Step Back into Worcester’s
Victorian Heydays!
Discover how Worcester earned its name - The Heart of the Commonwealth
Guests step into the bustling world of turn-of-the-century Worcester! Their tour guide: Frances Perkins—FDR’s Secretary of Labor and proud Worcester native.
With stories full of heart, humor, and history, Frances guides guests through Worcester’s transformation from a quiet town of fields, cows, and silos into a city ablaze with invention and innovation. Hear machines humming; see smokestacks puffing; imagine the clatter of footsteps on cobblestone streets, as people crisscross, heading to factories, shops, and restaurants.
Along the way, guests discover:
- How the Industrial Revolution catapulted Worcesterfrom a small dot on the map to the industrial “Heart of the Commonwealth”
- The impact of innovationon everyday life around 1900—from factories to the family home
- Why Frances Perkins—a trailblazer herself—is the perfect guide to this dynamic period in history
Highlights include:
- Union Station (1911):Admire the grand French Renaissance architecture; learn the story of its rise from humble beginnings to a crown jewel of the city.
- The Ivy Corset Factory:, Explore “all things corset”: the City’s corset-manufacturing history and the industry’s first female factory owner- a Worcester resident.
- The Miss Worcester Diner:Discover how horse-drawn sandwich carts evolved into the classic American diner.
- N. Jencks Store Museum (1800s): Marvel at quirky and curious pre-electric inventions like an early vacuum cleaner, farm tools, pantry necessities, and Victorian-era medicines (as well as “medicines”) etc.
- A classic Victorian-style sandwich lunch in the Museum
Guests discover some of the skeletons and secrets that make Worcester not just the city in the center of Mass. but “The Heart of the Commonwealth”.
Small groups (up to 20 participants) allow for a relaxed experience and plenty of interaction with “Frances”.
🚌 Transportation provided by client (van, driver, and chaperone required)