The Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park formed in 1999 to support the Park and its activities. We quickly became a 501c3 non-profit corporation.
The principal founding member was Mary Girouard, a long-time volunteer at the Park as well as a long-time member of the Park's Advisory Board. The first President was Jonas Stundza, another experienced Park volunteer and avid local historian. The Friends first service to the Park was to act as a fiscal agent, receiving grant funds to support Park programs. Over time the Friends have gradually incr
The principal founding member was Mary Girouard, a long-time volunteer at the Park as well as a long-time member of the Park's Advisory Board. The first President was Jonas Stundza, another experienced Park volunteer and avid local historian. The Friends first service to the Park was to act as a fiscal agent, receiving grant funds to support Park programs. Over time the Friends have gradually incr
Operating as usual
Children's Fair - Today Saturday October 22 - at the Lawrence Public Library - 10AM to 2PM
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Feria Infantil - Hoy Sábado 22 de octubre - en la Librería Punlica de Lawrence - 10AM a 2PM
🚨 Cena para celebrar a Honduras es hoy a las 7pm / Dinner to celebrate Honduras is today at 7 pm --- Unete/ Join us
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cena-anual-dedicada-a-honduras-tickets-427626280717?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
TOMORROW, Saturday, October 22nd, from 3-7 pm, Elevated Thought presents "The Kick Back."
Join us a week from today, October 19th, from 12-1 pm, for this spectral occasion, "Lunch with a Paranormal Investigator" with ghost host Tom Spitalere.
This is your last week to check out the fabulous Dominican Carnaval Costume Exhibit, which ends on Friday, at the Buttonwoods Museum in Haverhill. Each costume is a one-of-a-kind design saturated with eye-popping color and sequins that will bedazzle you. And couldn't we all use a little more bedazzling these days?
The St. Alfio Society's exhibit will be on display in the 3rd floor gallery at the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center though October!!
Open hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily
1 Jackson Street, Lawrence
They collect.
Visitor Center Park is home to many forms of wildlife, from birds to small mammals and, yes, sometimes even dinosaurs.
Lawrence Heritage draws not only many local visitors but folks from all over the world. We had a married couple from the Chinese city of Qingdao (also known as Tsingtao) visit us recently, and the husband knew more about our American industrial revolution past than I did about his home city, which it turns out has a fascinating history of its own.
Qingdao is a major seaport, as well as a commercial and financial center, along with being home to several major universities. It was part of China for thousands of years until Germany seized it in 1898 for a naval base. In 1914, during WWI, the Japanese kicked out the Germans and occupied the city until 1922 when the Chinese returned to push them out, if only temporarily. The Japanese occupied the city from 1938 until they were defeated in 1945 during WWII. Qingdao has remained a part of China ever since.
One of the interesting outcomes of Qingdao's German influence is that it is now home to one of the most famous beer companies in the world, Tsingtao Brewery. In a nod to his hometown and correctly assuming I would appreciate a good beer choice, our visitor from China highly recommended I try a cold Tsingtao sometime.
Friends' president and Saint Alfio Society member Joe Bella straightens the Trinacria, an ancient symbol of Sicily, on the wall in Lawrence Heritage's art gallery. It's part of a larger Saint Alfio Society exhibit, which opens tomorrow, October 2nd, to celebrate both Italian Heritage Month and the Saint Alfio Society's upcoming 100th anniversary in 2023. A Grand Opening Reception for the exhibit will be held tomorrow from 2 to 4 pm. It's free, and light refreshments will be served.
As part of Italian Heritage Month, you're invited to join us for the Grand Opening Reception on October 2nd to celebrate a special exhibit at Lawrence Heritage sponsored by the Saint Alfio Society, who will be celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2023. Reception will be held in the Lawrence Heritage's community from 2 - 4 pm.
