The Pioneer Valley History Network is a resource for local history organizations in western Massachusetts—and the public they serve. Large or small, old or new, these organizations care for the objects and stories of the region’s past. Some are small, volunteer-run historical societies; others are large museums. Some focus on collections, others provide resources and education. All are committed to keeping history alive and relevant for future generations.
PVHN welcomes your history-related questions and genealogical inquiries. Use our Contact Us page or send email to: pioneervalleyhistory@gmail.com
Announcing: HistoryFest Pioneer Valley!
“Our Homespun History Conference”
Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Parenzo Hall, Westfield State University
Join us for a gathering of local history enthusiasts, high school age and up, including local historians, public history professionals, genealogists, preservationists, academics, and others, in one place for a day of sharing.
This is a grassroots, democratic way to gather and share ideas and information. Anyone can present. The topics that are presented are the ones the presenters are passionate about. There is no specific theme, only a focus on the Pioneer Valley or western Massachusetts.
The program will include 25 local history presentations, including a keynote address by author and historian, Joseph Carvalho, III. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Ne’er Do Wells.
General Admission tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Student tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. (Lunch is not included.) Please buy tickets in advance, if possible.
Tickets On Sale Now!
For tickets, follow the link to Eventbrite:
If you would like to Present a Session, contact us, now, at: pioneervalleyhistory@gmail.com
HistoryFest Pioneer Valley is a partnership of PVHN and Westfield State University.
We hope to see you there!
“History on the Go!”
“History on the Go!” brings together historical institutions in an area to create a “trail,” on coordinated days and times, for the history-loving public to follow. These museums and historic sites will welcome visitors and tell their stories. This allows our historical museums and institutions to open their doors to a wider public and strut their stuff! For you, it’s a great opportunity to visit those historic sites that you’ve always wanted to see.
For 2023, we present five history trails in our region, on different weekends, between August and November:
- HILLTOWNS HISTORY TRAIL, Saturday, August 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- CHANGING BOUNDARIES TRAIL, Saturday, August 19, noon to 5 p.m.
- FOLLOWING THE TROLLEY TRAIL, Saturday, October 14, 9:30 a.m. to noon
- TRI-TOWN HISTORY TRAIL, Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- WEST SIDE HISTORY TRAIL, Saturday, November 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See the brochure below for details of each trail. Find the trails that interest you and get on the road! This project was made possible with funding assistance from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Note: PVHN & MCC have an interest in finding ways to make these history tours accessible to all people. We have attempted to candidly describe the accessibility situation at each of these locations. While we strive to make these tours more fully accessible to everyone, please understand the challenges presented by very old historic buildings.
Our Most Recent Projects
Documenting the Early History of Black Lives in the Connecticut River Valley
Beginning in the summer of 2021, the Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) and the UMass Public History Program collaborated on a research project to document the lives of people of color in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts during the 18th and early 19th centuries. This project offered an opportunity for local historical organizations to perform a “deep dive” into their relevant holdings and benefit from research assistance and expertise and the efforts of many volunteers.
Learn more
Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution
Revolution Happened Here was funded in 2019 through grants from Mass Humanities and Revolution250. The project brought together a collaborative team of our region’s historical societies and museums to create a prototype for an online exhibit that tells the story of the American Revolution as it unfolded in western Massachusetts. Visitors to the Revolution Happened Here website can explore how the American Revolution, while a globally transformative event, was fundamentally a grassroots movement – intrinsically local and intensely personal.
Pioneer Valley History Network 