PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society has announced its schedule of summer events, which will include new programs, collaborations, and returning annual favorites. 

 

The events are scheduled to take place at Arrowhead, Herman Melville's historic Pittsfield home, located at 780 Holmes Road in Pittsfield, unless otherwise specified.

 

The summer programming aims to explore various aspects of Berkshire history, the natural world, and the works of Herman Melville, while also commemorating the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette's visit to Pittsfield. 

 

"Berkshire County Historical Society is offering a robust series of events, programs, and exhibitions this summer," said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "Programs will explore the natural world, celebrate the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette's visit to Pittsfield, aspects of Berkshire history, and of course the writing of Herman Melville."

 

Guided tours of Arrowhead will be available Thursday through Monday, with the first tour at 10 AM and the final tour at 3 PM. Reservations are not required, but can be made through the Berkshire County Historical Society website. The grounds of the historic site are accessible for hiking daily from sunrise to sunset without charge.

Events

Unless otherwise stated, events occur at Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield. Many programs and events are free; event tickets can be purchased by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org

• May 23 - June 16: "The Thinking Trees," a multimedia project by Bella Luna Rosa Photography focusing on the trees and forest at Arrowhead. This is a free event, open during Arrowhead hours.
• Thursdays, June 5, 12, 26; July 3, 10, 24, 31: Bird Banding Demonstrations with Berkshire Bird Observatory. These are free, drop-in events from 8 AM to 10 AM, weather permitting.
• Wednesday, June 11: "Lafayette: More Than A Rock Star" lecture by Peter Reilly, exploring the Marquis de Lafayette's popularity. This is a free event at 5:30 PM.
• Thursday, June 12: French Wine Tasting with WSET-3 Certified Sommelier Philippe Jeanjean. The tasting will feature French wines from regions associated with the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Proceeds will benefit the Berkshire County Historical Society. Limited seating is available, with tickets priced at $100 for BCHS members and $125 for non-members, starting at 6:30 PM.
• Friday, June 13: A commemoration of the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette's visit to Pittsfield on Park Square. The program will include performances by the Berkshire Concert Choir and Berkshire Fife and Drum Corps, and local dignitaries. A series of toasts will follow at Hot Plate Brewing Company. This is a free event beginning at 4 PM.
• Wednesday, June 25: "Historic Songs of the American Revolution" presented by Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudie. Tickets are $15 for BCHS members and $20 for non-members, starting at 5:30 PM.
• Thursday, June 26: Family Bird Activities in collaboration with Berkshire Bird Observatory, Berkshire Museum, and Berkshire Natural Resources Council. The event will feature hands-on activities, bird banding demonstrations, walks, talks, and the Berkshire Museum Mobile Museum. This is a free event from 8 AM to 2 PM.
• July 4 - September 29: "Marriage and Memory: Weddings in Berkshire County Through the Centuries," an exhibition showcasing wedding attire from 1776 to 1979 from the Berkshire County Historical Society's collection. This is a free event, open during Arrowhead hours.
• Thursday, July 10: Sea Shanties with Alex Harvey and Shinbone Alley. Tickets are $15 for BCHS members and $20 for non-members, starting at 7 PM.
• Sunday, July 13: Open Studio with quilter Francesca Olsen as part of the Berkshire Artists Residency Program, where she will discuss and demonstrate her craft. This is a free event from 12 PM to 2 PM.
• Sunday, July 13 - Friday, July 18: Playwriting Workshop led by Elizabeth Doss, focusing on devising, site-specific, and play-based strategies. The cost is $500, daily from 4 PM to 6 PM.
• Friday, July 18: Showcase: Readings and Reception, a free event featuring readings of site-specific works created during the playwriting workshop from 7 PM to 9 PM.
• Saturday, July 19: Public Workshop Performance where playwright Elizabeth Doss will share parts of her "Confidence Man" adaptation. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members, starting at 7 PM.
• Thursday, July 31 - Saturday, August 2: Ninth Annual Moby-Dick Read-a-Thon, where participants can read portions of "Moby-Dick" at the site where it was written. Pre-registration is required, with a suggested donation of $5, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
• Thursday, July 31: "The Mastheads Summer Finale," featuring performances of new fiction, poetry, and theatre by The Mastheads' eighth-annual summer residents. A $10-$20 donation is suggested to support public programming, including poetry workshops in Pittsfield Public Schools, starting at 7 PM.
• Friday, August 1: "Billy Budd" Audiobook Launch at Arrowhead, celebrating Herman Melville's birthday and the release of a new audiobook of "Billy Budd, Sailor," read by Paul Giamatti. The event will include refreshments, drinks, and cake, with selections from the audiobook. This is a free event starting at 5:30 PM.
• Sunday, August 3: Monument Mountain Hike, commemorating the August 5, 1850, meeting of Melville and Hawthorne. Participants will read a poem and share sparkling wine at the summit. The event will meet in the Monument Mountain parking lot on Route 7 in Great Barrington at 9 AM and is free.