Immerse yourself in Fall River history this December at Heritage State Park

Herald News Staff
·4 min read

FALL RIVER — Stop by Heritage State Park this month for programs that are sure to have something for everyone.

All programs are free and open to the public.

The Visitor Center is located at 200 Davol St. in the Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. Memorial Building.

Free parking is available in the DCR Lot at 5 Water St.

An adult must accompany children. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

For more information, call 508-675-5759, Ext. 0.

Follow all current COVID guidelines. Visit Mass.gov/COVID.

Here's what's happening in December at Heritage State Park:

Creation Station activities

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitor Center, drop-in.

Get creative! Stop by the Visitor Center, and grab one of the unique coloring sheets of moments in Fall River history. Believe in yourself and color some Sesame Street characters. Learn about textiles and calico by stamping your own creations. Help complete the calico stamp wall or try your hand at weaving. You are invited to weave a row on the community loom. Learn and have fun at the same time! For all ages.

Artist Sheila Oliveira and Visitor Services Supervisor at Fall River Heritage State Park Jim Lopes stand in the visitors center lobby with Oliveira's portrait of Fall River composer Joe Raposo, who wrote the theme song for Sesame Street.
Artist Sheila Oliveira and Visitor Services Supervisor at Fall River Heritage State Park Jim Lopes stand in the visitors center lobby with Oliveira's portrait of Fall River composer Joe Raposo, who wrote the theme song for Sesame Street.

StoryWalk: "What a Wonderful World!"

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from dawn to dusk on the boardwalk

Say hello to the holidays with an inspirational StoryWalk on the boardwalk. Read “What a Wonderful World,” based on the song by Bob Thiele & George David Weiss, as sung by Louis Armstrong. Sweet and positive in its message, with bright eye-catching art, this makes a great family walk on the waterfront! Illustrations by Tim Hopgood. StoryWalks are a unique adventure in reading and walking, and now singing!

Faces of Fall River

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Visitor Center Gallery

Meet the people of Fall River’s past through a gallery of classic black-and-white photographs from the textile era. Featured are photos by labor activist and photographer Lewis Hine. Photos include the immigrant women, men, and children who worked the mills that made Fall River the premiere textile city in America. These photographs inspired change in American labor laws and helped abolish child labor.

Tracing the Threads

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Visitor Center

Explore this permanent exhibit celebrating the cultural, ethnic and industrial history of Fall River. Learn about the waterfalls that shaped the city, enabled its industries, and even gave Fall River its name. Share the stories of the many ethnic groups from around the world who call this city home.

Behind the scenes featurettes: A tribute to Captain Thomas J. Hudner and Ensign Jesse L. Brown

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Visitor Center Theater

Discover the true story behind the theatrical hit film “Devotion” and the amazing friendship of Fall River’s own Captain Thomas J. Hudner and his navy partner Ensign Jesse Brown. These five featurettes tell their story. Go behind the scenes and learn the whole story. Take a seat in the comfortable theater. For ages 12 and up. Total running time of the films: 40 minutes.

Film: The Fabric of Fall River

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., Visitor Center Theater

Discover Fall River’s rich past through this classic documentary that showcases the history of Fall River from the First People through the cotton mill era, to the needle trades of the 1980s. For ages 8 and up. Run-time: 34 minutes.

Water + Granite + Gravity = Fall River

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Visitor Center

Fall River was once the third largest city in Massachusetts, with thriving factories and bustling piers on its waterfront. Without the water of the Taunton and Quequechan Rivers, the granite cliffs, and the power of gravity and the waterfalls that they produced, there would be no Fall River. The park highlights this legacy with seven granite way finders that commemorate the industry through time. This is a 30-minute self-guided walk through waterfront history connecting the way finders. Information is available at the front desk.

People, Ambition and Hard Work

Daily, Dec. 1 to 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Visitor Center

A Portuguese-American poet, a beloved local entrepreneur, a decorated military hero, and a visionary state legislator all have their names enshrined in Fall River Heritage State Park. Who were these people and how did they inspire others through their vision, ambition, and hard work? This short self-guided walking tour is available at the front desk.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: December 2022 programs at Fall River's Heritage State Park