Great Falls Discovery Center
2 Avenue A,
Turners Falls, MA 01376
413.863.3221
www.greatfallsma.org

Visit the Great Falls Discovery Center and learn about the Connecticut River Watershed’s rich natural, cultural and industrial history.

The Center is fully accessible and is housed within a complex of old mill buildings and includes open habitat exhibits, fish tanks, and a multipurpose program room referred to as the "Great Hall".

Exhibits highlight various habitats found in the watershed, timelines put perspective on todays view of the threats to habitats and what we can do to safeguard them.

The Friends of the Great Falls Disocvery Center Museum Store is filled with nature items, educational merchandise, and local crafters and artsist products from beeswax candles to maple syrup, and handpainted glassware, books from local authors and greeting cards. You can now  find events posted on Face-Book under  "Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center".

The four-acre park that surrounds The Center has butterfly gardens, native plantings views of the canal and river as well as safe play areas. This park is linked to a bike trail that runs from Turners Falls to Deerfield, a historical walking tour through downtown Turners Falls, and the watchable wildlife areas of Barton’s cove and along the power canal.

Admission to the Great Falls Discovery Center is free as is the majority of programs for all ages.
The Center hosts some fee based programs and any fees or registration requirements are announced on our events calendar.

Hours The Center is open Friday & Saturday 10am - 4pm during the winter. May-October hours are open daily from 10am -4pm

Directions
From points North and South
Take Interstate 91, take exit 27 onto Route 2 East.

From points West
Take Route 2 East past route 91 to the traffic lights in Gill.

From points East
Take Route 2 West to Gill.

At the Route 2 lights in Gill, go South toward Turners Falls and Deerfield over the river on Avenue A. You have arrived!

Parking
Handicap accessible parking is immediately after the bridge on the right.
The main parking lot is just around the corner ( 2nd Street), take the next right to enter the lot.

