Uniquely Western Massachusetts

“The question is not what you look at but what you see.” Henry David Thoreau

            The land that is now Massachusetts has had an indigenous presence since the glaciers retreated and exposed rich land. When the first permanent European settlement in New England was established by the Pilgrims in 1620 on Mohegan and Wampanoag land. Legend states that the following year the first Thanksgiving was held between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. Squanto, a native who had been captured, enslaved in Europe and returned to his homeland, functioned as a translator. #VisitMa

            Colonists quickly moved to Western MA’s Northampton, 81-miles from Boston, in 1654. They hoped to obtain cultivable land and lucrative opportunities to barter with the indigenous people. Northampton was deemed Paradise City by Jenny Lind in 1920 because of its enviable geography amid farmland, the meandering Connecticut River, originally the Kwinitekw, and the Western Massachusetts Mountains. visithampshirecounty.com

            In 1638 The first MA documented slave ship, The Desire, brought captives from the Caribbean to sell. Three years later the state became the first to legalize slavery. It was abolished in 1783. Northampton was always progressive and in the 1800s it was a home of radical abolitionism and had several documented Underground Railroad sites. When the abolitionist settled there they established a silk mill and named the area Northampton Association of Education and Industry. All members, black and white held equal shares in the mill and males and females had voting rights. The enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act essentially ended the community. Fugitives were no longer safe there and moved to Canada.

The community attracted prominent African Americans, Frederick Douglass, David Ruggles and Sojourner Truth. Truth lived there for nine years after purchasing her home with the proceeds from her narrative. A life-sized statue of her stands in a small square surrounded by informational plaques. @sojournertruth

            Calvin Coolidge was born in 1872 in Vermont and attended college in MA. He began as a lawyer in Northampton, eventually becoming Governor and 30^th President of the U.S. The Forbes Library Coolidge Presidential Library Collection serves as a repository of artifacts, historical documents, photographs and memorabilia related to his life and career. #CalvinCoolidge

            Northampton offers such a bevy of experiences for families and solo travelers that it has been designated “#1 Best Small Arts Town in America” and one of American Style Magazine’s “Top 25 Arts Destinations”. It is a destination for all seasons with museums, craft beverages, unique eateries, trails, farms and outdoor activities. 

            Hotel Northampton, a member of Historic Hotels of America, was constructed in 1927. It is located in the heart of downtown and close to everything. The rooms are elegantly appointed and offer luxury linens, designer products and all the other amenities. Wiggins, the original owner, furnished the rooms and public areas with museum-quality antiques and many continue to be on display. A list of the guests who have lodged there includes His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, David Bowie, John F. Kennedy, Tom Cruise, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt, Bob Dylan, Stephen King and Wynton Marsalis.

            Wiggins Tavern, originally in New Hampshire, was disassembled and reconstructed as part of the hotel. The hand-hewn beams, ornate paneling and stone hearths were painstakingly reconstructed. The tavern has served American fare, homemade baked goods and fine spirits to all visitors. @hotelnorthampton

            A stroll through the Downtown Historic District reveals Colonial and Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Victorian architecture exemplifying popular styles from 1850-1920. Seven historic plaques, placed around the district, recount the history of Northampton.

            The Botanic Garden of Smith College was founded by Laurenus C. Seelye, the first president of Smith College, 128 years ago. The 12,000 square foot site encompasses specialty gardens and a Japanese Garden for Reflection and Contemplation. Greater than 5,000 species are on display. The current exhibit is based on interpretations of six poems by Sylvia Plath, a Smith alumna. There are nine exhibit areas each with a QR code in which you hear her read her works. @smithcollegebotanicgarden

Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is a significant academic museum dedicated to facilitating the mission of Smith College, “to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose.” The museum’s holdings include more than 27,000 works representing the arts across eras and areas. Three of the biggest draws are The Blue Man and a huge mural in the lobby area. The third must-see is the artist designed bathrooms on the lower level. The all-gender bathroom is a definite photo op! @smithartmuseum

Thornes Marketplace at Paul and Elizabeth’s is located inside an 1873 building on Main Street. Paul and Elizabeth’s Restaurant opened in 1978. The menu is extensive, delicious and there is aways fish on the menu. Thornes also houses more than 20 independent retailers that make for a superior shopping destination. @thornesmarketplace @paulandelizabethsrestaurant

            Yankee Candle Flagship store, located in South Deerfield, is one of Massachusetts’ major attractions. The 90,000 square foot of retail space is stocked with 200,000 candles with 200 scents. A portion of the building was originally a log cabin that has expanded to house 40 events annually. The store is a destination where visitors can participate in three interactive experiences, shop, dine, create a candle and explore Yankee Candle® Village. Santa drops in, after a helicopter landing, daily after Thanksgiving. Thirty-five-million people visit yearly. I think you should be one of them. @yankeecandle

            In 1682 a few English colonists began building homes on Deerfield Street on land that had been the village of Pocumtuck. The one-mile long Historic Deerfield Village is now a tour museum and 12 historic properties. The mission of the museum is to preserve the history of Deerfield and the Connecticut River Valley through tours, an exemplary collection of American crafts and educational programs. 

