15 Best Things to Do in Greenfield (MA)
Located in the northern Pioneer Valley, Greenfield is a beautiful old mill town, historically known for making tools and cutlery.
There are museums here and at nearby Turners Falls, detailing industry in Franklin County and the specific role of the Connecticut River.
Greenfield's landscape is framed by a series of abrupt hills between the downtown area and the riverbank.
Known as Rocky Mountain, this mountain is part of the Pocomtuck Range, the northernmost branch of the Metacomet Ridge, which continues along the Connecticut River to Long Island Sound.
Downtown Greenfield is a fun place, with many local businesses, a farmers market that's been around since the 1970s, and a sense of community spirit that shines through public events like the Franklin County Fair in September.
1. Poet's Seat Tower
The first thing to do in Greenfield is to climb to the top on foot or by car and climb this legendary tower in Rocky Mountain Park. The Poet's Seat Tower was erected in 1912, replacing a wooden tower dating from the 1870s.
This Romanesque Renaissance structure is named after the Romantic poet Frederick Goddard Tuckerman (1821-1873), who lived in Greenfield and came to the site for inspiration.
The panoramic view is stunning, including Greenfield, the village of Turners Falls across the river, and the sweep of the Connecticut River Valley. If you are in the city in the fall, the view overlooking the sea from the foliage will remain in the memory for a long time.
2. Downtown Greenfield
Filled with cafés, public art, world-class restaurants, arts and culture venues, interesting retail stores and diverse service businesses, it's fair to say that Greenfield is a model of a healthy city.
At a recent count, more than three-quarters of all businesses here are independent, and the city is constantly looking for ways to improve Main Street.
That includes finding a new owner or tenant for the now-vacant Wilson Department Store, which operated from 1882 to 2020.
As we'll see, there's a very successful farmers' market in Court Square, and there are almost endless live performances at Energy Park in the summer.
In addition to being full of life, this stretch of Main Street is a historic district, preserving commercial, public, and residential architecture that ranges from Federal to Colonial Revival.
3. Rocky Mountain Park
The city began purchasing land on the hills in the early 1900s to turn it into a public park.
Rocky Mountain Park is now approximately 120 acres in size and consists of five contiguous parcels, with a trail system leading into neighboring areas such as Highland Park to the south, and including the regional Pocumtuck Trail.
The latter begins at Poet's Seat Tower and runs 20 miles south along the edge of the Pocumtuck Range to Sugarloaf Mountain in Deerfield.
So, while the Poet's Seat Tower is the park's main attraction, it can also be the starting point for a scenic hike, surprising you with stunning views from the rim.
4. Highland Park
Across Mountain Road from the south side of Rocky Mountain Park is a steep, rocky site, acquired by the city in 1890.
There is also great hiking here, and to the south is the high Sachem Head, with a ledge and large overhang.
The park has three main trails, ideal if you need a technical climb or an exhilarating hike, with cross-country skiing available on the flatter sections in winter.
The Greenfield Tree Committee has created a one-mile interactive walking tour among the park's trees, most of which cling to the southwest corner of the park.
5. Museum of Our Industrial Heritage
The site on the Green River was the scene of continuous industry from the late 17th century into the 20th century.
As in most parts of the Green River Valley, the dominant trade was metals, and from 1906 to 1920, the Nichols Brothers Cutlery Company began mass production of cutlery here.
The old mill complex is now a museum that delves into the industry in Franklin County and the broader Connecticut Valley.
From room to room you'll find fascinating details about small industry in the 18th century, the importance of water power in small mountain towns, the story of mass production of tableware, and precision manufacturing in the 21st century.
If you come at the right time, you can watch machine demonstrations in the workshop room.
6. Great Falls Discovery Center
Across the river in Montague is a museum connected by the Canalside Rail Trail that tells you everything you need to know about the fascinating natural, cultural, and industrial history of the Connecticut River watershed.
The location is convenient in the restored paper mill complex in historic Turners Falls. The main building houses a fascinating walk-through diorama, showcasing the flora, fauna and habitats along the river's 410-mile path.
Below is a thought-provoking timeline, outlining the impact humans have had on the river, and exploring ways to reduce that impact in the future.
Adjacent to the main building is the Great Hall, a beautiful old machine shop, which now hosts events and holds temporary art exhibitions. The two historic buildings are connected by a corridor that clearly overlooks the old canal that ran the mill.
7. Downtown Bee Sculptures
L.L. Langstroth (1810-1895), known as the "Father of American Beekeeping," lived in Greenfield for several years in the mid-19th century. Around this time he invented the Langstroth cell, a design still in common use today.
In 2010, to honor Langstroth's work and recognize the global importance of bees, Second Congregational Church of Greenfield launched an annual celebration, BeeFest.
