Events

Join actress and Arrowhead docent Francine Ciccarelli as she portrays Herman Melville’s wife Elizabeth and leads a special virtual tour of her house sharing anecdotes about life at Arrowhead, her children, her gardens, and her work as Herman’s copyist. $10 for BCHS members; $15 for non-members.  Click here to reserve. This project is sponsored by …

We all probably remember grandmothers or aunts who had “Antimacassars” or lace crocheted covers that protected the arms of chairs and sofas from wear and tear. This lace is created by working chains and other tall stitches to create beautiful openwork patterns. During this two-day workshop you will learn about various stitches, tension, and work …

Take a virtual tour of Arrowhead, with a focus on its architecture.  Themes will include how Arrowhead looked when Herman Melville and his family lived there, the changes over its 230-year history, and how the Berkshire County Historical Society has worked to preserve the site where Melville wrote Moby-Dick and three other novels, all of …

In this second class of this two-part workshop, you will work with size 10 crochet thread and a steel size “1” crochet hook. The project will be a crocheted snowflake. We will be using some of the same stitches used in the first project in addition to learning some new ones.  Lace can be crocheted …

Please join us for an unforgettable evening as noted Pittsfield author Kevin O'Hara shares joyous and heartfelt tales of his Pittsfield childhood. Kevin will  read a selection of his own Christmas tales from his illustrated book,  A Christmas Journey, published last December by The Berkshire Eagle.  Readings available at 5:30 and 6:30 pm, tickets are …

Please join us for an unforgettable evening as noted Pittsfield author Kevin O'Hara shares joyous and heartfelt tales of his Pittsfield childhood. Kevin will  read a selection of his own Christmas tales from his illustrated book,  A Christmas Journey, published last December by The Berkshire Eagle.  Readings available at 5:30 and 6:30 pm, tickets are …

A virtual program that offers a tour of Arrowhead decorated for the holidays, seasonal readings, 19th century holiday recipes, and a peek at some objects from our collection that are not often on view.   This event is free, but registration is required.  Click here to register or call 413 442 1793 or email melville@berkshirehistory.org …

Drive around the county, and it’s hard to miss the large, brick building on the corner, behind the trees, or down the street. These massive factories were in almost every town, over 500 of them in the Berkshires by the end of the 1800s - producing glass, cloth, iron, paper, shoes, rakes, or dozens of …

2022-23 Melville Fellows Ashton Bird and Josie Overbook, both students at Berkshire Community College, will present free readings of original works created during their time at Arrowhead as part of Pittsfield’s 10 x 10 Winter Upstreet Arts Festival.  In addition, both fellows will present original artwork inspired by their time at Melville’s home. Reservations are …