Bridgewater brings together early industrial history, art, theatre and golf. The Bridgewater Iron Works at Stanley point to iron production in the American colonies; at Bridgewater State University, sculptures, a gallery and stage productions take center stage. Olde Scotland Links adds a golf course to these cultural offerings, while the Old State Farm Trail gives residents and visitors access to a local recreation area and is still under construction. You can choose Bridgewater based on a clear focus: early industrial history, art and performances, golf or recreation.

Colonial Industrial History in Bridgewater

The Bridgewater Iron Works at Stanley was founded in 1691 and was the first iron production facility in the American colonies. The historic site is in Bridgewater and within walking distance of the town center. This connects a specific place in town with its significance in the history of the American colonies. For travelers interested in early industrial history, this combination of a local setting and broader historical context offers a clear thematic focus.

Sculptures, Gallery and Theatre

At Bridgewater State University, the Greg and Fay Wyatt Sculpture Garden is located in the courtyard between Maxwell Library and the Student Union. The works include a large sculpture of ballet dancer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov, 15 bas-reliefs about poets and their relationships with dance, and four ancient river goddesses. This brings a stage personality, literary connections to dance and ancient figures together. In a bas-relief, the forms project from a flat surface rather than standing freely in space; this also sets the 15 reliefs apart, in formal terms, from the large Baryshnikov sculpture.

The university's Art Center is also home to the Wallace L. Anderson Gallery. It supports the educational and cultural mission of Bridgewater State University and serves as a place for the production, exhibition and critical discussion of works by living artists. Unlike the garden's specifically named subjects, the gallery's mission brings together the creation of art with its presentation and critical examination.

The Department of Theatre at Bridgewater State University presents four mainstage productions each year at the Rondileau Student Union Auditorium in Bridgewater, which has 1,300 seats. If you would like to make a performance the occasion for your trip, check the dates for your travel period.

Golf and Recreation

Olde Scotland Links is a golf course in Bridgewater managed by TROON. It adds a sporting focus to the town's cultural and theatrical offerings. Since operating details can change, check them before making specific plans.

The Old State Farm Trail gives residents and visitors access to a local recreation area in Bridgewater. The trail is still under construction. If you plan to visit, check the current construction status.

Discover more destinations: Pembroke, Plymouth, Rockland, West Bridgewater, Brockton, Scituate, Marshfield, Hull.

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