Please join our friends, the Lawrence History Center, THIS SATURDAY for their Annual Meeting, a Blacksmithing demonstration, and a Book Event: "Where Are the Workers? Labor's Stories at Museums and Historic Sites" featuring co-editor Bob Forrant and our own Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park board member James Beauchesne and treasurer Susan Grabski, along with co-author Kathleen Flynn!
Looking for a great bargain and to help out a good cause? Why not purchase a Bread & Roses festival poster from 2021 (11" x 17") or 2022 (11" x 14.5") for only $5 apiece? The 2021 poster only became available this year due to printing problems last year. For only $10 you could have both, which costs less than a carton of eggs these days.
If you haven't seen Workers' Struggles yet, which is an international labor poster exhibit from collector Stephen Lewis, we suggest that you do so before it disappears on September 29th when it's taken down. These posters hanging in our community room and gallery space were designed to pack a punch with bold graphics and powerful messages that will definitely leave an impression on you.
Our Visitors Center Park gets a lot of foot traffic on a daily basis: from folks walking their dogs to parents with kids in baby strollers to people sitting on our recently installed benches. The park's vine-covered brick walls also provide great backdrops for occasional photo shoots. According to the mother on this particular photo shoot, she said twice a year her daughter comes up with a theme, and then the mother's sister, who is an aspiring photographer, shoots it. The daughter's theme here were dresses she wore from her favorite films, except for the pink one (second to left) they had bought at a thrift store.
If you're looking for a free fun and unique experience tomorrow, September 17th, check out the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race. It must be seen to be believed. For more info, check out their website: https://www.lowellkinetic.com/
"It takes a village," a line from the famous proverb says. And that's certainly true here at Lawrence Heritage, where many people regularly pitch in to help make this a successful and welcoming place. In particular, thanks to the Operations crew this summer for all their hard work in maintaining not only the Visitors Center but all the other DCR State-owned parks in Lawrence. We couldn't have done it without you. (left to right: Jeanaky, Randy, Dave, Frank, Tommy)
You still have time to sign up for "The Visionary Art of Ralph Fasanella" hybrid symposium, a FREE event that begins this afternoon and continues through Thursday. (Sign up here: https://tinyurl/odwmsu) To celebrate, now through the end of September, when you purchase one of our wonderful new People's Map of Lawrence, Massachusetts posters (24" x 36") for $10 we'll add a Fasanella 2013 exhibit poster (15" x 20") for free. Two for the price of one, and you help support Lawrence Heritage. Now that's a great deal!
Despite the much-needed rain, it almost put a damper on Labor Day's Bread & Roses Festival. But organizers were able to rise to the challenge and find alternative indoor venues, choosing our Visitors Center, along with two other nearby sites, salvaging this year's festival and turning it into one of their most successful ever.
Here are a few photos from last week's open house to celebrate Lawrence Heritage's 36th anniversary. We're looking forward to the future and another successful 36 years!
The new September and October programs calendar is here!
It's ON!
Due to inclement weather conditions, the Bread & Roses Festival will be held indoors today at three locations:
Imagina Essex @ 238 Essex Street
Lawrence Heritage Visitors Center @ 1 Jackson Street
Ed Taller @ 275 Essex Street
Last week we wrapped up (or maybe "unwrapped" is more appropriate) our last Brown Bag Wednesday with Tom Spitalere and his talk on the "The Rise of Socialism in the Merrimack Valley." Thanks again to all the speakers who participated, and a big shout-out to Rich Padova for organizing and hosting another successful summer series.
Our 3 Rain Sites and Map.
Details to follow on
www: breadandrosesheritage.org
Festival Rain details will be posted on
www: breadandrosesheritage.org
Another reminder that everyone is invited to LHSP's open house tomorrow, September 1st, from 2 to 4 pm to celebrate its 36th anniversary.
Happening today!!!
Just in time for the festival on Labor Day, the new Bread & Roses programs are here! Stop by the LHSP Visitors Center today to pick up your free copy.
