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August 25, 2023

Worcester’s $21M Blackstone visitor center reopens after three-year COVID closure

Photo/Grant Welker The center includes interactive exhibits on the Blackstone River and the corridor's industrial history.

The Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center at Worcester has officially reopened after closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $21-million dollar center originally opened in 2018.

Located at 3 Paul Clancy Way off of McKeon Road, it was conceptualized after decades of discussion about opening a visitor center in Worcester. It has been open in full capacity for less than two years since its completion.

Plans for the reopening were discussed in July, according to a Friday press release from the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. State Sen. Michael Moore (D-Worcester) and state Rep. Dan Donahue (D-Worcester) collaborated with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in getting the center reopened. 

MassDCR now manages the center, which was originally owned and operated by Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

The center features historical exhibits about the area, as well as outdoor environmental installations. The center is the starting point of a 2.5-mile segment of the Blackstone River Bikeway, running to Millbury.

Operating hours are Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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2 Comments

Robert Anderson
August 29, 2023

$21 Million and only open 9:00am -1:00 pm, 4 days per week ?? Another waste of taxpayer money, could we get the names of the employees???

Anonymous
August 25, 2023

Maybe a sign will be installed on both north and south sides of Rt 146, depicting the visitors center...it's only been there 5 years and those traveling Rt 146 would drive right by, not knowing it even exists.
21 million and no sign on a highway that's exist is is less than a tenth of a mile away from the building...
Just a thought

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