Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Quadrangle

Springfield City Library
Location	Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Type	Cluster of museums and cultural institutions

The Quadrangle is a cool place in Springfield, Massachusetts. It's a group of museums and other interesting buildings all together. Right in the middle, you'll find the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. This garden is surrounded by a park, a library, five museums, and even a big church called a cathedral. There's another cathedral nearby too!

Exploring the Quadrangle

The Quadrangle is a special spot where you can learn, explore, and have fun. It brings together history, art, science, and the magic of Dr. Seuss. It's a great place for families and students to visit.

Merrick Park: A Historic Spot

Merrick Park is a peaceful green space. It's known for a famous statue called The Puritan. This statue shows Deacon Samuel Chapin, one of Springfield's early settlers. The park is next to the Springfield City Library and Christ Church Cathedral.

Springfield City Library: A Place to Read

Library, 1930s

The Central Library was built in 1913. A very rich man named Andrew Carnegie helped pay for it. This library is the second one built in this exact spot.

The library has different sections for all kinds of books. You can find fiction and nonfiction books for adults. There are also magazines, foreign language books, and public computers. For younger visitors, there are special areas. You'll find Young adult literature, children's books, and media materials. There's also a community room and a computer lab for everyone to use.

Cathedrals: Beautiful Churches

Two large churches, called cathedrals, are near the Quadrangle.

• The Roman Catholic St. Michael's Cathedral is right next to the Springfield City Library.
• The Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral is also very close to the Quadrangle.

Springfield Museums: A World of Discovery

The Springfield Museums Corporation runs the Dr. Seuss Memorial and five museums in the Quadrangle. In 2013, these museums earned a special national award. Only a small number of museums in the U.S. get this honor! In 2016, they became a "Smithsonian affiliate." This means they can bring even more amazing exhibits and programs to visitors.

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Ancient Treasures

Smith Art Museum

This is the oldest museum in the Quadrangle. It's named after George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle. They gave their amazing collection to start the museum. The building itself is very old, built in 1895.

Exploring the Collections

• Ancient Treasures: You can see objects from ancient Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. There are Greek and Roman statues, and old Chinese pottery and bronze items.
• Japanese Arms and Armor: This gallery has a huge collection of East Asian armor. You can also see a beautiful Shinto shrine carved a long time ago.
• Chinese Cloisonné: The museum has one of the biggest collections of Chinese cloisonne outside of China. Cloisonné is a special way of decorating metal with colorful enamel.

Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts: Amazing Art

D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts

This museum shows beautiful American and European art. You can see paintings by famous artists like John Singleton Copley from Massachusetts. There are also works by Edgar Degas and Claude Monet. The museum has many interactive exhibits where you can get involved.

Art Through the Ages

The museum features art from different time periods:

• Medieval and Renaissance: Paintings from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
• Baroque and 18th Century: Art from the 1600s and 1700s.
• American Paintings: Works by American artists like Frederic Edwin Church and Georgia O'Keeffe.
• Contemporary Art: Modern art by artists like Helen Frankenthaler.
• Japanese Prints: The museum has the largest collection of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's Japanese prints in the U.S.

Springfield Science Museum: Discover Science

Springfield Science Museum

The Springfield Science Museum is all about natural and physical science.

Exciting Exhibits

• Eco-Center: See live animals and learn about different ecosystems.
• African Hall: Explore an African Savannah ecosystem from the ground up.
• Dinosaur Hall: Come face-to-face with a life-size Tyrannosaurus rex model! You can also see dinosaur skeletons, including a Stegosaurus cast. There's even a leg bone from an Alamosaurus.
• Planetarium: Visit the first planetarium ever built in the United States! Learn about stars, planets, and space.
• Observatory: The museum has its own observatory with a powerful telescope. It's sometimes open to the public for stargazing.

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden: Whimsical Fun

The area around the Quadrangle used to be open to cars. But in the 1990s, it became a park just for people walking. Soon after, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden opened. This garden has fun statues of Springfield native Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, and many of his famous characters.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Our City's Story

This museum opened in 2009. It tells the story of Springfield, Massachusetts. It highlights how Springfield was known as "The City of Progress" and "The City of Firsts."

Springfield's Innovations

The museum shows off many inventions and new ways of making things that started here. You can learn about the city's role in American history. It also looks at Springfield during different times, like wars, when many people moved here, and changes in transportation. You can see old cars and firearms, showing the city's different industries. There's also a large collection from the old Indian Motorcycle Museum.

Springfield History Library and Archives

This part of the museum holds old papers and documents. It includes records to help you trace your family history (genealogy) and many books about history.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: For Young Explorers

The newest museum in the Quadrangle opened in 2017. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum mixes facts about Dr. Seuss's life with fun, interactive exhibits. These exhibits are perfect for children. The museum is in the William Pynchon Memorial Building.