the Housatonic River Museum

The Housatonic River Museum is a project in development in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts.

From its headwaters at Muddy Pond (Washington, MA), Richmond Pond (Richmond, MA) and Pontoosuc Lake (Pittsfield and Lanesborough, MA) in central Berkshire County, its confluence in Pittsfield and its numerous tributaries, the Housatonic River finds its way to the sea in Long Island Sound at Stratford, CT. Bringing together 150 miles of river and 2,000 square miles of watershed in Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut, the Housatonic River Museum will serve as a dynamic center for learning and enjoyment.

Through interactive exhibits to be designed and constructed in association with Roto Studio of Dublin, Ohio (www.rotostudio.com), Berkshire County residents and visitors will have an immersive, hands-on experience as they develop a greater understanding of our watershed ecosystem, the impact of human behaviors on the sustainability of a healthy Housatonic River (and all river systems) and the power of this tremendous natural resource: watersheds to the water cycle, erosion to estuaries, water power and water pollution, river industry and river poetry, source to sound.

The museum will be a clearinghouse for existing environmental and educational organizations and together we will celebrate the role of rivers in our landscape. Data collected by local and state organizations (water quality, water use, stream flow, native and introduced flora and fauna) will be readily available to enhance scientific and environmental study. Coordination with regional outdoor outfitters will provide exciting opportunities for willing adventurers.

The Housatonic River Museum will be an immersive environmental experience housed in a 12,000 sq ft LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rated, carbon-neutral (emissions will be assessed, calculated and reduced, with remaining emissions offset through climate-friendly projects) building designed by Bruce Fowle, FAIA, LEED and Senior Principal of FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS, PC (www.fxfowle.com) that will serve as a national model for high-performance, sustainable building construction. The museum location will tie in with the City of Pittsfield’s West Branch Greenway plans and the Urban River Visions 2 program (www.urbanrivervisions2.org).

“The design of the proposed museum will seek to achieve a zero-carbon or climate-neutral status. It is extremely important that the museum seizes the opportunity to do its part in reducing or eliminating greenhouse gases and the use of carbon fuels, while also providing an important demonstration project that will set a new standard and awareness of sustainability in the City of Pittsfield and the entire Berkshire area. Alterative energy systems to be consideration are solar power, geo-thermal heat-pump systems, wind power, bio-fuel power using watershed resources, and waterpower. Waste and storm water will be conserved. Most construction materials will be from regional sources and will have extensive use of recycled and recyclable content. The goal will be to achieve the United States Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum – the highest rating.”-Bruce Fowle

Operating expenses and programming will be funded by private and public donations, grants, exhibit sponsorship, memberships, admission fees and special events.

The Housatonic River Museum will serve our community educationally, socially, artistically and economically, providing a unique opportunity for Museum visitors to use what they know to learn more about where they live, work, study, and play.

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