Calendar Coffehouse series Fri, February 10 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM Family Series Sat, February 11 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Corkboard Coming Events clegg - Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 5:10 P Febuary Schedule of events February 3-29, 2012 2012: In the Great Hall-Painting by Camilla Roberts Feb. 4, 2012 (1:00 - 3:00 pm) Artist Reception Meet this month's artist Camilla Roberts in person from 1-3 pm. Refreshment... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Jan 6, 2012, 5:51 P Ray Mason performing at the Discovery Center GFDC Coffehouse Friday Jan 13, 2012, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Ray Mason performs at 7 pm on Friday, January 13, at the Great Falls Coffeehouse. Ray will be performing solo with his 1965 Silvertone guitar... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 4:54 P November events November, 2011 Nature Printing, Weaving, and Surface Design by Leonore Alaniz in the Great Hall all of November Nov. 11, 2011 (7:00 - 9:00 pm) Friends’ Coffeehouse- Last Night’s Fun Stop by and ... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Sep 30, 2011, 5:25 P October events In the Great Hall October 1-31, 2011 Northeast Fall Photography by Eric Valentine Interested in what draws people to New England in the fall? Come check out Eric Valentine's photography exhibit ... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Sep 2, 2011, 4:42 P This weekend at the GFDC Stop by the Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, in Turners Falls on Sunday, September 4, from 2:00 p.m to 3:30 p.m.and learn about brick manufacturing in the town of Montague and architectural s... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Jul 22, 2011, 3:12 P Block Party using GFDC grounds Saturday, August 13 (2:00 pm – 8:00 pm) Turners Falls Block Party! Join us on the grounds of the Great Falls Discovery Center for activities, displays, and crafts about the natural world during thi... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Thu, Jul 21, 2011, 4:45 P August Events at GFDC In the Great Hall Photography by Rollin Atkinson August 1 – 31, 2011 Tuesday, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (10:30 am – 11:30 am) Kidleidoscope Kidleidoscope is a kid-friendly, hands-on environm... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Sat, Jul 9, 2011, 2:21 P Special events On Friday, July 22nd, 2011 starting at 1:00 pm, join the Boston Museum of Science in the Great Hall for a live animal program featuring reptiles! What makes a reptile a reptile? Are snakes slimy? Come... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Thu, Jun 30, 2011, 12:35 P July Events In the Great Hall "Underwater Life" a Photographic Exhibition by Norm Vexler July 1- July 31, 2011 Saturday, July 2, 2011 (1:00 - 3:00 pm): Artist Reception Join us for a reception reco... (More...) Coming Events linda - Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 10:46 A Drawing by the Ct. River Drawing is a wonderful way to learn more about the world we live in, and spend time to really see our surroundings. Join artist Annie Chappell of Northfield and enjoy time along the Connecticut Ri... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Jun 3, 2011, 5:55 P June Schedule and more In the Great Hall Nature Photography by Patrick Zephyr June 1 – June 30, 2011 Friday, June 10, 2011 (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm): Friends Coff... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Fri, Jun 3, 2011, 5:28 P June events and info The Great Falls Discovery Center has 19 events/programs scheduled during June. In addition to the calendar on MontagueMA.net check out www.greatfallsma.net and the the Facebook page of Friends of the ... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Sun, May 15, 2011, 1:05 P Thank you The GFDC was packed for both owl presentations on Saturday, May 14. Thank you to all that attended . These programs are free of charge and brought to the public through the efforts of US Fish and ... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Sat, May 14, 2011, 3:56 P 7 day a week The Great Falls Discovery Center is now open 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm until mid- October. Please go to www.greatfallsma.org for programming info and also please join us on facebook at " Fr... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Apr 15, 2011, 6:52 P May Schedule Great Falls Discovery Center is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm until May 14, 2011. Starting May 15, 2011, Great Falls Discovery Center will be open 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm. A... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Fri, Apr 8, 2011, 5:51 P Saturday Programming The Great Falls Discovery Center is a partnership which includes DCR, US Fish and Wildlife, Town of Montague, and “Friends of GFDC”. If the United States Congress and President Obama do not agree on a... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Apr 8, 2011, 5:09 P Coffeehouse Music Series Coffeehouse Series Friday Apr 8, 2011, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM GFDC Friends present Coffeehouse Series: Ramblin’ Red and the Blackstone Riders Ramblin’ Red and the Blackstone Riders croon cowboy tunes ... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Sun, Mar 27, 2011, 4:48 P April schedule of events All programs are free to the public unless otherwise noted. April 2011 In the Great Hall April 1 – April 30, 2011 Spineless Splend... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Fri, Mar 4, 2011, 6:33 P Meet the young Artists Meet some of the young artists that created this month's art display in the Great Hall of the Discovery Center. Open reception is on Saturday, March 5, from 1-3 pm. The art work will be on display ... (More...) Coming Events clegg - Fri, Feb 25, 2011, 6:35 P March Schedule March Schedule of Events March 1 – 31, 2011 In the Great Hall Told and Retold: Art Exhibit by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association/Memorial Hall Museum Saturday, Mar. 5, 2011 (1:00 pm... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Fri, Feb 4, 2011, 4:44 P February Events at GFDC February 2011 In the Great Hall Fine Fishing Artwork by Jim Roszel Now – February 28, 2011 Feb. 5, 2011 (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm): Artist reception for Jim Roszel Come meet fish artist ... (More...) Discovery Stuff ElizabethNash - Sat, Jan 29, 2011, 11:37 A Coffeehouse Concert Series Friends Coffeehouse hosts Mando Paradiso Mandolin Orchestra. Doors open at 6:30. The Great Falls Coffeehouse presents Mando Paradiso, playing tunes from the early 20th century—that long-ago time bef... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Wed, Jan 5, 2011, 4:30 P Artist display at Great Hal of Discovery Center. January 1 - February 26, 2011 In the Great Hall-Fine Fishing Artwork by James Roszel Since the age of four, Jim Roszel spent summers at his grandparent’s cottage on Harsens Island fishing the No... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Mon, Nov 15, 2010, 1:31 P Turkeys!!! Join local expert, Joe Judd, in a discussion about the re-establishment of Eastern wild turkeys to Massachusetts. These birds, once removed from our landscape have rebounded to the largest population... (More...) Discovery Stuff clegg - Fri, Oct 29, 2010, 5:01 P Saturday at the Discovery Center Halloween Treats Saturday Oct 30, 2010, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Halloween Treats at The Great Falls Discovery Center Come by and pick up your Halloween Treat from 10-4 donated by the Friends of Great ... (More...)