Founded in 1875, Worcester Historical Museum (WHM) is the only local organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing Worcester’s history in all time periods and subject areas for all audiences; and provides exhibitions and programming for all residents to know, enjoy, and celebrate their heritage. Regarded as one of the major local history museums in New England, WHM’s mission is to engage the entire community in its common history. WHM also owns and operates Salisbury Mansion, one of the best documented historic houses in New England.  Built in 1772, it has been restored to its 1830s appearance.

WHM is Worcester! Representing Worcester’s many cultures/time periods, WHM cultivates broad audiences through grassroots outreach, building on a long tradition of strong community partnerships- beginning in 1983 with Water Street (Eastern European Jewish immigrant story) continuing with the Armenian, Black, Swedish, Vietnamese and others to today’s Latino, Black, and LGBTQ+ projects.

WHM’s vast collection, extensive library, and annual calendar of exhibitions, educational programming, tours and publications enable visitors to find and share their own stories. Projects are designed to bring visibility to Worcester’s diverse population.