Springfield History & Homes Tour

This is an interesting and scenic ‘runseeing’ tour of Springfield, highlighting the city’s history of innovation, its museum quadrangle, and several historic district neighborhoods, with their many Victorian homes. Use our mapped route as a guide — but create your own route in the residential areas.

Start in Court Square (McKinley Memorial, Symphony Hall) and run east (away from the river), past the (ugly) Mass Mutual Center, through Pynchon Park, to the Museum Quadrangle (Smith Museum, Springfield Museum, Dr. Seuss Museum, Central Library). Continue east, for a short jaunt around Armory Square, a National Historic Site.

The next section is an exploration of several of Springfield’s historical residential districts. Using State St. & Walnut St. as an anchor, enjoy running the leafy side streets of the Mason Square/McKnight (the nation’s first planned residential community, 900 Victorian homes), Old Hill, and Six Corners historic districts. Return using Maple St., which has grand older homes, in various states of repair.

Add-On: Add some miles by exploring the residential areas, continuing south into the Forest Park area. Or, connect from downtown to the River Walk, using State St. or Union St.