Past Events

Maryann Sherman’s play, Mr. Noble Melancholy, starring John Trainor as Nathaniel Hawthorne. $20; $15 for members

We are releasing the fourth volume of RED BARN, our homegrown poetry anthology by poets who have met here all winter and spring to create new work. FREE

 Irish lace expert Beverly Wolov will speak to the participants at a classic tea party about the lace collections at the Berkshire County Historical Society and answer questions about the customs and use, importance and provenance of lace in the mid-19th century. $20 includes tea and snacks.

The third annual reading of new work by the five Mastheads authors. This is a FREE event.

On Wednesday, July 3rd, at 7pm, come celebrate the eve of Herman Melville's 200th birthday with his great-great-grandson Peter Whittemore and the filmmakers behind The Act of Reading! We will 'sneak peek' the 87-minute long film in the Arrowhead barn in anticipation of its fall premiere and in honor of the author's bicentennial. The film takes the form of a 15 year-late book report/documentary on Moby-Dick, following the filmmaker as he attempts to make amends with the high school English teacher whose class he failed. We are then brought on an often surprising journey into…

Thursday, August 1, all day. Herman’s 200th birthday with a multi-event, day-long extravaganza co-presented with the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. Starting with free tours of the Athenaeum’s Herman Melville Memorial Room at noon, a 1pm dedication of the Literary Landmark plaque at the Library, then tours at Arrowhead. At 4:30, the party begins at the Country Club of Pittsfield: cash bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a special program with Tina Packer, Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company, Prosecco toast, and…

Free admission at Arrowhead to any career sailor, marine, merchant marine, cruise ship worker, or pirate. Take a tour where Moby-Dick was written and lift a pint of rum (you bring the rum!).

Join us as we celebrate Herman's birthday at the Country Club of Pittsfield. This benefit will assist in funding the restoration work needed to preserve our historic red barn, built in 1840 and used by the Melville family. Restoring the exterior cladding and improving drainage will ensure that the barn can be enjoyed for years to come. Paint analysis will enable the barn to return to its original paint color and appearance under Melville ownership. The completion of this project…