Welcome to the Winchendon, MA History and Cultural Center
Interest in Winchendon’s historic past was rekindled in 1930 when a group of about twenty men and women, at the request of Joseph E. White, organized the Winchendon Historical Society. The Beals Memorial Library offered the use of a room in the basement of the library to display their extensive collection of documents and artifacts. The “museum room” in the basement housed the expanding collection of historical artifacts and archival documents for 70 years. The Winchendon Historical Society was incorporated in 1955, and remains a privately held, federally recognized a non-profit organization.
In the year 2000, the Winchendon Historical Society received an incredible gift. The Murdock-Whitney House was bequeathed to the society by Adelaide Hazzard Whitney upon her death on December 31, 2000. In September 2001, the Society began moving its collection to the property where it is located today.
In 2015, the Board of Directors voted to rename the Historical Society to better reflect its changing mission. “The Winchendon History and Cultural Center” was born in the Spring of 2016, including a new home for the Toy Museum with the acquisition of the Isaac Morse House at 135 Front St.
Our mission continues to be preserving the history of Winchendon and bringing art and cultural events to our great little town!
Ghost Hunts
Donate
Book an Event
Interested in the stories you’ve heard about things that go bump in the middle of the… day? We host our own ghost hunts several times a year (check out upcoming events). But we are also available for you or your organization to book private ghost hunts and paranormal events at any (or all) of our three our historic properties.
The Winchendon History and Cultural Center owns the Murdock-Whitney House, the Isaac Morse House, and the Old Center Church. We are a federally registered 501(c)(3), and every penny we earn through our sponsored events and fundraising efforts goes directly toward the care and upkeep of our three historic properties and our museum collection.
Did you know you can book your own event at the Winchendon History and Cultural Center? We are available for a range of occasions including baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, and paranormal events. If you can dream it up, we can probably accommodate you.