This Thursday, September 1st, Park Interpreter Rich Padova will be hosting an open house to commemorate the 36th anniversary of Lawrence Heritage State Park, which opened on September 1st, 1986. Drop by anytime from 2-4 pm to reminisce, check out Lawrence memorabilia, and to enjoy some light refreshments. Below are photos of Lawrence Heritage BEFORE its transformation in 1986, on OPENING DAY Sept 1st, and the Visitors Center we all know and love TODAY. LHSP, you've come a long way, baby!
All good things must come to an end...
This Wednesday, August 31st, will be the last Brown Bag Lunch of the summer. Don't miss it!
Our very own Friends' board member Jurg Siegenthaler is one of the several presenters who will be attending the symposium for "The Visionary Art of Ralph Fasanella" at Michigan State University. This FREE hybrid (in-person and Zoom) event takes place from September 14th to September 16th. For more information and to register, click on the link below.
Discover warp and weft! Children 4 and up learn how to weave with colored paper. Drop by the Visitors Center any time during August and September between 9 - 4 pm.
We need your input!
Would you like to see new exhibits at Lawrence Heritage State Park, especially groups like those of Latino and Hispanic community members who are underrepresented? If so, click on the link below and tell us your story. It takes only ten minutes. Your participation will contribute greatly to our goal of telling the complete story of the recent history of Lawrence and all its people.
Share your story, Comparte tu historia Back to main page This project would not be possible without the generous support of Mass Humanities and Mass Cultural Council through the Expand Massachusetts Stories initiative, the Lawrence Cultural Council, Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust, and the Rosman....
You still have time to submit your films, so get yours into today!
Just a quick reminder that along with our annual "Bread and Roses" walking tour this month we have debuted a new walking tour called "Architecture and Alleyways of Downtown Lawrence." Stop by and check it out.
The 38th Annual Bread & Roses Festival is right around the corner, so mark your calendars! If you would like to sign up as a volunteer or need more information, check out their website: https://www.breadandrosesheritage.org/
The cool, dry weather we had Sunday morning were the perfect running conditions for this year's Greenway 5K, sponsored by Groundworks Lawrence. Everybody was a winner once they crossed the finish line at Visitors Center Park, where afterwards both two-legged as well as four-legged participants were treated to a well-earned brunch.
Hot off the presses, the new Trails & Sails guide books are here! Celebrating its 21st year, from Friday, September 16th, through Sunday, September 25th, visitors can reference the guidebooks to choose from over 100+ FREE events happening in the Essex National Heritage Area, including our very own "Monuments and Martyrs" walking tour of the Campagnone Common. Feel free to stop by the Visitors Center anytime to pick up your free guidebook or go online to trailsandsails.org to learn more.
On August 7th, distinguished American historian and author David McCullough passed away at the age of 89. McCullough is best known for his books on Presidents John Adams and Harry Truman, as well as being one of the voices on filmmaker Ken Burns' Civil War documentary series. But his interests were wide-ranging; for example, in addition to writing, he was also an accomplished amateur painter. McCullough's philosophy about history is what we try to stress at the Visitors Center, in that it is always multi-layered, all-encompassing, and ever-changing. Here is a quote from McCullough that underlines that very point: "I have felt for a very long time that history is more than politics and the military and social issues. Yes, it is politics and the military and social issues, but it's also art and music and architecture and ideas and science and medicine. It's the works. It's human." Thank you to David McCullough for his many writing contributions and for keeping history alive and well in the hearts and minds of all us.
This morning, teachers from "The Park For Every Classroom" program (an annual week-long program sponsored by the Essex National Heritage Commisson) were led on a walking tour by Friends member and retired Visitors Services Supervisor Jim Beauchesne. The tour began at Ferrous Foundry Park, and as they proceeded down Canal Street towards the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center, a former boarding house, Jim periodically stopped to point out important historic spots along the way and share his wealth of knowledge with them. Although Jim claims to be retired, once a teacher always a teacher.
1 Jackson St
Lawrence, MA
01840
| Monday | 9am - 4pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 4pm |
| Friday | 9am - 4pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 4pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 4pm |
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