Museum of Our Industrial Heritage
From early mills dotting the rural landscape in the 18th century, to the hydro power dams and factories of the 19th century, to the tap and die industry of the 20th century, Franklin County has played a unique role in regional, national and world history.
Our collection of artifacts, archival material, and historic photos represents nearly all of Franklin County's 26 towns and the neighboring town of Athol. The Museum of Our Industrial Heritage presents these tangible reminders of the past by focusing on the spirit of innovation that fueled each era-and explores how that same spirit might shape our future.
The museum's mission is to celebrate our industrial heritage through preserving, collecting, and educating the public, with emphasis on Franklin County and Athol, Massachusetts. At the heart of it is the story-the people who created and lived this history, and how their work and lives can inform ours today.
The museum was founded by local resident, Leon Weeks, and incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The board and dedicated volunteers have been hard at work preserving, collecting, and documenting artifacts and related archival material-from the smallest tap and die to the large 19th century machines made right at our own site.
Explore Related Categories
