For Immediate Release:  June 7, 2021

Media Contact: Daniel Friel Director of Public Relations dfriel@osv.org C: 774-200-7788

Old Sturbridge Village Celebrates 75th Anniversary 2021-2022  Historic living museum in New England will host a year-long celebration

Sturbridge M.A. – This week, Old Sturbridge Village (OSV), the largest living museum in New England, will kick off a year-long celebration comprised of events honoring 75 years of historical interpretation, education, inspiration and innovation. Known for its excellent programming, OSV is certain to deliver events and experiences guaranteed to entertain and educate all who participate.   The calendar of events is comprised of new exhibits, programs, and interpretation for the coming year, concluding with a formal gala in June 2022. Some of the planned activities and events include:   Exhibits at the Printing Office, Richardson House, Fitch House, Gristmill, and the Blacksmith Shop. New museum tours, which will provide an in-depth look at how the Village came to be and how it has evolved over the past 75 years.  A new cabinetmaking shop will be installed in fall 2021, the first interpretative building to be added to the Village Common in over forty years. Publication of New England on Parade in partnership with author Jane Nylander, which will pair with an exhibit at the book launch on September 11. In conjunction with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Recovery Grant and the Sturbridge Group Tour Alliance, the Village will encourage visitors throughout New England to visit and support the local businesses and organizations throughout the summer months. Special commemorative items and re-creations made by OSV artisans. In 1925, Old Sturbridge Village founder A.B. Wells began collecting “primitive” antiques that showed how everyday people lived a century before. He became enraptured with collecting these tools, simple furnishings, and gadgets, and his collection proliferated. A.B. dreamed of having a gallery to display his collection. In 1936, his son, George, convinced him to move beyond his hobby of collecting and dreaming of a gallery and working towards creating “a live village, one with different shops operating.” On June 8, 1946, Old Sturbridge Village opened to the public for the first time and welcomed eighty-one visitors. The Village has become a beloved staple of New England, expanding the resources, programming, and collection of the living museum to over 250,000 annually in recent years. In 2017, Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School opened in partnership with the Village, followed by a management agreement in 2020 with Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island.   Old Sturbridge Village has always been more than a museum, and it continues to be an educational resource for exploring historical life in New England for all ages; inviting each visitor to find meaning, pleasure, relevance, and inspiration through hands-on, real-life encounters with artisans, interpreters, and craftspeople.   Anyone interested in staying up-to-date with the 75th-anniversary events should visit OSV's website, www.osv.org, Facebook, and Instagram. ###

MEDIA For b-roll, images, and interview requests, please contact Daniel Friel, Director of Public Relations at dfriel@osv.org. About Old Sturbridge Village   Old Sturbridge Village, first opened to the public in 1946, is one of the country's oldest and largest living history museums, celebrating life in early New England from 1790-1840. It is the largest living history museum in the Northeast. Each year, more than 250,000 visitors interact with costumed historians, experience up-close demonstrations of early American trades, and meet heritage breed farm animals. Situated on 200 scenic acres, the Village is a collection of more than 40 historic buildings - including homes, meetinghouses, trade shops, working farms, restaurants, shops and three water-powered mills.   Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., Old Sturbridge Village is open year-round, but days and hours vary seasonally. For details, visit https://www.osv.org/plan-your-visit/. Old Sturbridge Village is the managing partner of Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, R.I. Members at OSV receive reciprocal membership at Coggeshall Farm Museum.

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