Heritage Landscape Inventory

Stone Wall in front of George House, Mendon, photo by Paul Hutchinson

Stone Wall in front of George House, Mendon, photo by Paul Hutchinson

Heritage landscapes are special places that help define the character of every community. In the Blackstone Valley, heritage landscapes include

  • the mill villages,
  • farmsteads,
  • cemeteries,
  • parks and river corridors

that, through a combination of natural and cultural resources, reflect the region’s history and contribute to its sense of place. In 2007, the Corridor Commission partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Quinebaug–Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. to undertake an inventory of heritage landscapes in south-central Massachusetts. Each of the participating communities received a report that identifies important, unprotected heritage landscapes and provides recommendations for their preservation.

This successful program is currently being implemented in five communities in Rhode Island – Burrillville, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield and Smithfield – with funding from the Corridor Commission and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission’s Preservation is Local grant program. Each town hosted a community meeting where participants were invited to identify a wide range of heritage landscapes and then choose several high priority landscapes for further evaluation.

Tools for Protecting Heritage Landscapes

The Massachusetts heritage landscape inventory culminated in a series of preservation planning workshops.

Topics included:

  • how to protect local farmland,
  • revitalize mill buildings and
  • become a more effective preservation advocate.

Learn more on these topics: