PassportHolyoke  is a network of organizations that promotes the diverse cultural, educational and recreational assets of Holyoke.

Back in 2005, a group of Holyoke-based organizations joined forces to promote their cultural, recreational and educational events together under the title of PassportHolyoke.   PassportHolyoke formed with a goal of promoting the city as a destination and an aim to attract larger audiences. Four years later, PassportHolyoke is still going strong. With more than 20 active PassportHolyoke members, the network of organizations works collaboratively for joint marketing and cross promotion of events. The group maintains a community calendar at www.PassportHolyoke.org which highlights programming within the city. There is a renewed effort for members to work together coordinating events throughout the city that can be promoted as a regional draw. Holyoke is a city with a rich and unique history and culture that has much to offer with a variety of exciting sites, venues and events!

CREATING HOLYOKE

In the Fall of 2008, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded a grant of $399,950 to the City of Holyoke and Wistariahurst Museum, who in partnership with Holyoke Heritage State Park, the Children's Museum at Holyoke, the Holyoke History Room of the Holyoke Public Library and Enchanted Circle Theater, will develop a city-wide exhibit and heritage tourism plan for Holyoke called Creating Holyoke.   

This project will allow Wistariahurst Museum and partner organizations to finalize collaborations with humanities scholars and advisers, finish design and fabrication of long term museum exhibits in three locations, install walking/driving tour panels and way finding signs, develop teacher guides and curriculum materials, develop a website portal, and implement community programs in the humanities.

National Endowment for the Humanities panelists commented that Creating Holyoke is "a model for collaboration of museums within one city and a model for interpreting urban history." They applauded the project for examining broad themes in the growth of American cities over time and that “Holyoke's history addresses central themes and issues in American history." The project also won praise for weaving together "a rich interpretation" from three disparate exhibitions, for its varied and "imaginative" range of citywide programs and online resources, and for its strong scholarship. The panelists expressed strong support for this "extraordinarily comprehensive project." The Endowment shares the panel's enthusiasm for this project, and applauds its effective use of local history as a lens for viewing a larger national story.

Mayor Sullivan stated: “It is exciting to see what great things Wistariahurst and partners like PassportHolyoke do for the City of Holyoke.”

With resources from the National Endowment for Humanities, funding from Community Foundation of Western MA, sponsorships from area businesses and community support, partners in the project will create:

1) Permanent exhibits at Holyoke Heritage State Park, The Children’s Museum at Holyoke and Wistariahurst Museum,

2) City-wide programming, including mural projects and oral history interviews,

3) Site-based exhibit panels with driving and walking tours,

4) Signage to guide visitors to and through the city,

5) Creating Holyoke Institute: professional development workshop for educators,

6) Online resource that creates a portal for the history of Holyoke, school curriculum guides and primary source documents, and

7) WGBY documentary on the themes of Creating Holyoke.

This is the perfect opportunity to join in creating a brighter future for Holyoke’s heritage tourism.

Wistariahurst Museum seeks to preserve the home, landscape and material culture of the Skinner family and promote an appreciation of history and culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events.

The Story We Weave
Wistariahurst Museum, originally the home of prominent silk manufacturer, William Skinner and his family, has stood as an example of elegance and fine architecture since 1874. The buildings and grounds were owned continually by the Skinner family until 1959, when Katharine Skinner Kilborne, the youngest child of William and Sarah Skinner, and her heirs gave Wistariahurst to the City of Holyoke for cultural and educational purposes.

Today, Wistariahurst Museum reflects the lives and tastes of both generations of the Skinner family. The museum features original leather wall coverings, columns, elaborate woodwork and an interesting tale of how two generations perceived and used the house very differently. The museum's permanent collection includes decorative arts; paintings and prints, textiles and a rich manuscript collection of family and local papers. Wistariahurst Museum offers a wide variety of programs and events including: workshops, concerts, lectures and demonstrations. The museum is also available for school visits and group tours.

Learn more about Wistariahurst Museum

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