Pittsfield is located in the state of Massachusetts and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Pittsfield, you’ve come to the right place!
Here you can find different housings and hotels around Pittsfield
Just type in your destination and get many different suggestions.
Vacation in Pittsfield
Pittsfield is a beautiful city located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. The Berkshires are home to many quaint towns, stunning natural scenery, and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. Pittsfield is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a relaxing vacation full of scenic hikes, quaint cafes, and charming inns.
In the summer, Pittsfield is the perfect place to escape the heat of the city and enjoy the fresh mountain air. There are numerous hiking trails throughout the Berkshires that are perfect for a day of exploring the stunning landscape. For a more relaxed vacation, enjoy a leisurely stroll through one of the many small towns in the area, stopping in cafes and shops along the way. If you are looking for a more active vacation, Pittsfield also offers plenty of opportunities for biking, golfing, and swimming.
In the fall, the Berkshires come alive with the changing leaves and the cool autumn air. There are many farms in the area that offer hayrides, corn mazes, and other fall activities. This is also a great time of year to enjoy the many wines and craft beers produced in the region.
Winter in the Berkshires is a magical time, with the snowcovered landscape providing the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway. Enjoy crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, or just snuggling up by the fireplace in one of the many cozy inns.
No matter what time of year you visit, Pittsfield is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation.
Sights in Pittsfield
Pittsfield is the largest city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 44,737 at the 2010 census. Lee, Lenox and Pittsfield are the county’s shire towns. Pittsfield is the westernmost city in Massachusetts.
The city lies in the Berkshires, on the west side of the Taconic Range about 30 miles (50 km) southeast of Albany, New York, and 20 miles (30 km) northwest of Springfield, Massachusetts. TheLenox Hills rise less than two miles (3 km) east of the central city.KC’s North Street is the old Boston Post Road and is now the main commercial drag.
The Mahican Indians called the area Pontoosuc, meaning “the field”. The name was anglicized to Pontiac when the British took over in 1757. Daniel Gray and his family migrated from Qubec during the French and Indian War and settled on land north of the present city that later became the town of Lanesborough. They built a log cabin near a spring which they used as a millpond to power a sawmill. After the death of Gray in 1772, the property passed to his son Elijah, who sold it to Colonel John Ashley of Sheffield. Ashley rebuilt the millpond into a large pond, which he used for float lumber downriver to Sheffield. In 1787, Pittsfield was incorporated as a town; the county seat of Berkshire County, it was named in honor of British statesman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The population reached 2,067 by the year 1800.
In 1821, the town was divided into eastern and western sections, with the western part keeping the name “Pittsfield” and the eastern part becoming “Lenox”. The spilt was due to the sluggish economy following the War of 1812 and due to the desire of the citizens of Lenox to be free of Pittsfield’scontrol. The western section remained a part of Pittsfield, while the eastern section was incorporated as Lenox.
When the Berkshire Railroad was built through Pittsfield and Lenox, passengers had to transfer from one train to another in the center of town, giving rise to the expression “all aboard for Pittsfield and points west.” The Pittsfield post office, which opened on August 28, 1837, was the first in Berkshire County.
In 1848, William Stanley, Jr. invented the transformer, which helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution. Stanley’stransformers were widely used to transmit electricity long distance. Pittsfield prospered due to the industrial revolution, and by 1885 had a population of 17,000. The city’s success attracted wealthy entrepreneurs and families who built lavish summer homes known as “cottages” in the Berkshire hills, including Mrs. E.D. Morgan (J.P. Morgan’s mother), Henry Ward Beecher, and Theodore Roosevelt.
TheBerkshire Millers Association, founded in Pittsfield in 1886, was the first business association in the United States formed to promote the interests of the milling industry. The association played an important role in attracting investment capital to the Berkshires.
In 1891, George Graves sold the Graves Hotel and adjoining properties to Frederick Winthrop Siebert, who transformed it into the Egremont Inn. The Inn quickly became a favorite destination for writers, artists, and celebrities. It was during this period that writer William Dean Howells wrote his novel Silas Lapham, while Mark Twain wrote parts of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is located in nearby Lenox. The music festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Berkshires each year.
The Cottages were mostly abandoned after World War I, when the wealthy families who had owned them began to spend their summers elsewhere. The Egremont Inn continued to operate, however, and in the 1920s and 1930s became a popular destination for Hollywood celebrities such as Greta Garbo, James Cagney, and Boris Karloff.
The city declined economically after World War II, as the industries that had sustained it for so long began to move elsewhere. In the 21st century, however, Pittsfield has experienced something of a renaissance, with a growing number of young professionals and families moving into the city. The downtown area has been revitalized, and new businesses are opening. There is still a strong sense of community here, and Pittsfield is once again a thriving small city.
History of Pittsfield
Pittsfield is a city located in western Massachusetts in the Berkshires. The Berkshires is a region that is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions. Pittsfield is the largest city in the Berkshires, and is the economic and cultural center of the region. The city has a long history dating back to the early 18th century, when it was first settled by British colonists. Since then, Pittsfield has undergone a number of changes, both in its economy and in its demographics. Today, Pittsfield is a vibrant city with a diverse population and a thriving arts and culture scene.
Pittsfield was first settled in 1761 by Colonel Jacob Wendell and his family. The area was originally part of the town of Sheffield, but was incorporated as a separate town in 1761. The town was named after British statesman and prime minister William Pitt the Elder. Pittsfield quickly grew into an important agricultural and industrial center. The town was home to a number of mills and factories, and was also a major stop on the BostonAlbany stagecoach line. In the late 19th century, Pittsfield began to decline economically, as many of its industries began to move elsewhere.
The city bounced back in the early 20th century, thanks in part to the development of the automobile industry. In 1916, the General Motors Corporation opened a plant in Pittsfield, which helped to revitalize the city’s economy. Pittsfield continued to prosper through the mid20th century, with the development of several major corporations, including GE, Berkshire Hathaway, and Pittsfield Plastics.
Today, Pittsfield is a thriving city with a vibrant arts and culture scene. The city is home to a number of museums, theaters, and festivals, and is also a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Pittsfield is a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and is considered one of the best small cities in the United States.
Other vacation destinations in the United States:
