Welcome to Historic Northampton
Historic Northampton preserves and explores the history of Northampton, Massachusetts.
Mission
Our mission is to collect and preserve Northampton’s past and to engage the community in the exploration of the town’s history, its human-made landscape, and the natural world that underlies and surrounds it.
About Us
Historic Northampton is one of the primary caretakers of artifacts relating to the history of Northampton. We preserve historical items with strong connections to Northampton’s history that reveal stories of past residents.
Historic Northampton …
- offers programs and events for people of all ages, both in person and online.
- preserves artifacts with a Northampton history.
- conducts research on aspects of the past that have been obscured or unrecorded in prior historical accounts.
- assists researchers exploring Northampton’s history.
- connects local history to nature through the Explore Northampton walking tour series.
- presents original, specially-commissioned theatrical plays based on local stories.
- is an independent, non-profit organization legally established in 1905 by a group of city residents.
Historic Houses
Historic Northampton is located near Northampton’s downtown, where Main Street meets the Bridge Street residential area.
Our three historic houses stand side-by-side on their original sites due to three neighbors who came together to donate their houses to the society. The Damon House (1813), the Parsons House (1719), and the Shepherd House (1798) were donated between 1941 and 1969. Behind the Shepherd House is an 1805 barn that was moved to this site prior to 1853.
National Register of Historic Places
In 2001, all three houses and the barn were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Parsons, Shepherd, and Damon Houses Historic District.