Timeline of Worcester, Massachusetts facts for kids

Worcester, Massachusetts, is a city with a long and interesting history! It's located in the heart of Massachusetts and has grown from a small settlement to a busy city over hundreds of years. This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments and changes in Worcester's past.

Early Years: Before the 1800s

• 1669 – The first common land was set up. This was a shared area for the community.
• 1719 – The first town meeting house was built. This was where important decisions for the town were made.
• 1722 – Worcester officially became a town on June 14.
• 1731 – Worcester was chosen as the main town (county seat) for the new Worcester County.
• 1733 – A courthouse was built.
• 1763 – The Old South Meeting House was built around this time.
• 1775
  • A post office was opened, making it easier to send and receive letters.
  • The Massachusetts Spy newspaper moved its operations to Worcester.
• 1776 – On July 14, the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time in Worcester by Isaiah Thomas.
• 1787 – The word 'baseball' was first printed in a book called A Little Pretty Pocket-book in Worcester by Isaiah Thomas. This is one of the earliest known uses of the word!

Growing Up: The 1800s

• 1812 – The American Antiquarian Society was founded. This group collects and preserves old books and historical items.
• 1828 – The Blackstone Canal opened. This canal helped transport goods and people, connecting Worcester to other areas.
• 1830 – The population of Worcester was 4,173 people.
• 1834
  • St. John's Catholic Church was established.
  • Worcester Academy was founded, an important school for the area.
• 1838 – Rural Cemetery was officially created.
• 1840 – The population grew to 7,497 people.
• 1843 – College of the Holy Cross was established, becoming a major college in the city.
• 1848 – Worcester changed from being a town to officially becoming the City of Worcester! Levi Lincoln Jr. became the first mayor.
• 1850
  • The first National Women's Rights Convention was held in Worcester. This was a very important event for women's rights in the United States.
  • The population reached 17,049 people.
• 1857 – Mechanics Hall was built. This building became a famous place for concerts and events.
• 1858 – The Worcester Music Festival began, bringing music and culture to the city.
• 1862 – The Free Public Library building was constructed.
• 1865 – The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science was founded. Today, it's known as Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
• 1874
  • Worcester Normal School was established, which is now Worcester State University.
  • The Soldiers' Monument was dedicated to honor soldiers.
• 1875 – A new train station was built.
• 1879 – The Worcester Worcesters baseball team was formed.
• 1880 – Lee Richmond, a pitcher for the Worcester Worcesters, threw the first perfect game in Major League Baseball history! This means no opposing player reached base during the entire game.
• 1884 – Worcester celebrated its 200th birthday (bicentennial).
• 1887 – Clark University was founded, adding another important college to the city.
• 1898
  • The Worcester Art Museum building opened, showcasing amazing art.
  • The Worcester City Hall was built.

Modern Times: The 1900s

• 1900 – The population of Worcester grew to 118,421 people.
• 1904 – Assumption College was established.
• 1906 – The Worcester Lunch Car and Carriage Manufacturing Company was founded. They became famous for building classic diner cars.
• 1910 – The population reached 145,986. President William Howard Taft visited Mechanics Hall.
• 1911 – The Train station was rebuilt.
• 1912 – The Bancroft Hotel was built.
• 1924 – Fitton Field stadium opened, a popular sports venue.
• 1927
  • Foley Stadium was built.
  • Worcester Airport opened, connecting the city by air.
• 1931 – The Higgins Armory Museum opened, displaying a large collection of armor and weapons.
• 1953 – A powerful tornado hit Worcester, causing significant damage.
• 1962 – The University of Massachusetts Medical School was established, a major medical education and research center.
• 1963
  • The famous Smiley face was created by Harvey Ross Ball in Worcester.
  • Quinsigamond Community College was founded.
• 1971
  • Worcester Center Galleria (a shopping mall) opened.
  • The Worcester Science Center was built, offering hands-on science exhibits.
• 1982 – The Centrum arena opened. This large venue hosts concerts, sports, and other big events.
• 1987 – Worcester established a sister city relationship with Pushkin, Russia, promoting cultural exchange.
• 1988 – The Worcester Historical Museum opened on Elm Street.
• 1999 – The Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire occurred, a tragic event for the city.

New Millennium: The 2000s

• 2000
  • The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences campus opened.
  • Union Station was renovated, bringing new life to the historic train station.
• 2005 – The Worcester Tornadoes baseball team was formed.
• 2012 – Joseph Petty became mayor. The Worcester Tornados baseball team played its final season.
• 2013 – The Higgin's Armory Museum closed its doors.
• 2014 – The Worcester Bravehearts baseball team was formed.
• 2017 – The Worcester Railers hockey team was formed.
• 2018 – The Massachusetts Pirates indoor football team was formed.

Images for kids

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  Town Hall, corner Main and Front St., built 1824

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  Massachusetts Yeoman newspaper published in Worcester ca.1820s

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  Dale Hospital, opened in 1864

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  Map of Worcester, 1878

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  Lothrop's Opera House, 1891 advertisement

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  Worcester, ca.1905

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  Group photo 1909 in front of Clark University. Front row: Sigmund Freud, G. Stanley Hall, Carl Jung; back row: Abraham A. Brill, Ernest Jones, Sándor Ferenczi

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  "President Taft and Governor Draper passing Worcester City Hall, April 3, 1910"

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  Worcester Domestic Science School, 1914

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  Map of Worcester, 1919

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  High-resolution birds-eye-view map of Worcester in 1878