williamstown ←  W  E  → Florida → Greenfield
to Jct W E / to Wilmington ← becomes ←  N  S  → Adams → Pittsfield


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