Tour historic homes in Springfield’s Forest Park Heights Historic District, then enjoy hors d’oeuvres, music, and libations at the post-tour social.

Springfield Preservation Trust is excited to announce the return of its annual Historic Homes Tour, taking place this year in the Forest Park Heights Historic District.

The event will take place on Sunday, June 25, 2023 from 1:00-4:00pm, followed by a social gathering at 73 Washington Rd, from 4:00-6:00pm, where hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served and multiple live entertainment acts will entertain.

Homes & structures that will be featured include:

• 70 Bellevue Avenue
• 83 Magnolia Terrace
• 23 Washington Road
• 68 Washington Road
• 361 Sumner Avenue (Trinity Church)
• 4 Garfield Street (Straitway to Heaven Church)
• 73 Washington Road (post-tour social location)

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the striking beauty of these historic homes and structures, on the inside and out.

This year, the tour will focus on the Forest Park Heights Historic District, one of the largest local historic districts in Massachusetts. Abutting Springfield’s 735-acre Forest Park, from which it gets its name, the neighborhood features 600 homes that reflect the most popular styles from the 1890s to the 1920s. Forest Park Heights received its local historic district designation in 1975 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The neighborhood is touted for its proximity to Forest Park, which features walking trails, playing fields, a zoo, lakes, ponds, and more—and also hosts Bright Nights at Forest Park, the northeast’s premier annual holiday lighting experience.

Past historic homes tours have opened hundreds of homes, showcased the wonderful neighborhoods of Springfield, and even encouraged people to buy homes in the city. Previous tours have included homes in Colony Hills (2019), Atwater Park (2018), Maple Street (2017), and McKnight (2016). The tour was canceled in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tickets are $45 (tour+social), $35 (social-only), and $15 (tour-only) for SPT members, and $55 (tour+social), $40 (social-only), and $20 (tour-only). All tour proceeds support the Springfield Preservation Trust’s mission of preserving and protecting properties in Springfield which have architectural, historic, educational, or general cultural significance.

The Historic Homes Tour & Social are made possible by sponsors and ticket sales, as well as by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council.

70 Bellevue Avenue (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Jeff Morgan)

83 Magnolia Terrace (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Derek Strahan)

23 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

68 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

361 Sumner Avenue, Trinity Church (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

4 Garfield Street, Straitway to Heaven Church (Photo courtesy of Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)

73 Washington Road (Photo courtesy Springfield Preservation Trust / Michelle Langan)