Langstroth once served as a pastor at the church, and the event was inaugurated on his 200th birthday. In recent years, a collection of beautiful bee sculptures have descended around Greenfield to pay tribute to the May Festival and Langstroth's contribution.
They are the work of local sculptor Rachel Katz, and each has a vibrant design by area artists.
8. Greenfield Farmers Market
Starting in 1975, Greenfield has one of its best farmers markets, occupying Court Square on Saturday mornings, from May to October.
The event has an undeniable sense of community supported by local musicians, with live performances scheduled throughout the season.
Every Saturday there are at least 30 vendors on the plaza, selling fresh produce as the season comes, as well as plants, cut flowers, grass-fed meats, eggs, cheese, honey, maple syrup, fresh breads, pastries and more. More than we can list here.
In winter, a market is held on the third Saturday of the month in the courtyard of the Second Congregational Church.
9. Greenfield Garden Cinema
Another point of pride in downtown Greenfield is that local movie theaters from 1928 are still in operation.
Built in the Colonial Revival style, the Garden Theater was designed for both silent films and vaudeville, before switching exclusively to movies a few years later.
In the 1980s, the single hall was divided into seven screens, destroying the previously rich interior decoration.
Likewise, the city's cinemas are a must-see, and in addition to Hollywood premieres, there are seasonal specials for popular films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
10. Leavitt-Hovey House (Greenfield Public Library)
One of the most important historic buildings in downtown Greenfield is the Federal-style mansion built in 1797 for attorney, judge, and senator Jonathan Levitt (1764-1830).
The house is an early design by Asher Benjamin (1773-1845), who lived in Greenfield at the time and had a lasting influence on New England city maps until the Civil War.
An interesting feature is a pair of front wings connected by small galleries. The Greenfield Company acquired the house and opened it as a public library in 1909, a role it still plays today.
11. Energy Park
Adjacent to the tracks, this little oasis is located in the heart of Greenfield on the former site of the Greenfield train station and the adjacent Boston and Maine Railroad yard.
In the 1990s, the city entered into an agreement with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) to redevelop the property as a public space, railroad history and sustainable energy theme.
You'll find a safe caboose, railway-themed play equipment, and outdoor exhibits about renewable resources.
The bandstand serves as an anchor for outdoor gatherings and concerts, with up to 40 events held here during the summer. These include the Summer Concert Series on Thursday evenings and the Greenfield Players' Shakespeare season in the park.
12. Eunice Williams Covered Bridge
Crossing the Green River in the backcountry of West Greenfield is a beautiful covered bridge. If the structure looks new, that's because it was built in 1972 as a replica of a 19th-century bridge recently destroyed by fire.
As the signs tell you, there has been a crossing for some time, and the place is named after Eunice Williams who was killed here in 1704 during Queen Anne's War.
She was one of more than 100 hostages taken by the French army and the Abenaki and Mohawk tribes from nearby Deerfield when they began their massive march to Canada.
Williams had given birth the day before and, in any traceable case, fell by tomahawk in the same spot in the first leg.
13. Canalside Rail Trail
Across the river from Greenfield, about four miles from the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, a multi-use rail trail was built.
It takes you from the confluence of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers in East Deerfield, to Unity Park in Turners Falls, passing the Great Falls Discovery Center along the way.
Opened in 2008, the track is mostly free of traffic except for a short section of city streets.
Historic railroad infrastructure, such as the old Turners Falls Branch Bridge between Deerfield and Montague, is incorporated into the route.
This metal bridge dates back to 1880, was restored after the 1936 flood, and was modified into a railway track in 2006.
14. Whitney Hill Antiques
If you love searching for vintage items and collectibles, you'll need plenty of time to do justice to this wonderful antiques center in the heart of Greenfield.
Whitney Hill Antiques, which recently added a new location in Deerfield, spans three floors, features 60 vendors and 16,000 square feet of retail space.
You can disappear for an hour or two, browsing furniture, pottery, vintage clothing, lighting, kitchenware, toys, clocks, mirrors, dollhouses, tools, board games, sports memorabilia, seasonal decor, and more.
Despite the vast amount of treasures, the store remains clean, with clear aisles and a constantly changing inventory.
15. Franklin County Fair
Held in September and dating back to 1848, the Franklin County Fair is located on Greenfield's doorstep and features four days of livestock shows, contests, midway rides, craft vendors, delicious good food, the Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby, and other major live entertainment events. .
Opening Thursday is a kickoff parade, departing from Greenfield Middle School and making its way through downtown to the fairgrounds.
A highlight of the event is the Roundhouse, which has stood here since 1899 and serves as a showcase for the craft show each year.