If you're in New England and want to bring your geeklets to see ancient arms and armor, then you should bring them to the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts. The collection spans from ancient Greek helmets to suits of armor from the Renaissance.
We were getting a little snow-crazy, so I loaded the kids into the family truckster and got out of the house. The museum has plenty of free parking and is fully wheelchair accessible. (That means it is also stroller friendly.) The museum is housed in an impressive steel and glass Art Deco Building with a stone knight atop and pennants flapping in the wind.
John Woodman Higgins started the museum in 1930 as a place to house his collection of arms and armor. This is not a small, eclectic collection. Higgins Armory is the largest collection of medieval arms and armor outside of Europe. Artifacts are arranged in four floors of exhibit space. The most spectacular is the two-story Medieval Great Hall with more than 35 suits of armor and dozens of weapons affixed to the soaring columns.
I recommend starting off with the Arms & Armor Show in the first floor auditorium. Check the schedule. In this interactive program, museum staff explains the history of armor and weaponry. They pull volunteer kids out the audience to try out some of the armor.
If your geeklet fails to get onto the stage during the show, there is a large assortment of helmets on the second floor for the kids (and adults) to wear in the Quest Gallery. In addition to the helmets, the gallery has plenty of medieval clothing and plastic armor to try on. Yes, that means little boys (and girls) chasing each other with swords. Fun!
Of course there is a gift shop. You didn't think you could get out of there without a plastic sword? We ended up with a bow and arrow set and a stuffed dragon. Unlike most museum gift shops, the one at Higgins is surprisingly affordable.
I came away very impressed with Higgins. My seven-year old boy and three-year old girl loved it. I loved it. We'll be back.
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