Herman Melville's Arrowhead

Herman Melville's Arrowhead The one-time home of Herman Melville, Arrowhead is currently home to the Berkshire County Historical Society in Pittsfield, MA

Arrowhead is the headquarters of the Berkshire County Historical Society. The house and farm was the home of Herman Melville from 1850 to 1863. While living in Berkshire County, Melville nurtured several close friendships with literary colleagues and fellow authors. It is also where he wrote the seminal novel Moby-Dick and other works of short fiction. The time spent at Arrowhead is known as the m

ost productive period of his life. A visit today brings guests back to the 19th century to see and experience life as the Melville family knew it. Carefully restored (an ongoing process), Arrowhead is not only a National Historic Landmark dedicated to the author, but also to the history of Berkshire County.

08/26/2026
We agree, Melville certainly was handsome!
08/21/2026

We agree, Melville certainly was handsome!

New York-based sculptor Steff Rocknak is the artist behind the new Herman Melville statue in New Bedford.

Thanks Oprah! We're thrilled to be a part of these "Book-Cations"!!!
08/19/2026

Thanks Oprah! We're thrilled to be a part of these "Book-Cations"!!!

Relax and recharge at these spots that inspired great American writers throughout history.

We’re here at Berkshire Museums’s Educator Resource Fair! If you haven’t been to the newly renovated Berkshire Museum, y...
08/18/2026

We’re here at Berkshire Museums’s Educator Resource Fair! If you haven’t been to the newly renovated Berkshire Museum, you must!

We were so thrilled to invite author, Phil Adamo to present his new book, Kill Ahab! A wonderful evening of reading and ...
08/13/2026

We were so thrilled to invite author, Phil Adamo to present his new book, Kill Ahab! A wonderful evening of reading and questions and a book signing! And if you weren’t able to attend, we have the book in our gift shop!

August 11, 1923, marked the closing day of the Pittsfield Water Circus, which had begun on August 7. The Pontoosuc Lake ...
08/11/2026

August 11, 1923, marked the closing day of the Pittsfield Water Circus, which had begun on August 7. The Pontoosuc Lake event was held under the auspices of the Pittsfield Boat Club and the Pittsfield Golf Club.

The Pittsfield Boat Club was organized in 1898 and incorporated in 1901. The home of the Boat Club, on the southeastern shore of the lake, provided convenient spaces for the members to keep their private launches, canoes, and rowboats. An auditorium was later constructed on the Point of Pines. The policies and administration of the Boat Club provided the people of Pittsfield with a high-quality location to enjoy numerous social activities.

The Pittsfield Golf Club, located on the west shore of Pontoosuc Lake, was formed when 80 members of the Boat Club entered an agreement to form an affordable golf club. The $10 yearly membership (about $195 today) allowed the founders to advertise their club as having “All the Thrills without the Frills.”

It was intended that the Water Circus’ high and fancy diving, swimming, tub and canoe races, band concerts, boat parades, and fireworks would raise enough money and support to continue the program for years to come, allowing the Clubs to continue to contribute to the economic welfare and development of Pittsfield.

All images from the Souvenir Program for the 1923 Pittsfield Water Circus

This should be a really fun evening! Free and open to the public, August 12, 5:30 at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead in the...
08/10/2026

This should be a really fun evening! Free and open to the public, August 12, 5:30 at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead in the barn!

We’re so honored to be collaborating with the Dubois Freedom Center The Du Bois Freedom Center and Crow Flies Press in t...
08/10/2026

We’re so honored to be collaborating with the Dubois Freedom Center The Du Bois Freedom Center and Crow Flies Press in the 16th Annual ELIZABETH MUMBET FREEMAN Walk to Freedom! Elizabeth Mumbet Freeman is one of the most important historical figures in the Berkshires. Enslaved for more than 30 years, she used the newly ratified Massachusetts Constitution and the words “all men are created equal”, to sue for her freedom in1781, and she won that freedom in a Great Barrington court of law. This will be the beginning of a whole day of celebration, including tours of the Ashley house, a new permanent interactive exhibit of artwork commemorating her life and times at the Great Barrington town hall, the former courthouse where she won her freedom and more! Rain or shine! (Unless it’s torrential with lightning and thunder) Hope to see you!

Didn't make it to the Moby Dick Readathon? Well, now you can watch it, thanks to Pittsfield Community Television and Ric...
08/08/2026

Didn't make it to the Moby Dick Readathon? Well, now you can watch it, thanks to Pittsfield Community Television and Rick Foulkrod for filming the entire event!

Address

780 Holmes Road
Pittsfield, MA
01201

Telephone

+14134421793

Website

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