            One-third of the households in the Deerfield held at least one enslaved person. To commemorate their presence Witness Stones have been placed along the street near the sidewalks. Stones are inscribed with names of the enslaved and any additional information available. @historicdeerfield

            End your trip to Western Massachusetts with a drive to the top of the 700-foot Mount Sugarloaf. The valley views are awesome and you can see, not only where you have been, but the places you have yet to see. #VisitMA

 

 

Charleston South Carolina: The Greatest Stories Never Told

            Each state has a unique story, but none more internationally impactful than South Carolina. Theirs is a tale that begins with the establishment of the colony and has resonated throughout the centuries and the legacy of enslavement has been entwined throughout the culture in both overt and covert ways. This history that often makes people uncomfortable, but is necessary none the less, to relate a “round unvarnished tale.” The best way to understand South Carolina’s story is to immerse yourself in the sounds, smells, soundtrack and sites of the area that are a blend of all cultures. @Discover_SC

            Spanish explorers arrived in the South Carolina area in 1516. They were met by numerous bands of Native Americans, the largest being the Cherokee. In 1526 the Spanish started a settlement that failed almost immediately. They were followed in 1562 by the French Huguenots. English colonists founded the port City of Charleston in 1670 and it was named Charles Town in honor of England’s King Charles II. In 1690 the first shipment of black slaves arrived from Barbados and the systems and laws used to control institutional slavery were based on the Barbados model.

            The long awaited International African American Museum (IAAM) opened on Gadsdens’ Wharf, a historic site of trauma and modern reconciliation. Now home to an international museum it was the point of arrival for an estimated 45% of the United States enslaved Africans. The museum is creatively designed to reflect all aspects of these experiences. A comprehensive tour begins on the exterior.

            The building looms 13-ft. above the wharf and the African Ancestors Memorial Garden. The structure is suspended by 18 cylindrical pillars covered in oyster shell tabby, representing an important building material in the colonial era. Additional heritage elements in the garden include a wall of slave tags and sea grass garden of the type used in weaving baskets. In the East Yard an outline of the slave house that was there at the time can be seen. The house was used to quarantine the captives. The approximately 700 individuals who died there are memorialized with carved sculptures in the house.

            The iconic display, The Tide Tribute, is based upon a diagram of the Brookes slave ship. Based on the tide the water of the wharf reveals etched figures of the enslaved forever held beneath the surface. The rim of the wharf, dividing the land from the water, is inscribed with the names of the African nations from which the captives originated. Inside the museum on two sides of the exterior it is possible for visitors to see the Charleston Harbor.

            An interior tour reveals 12 permanent exhibits inclusive of 9 galleries and a Special Exhibitions Gallery. There are Google digital exhibitions, 150 historical artifacts, 30 artworks and 50 films. The opening exhibit recounts the basic story of the African American diaspora. The Center for Family History is available to visitors for genealogical study. Slaveorigins.org

 A stellar highlight of the museum’s Atlantic Worlds Gallery is the first public North American installation of a state-of-the-art Crystal LED display. The 32-foot wide by 7-foot display allows visitors to more closely examine artifacts and history as an immersive experience. #IAAM

Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton is an ideal lodging while exploring the city. The 4-star hotel offers all the standard amenities including Wi-Fi, parking, 24-hour lobby reception desk and Iron Rose Restaurant. The hotel was opened by a grain merchant in 1853 and quickly became renowned for its location, cuisine and elegant architecture. It continues to be a city landmark. 

39 Rue de Jean is a French Cafe and Bar modeled after an 1800s Brasserie. Choices of cuisine are the province of the 2023 Discover South Carolina Chef Ambassador, Marcus Shell. Dine on Parisian-inspired dishes with creative selections of custom cocktails, curated wine lists and carefully chosen beers. 

The Daily is a Charleston staple. It prides itself on providing healthy and delicious food using fresh ingredients. The Daily offers outstanding breakfast items with all the ambiance of home. Remember to try one of their renowned breakfast smoothies.

The Aiken-Rhett House is one of the best-preserved ante-bellum townhouses in the country. Constructed in the 1820s and expanded in the 1830sand 1850s the house was maintained by the enslaved. Today the complex includes the house and exterior kitchen, original slave quarters and carriage house. Documents have revealed the names of 14 enslaved workers. After Emancipation 2 of the 14 chose to continue working there until their deaths. Site-based archeological excavations have yielded more than 10,000 artifacts. 

The Historic Charleston City Market is Charleston's #1 Attraction and it is absolutely the best place to purchase handcrafted souvenirs and gifts. The 4-block long market dates from 1790. Here you can find Corey Alston with All Things Gullah. His family is a stellar example of keepers of a heritage craft tradition. He is a 5^th generation weaver and a direct descendent of a Gullah Geechee family. His authentic sweetgrass baskets are on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Art and may be commissioned. He is located in the entrance on Meeting Street.

Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ is a great place to end this tour. Rodney Scott’s respects the art of barbecuing and the history and heritage that has made it what it is. He understands the craft of using hardwood, coal direct heat, glowing embers, temperature and technique to create a tasteful and traditional whole hog barbecue. The sides are equally delicious.