Worcester Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Worcester

Union Station was originally built in 1911 during the heyday of railroading in the United States as a replacement for the previous one of 1875. It was abandoned in 1975 and fell into disrepair. It was acquired by the Worcester Redevelopment Authority and completely renovated at a cost of $32 million under the leadership of former Mayor Raymond Mariano. The renovated station opened in July 2000. An intercity and local bus terminal, with five bus ports, was added at a cost of $5.2 million and opened in August 2006. Despite this, of the eleven Amtrak stations in Worcester ranked 9th in FY 2011, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 23 passengers daily.

By 2015, Springfield will feature one of the United States' first two high-speed train terminals; currently, there is talk about extending the service to Worcester and points east.

Situated in Common Park, the Worcester Civil War Memorial was designed by Randolph Roger and dedicated to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War in 1874. The memorial is a victory bronze statue standing at the top of a high column. The figures around the column symbolize the branches of the military – Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry, Navy – with the whole resting upon a rough granite base flanked by four buried cannons barrels.The monument is approximately 66 ft (20.12 m) tall

Four French-speaking parishes in Worcester merged into a single Catholic church, and with this Notre Dame des Canadiens was founded in 1869 ,in the place where Bancroft Hotel stands today. The church was destroyed by fire in 1908. Founded by Father J.P. Primeau, the present parish was built in 1929 in a Gothic Revival manner. Notre Dame des Canadiens serves as a holy place for prayer in downtown Worcester.

Burnside Fountain is a drinking fountain. Intended to provide fresh water for people, horses and dogs, its pink granite watering trough and pedestal were designed by architect Henry Bacon, who later designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Atop its pedestal sits Boy with a Turtle, a bronze statue of a youth riding a hawksbill sea turtle, created by sculptor Charles Y. Harvey. The statue is affectionately nicknamed "Turtle Boy."

In the tradition of the Manneken Pis in Brussels, "Turtle Boy" is now a mascot for Worcester: a local music contest is named the Turtle Boy Music Award; a local brewer produces Turtle Boy Blueberry Ale, and the Turtle Boy Urban Gardeners, a group of volunteers, maintain the garden surrounding the fountain.

The Bancroft Hotel is a historic building known for its exceptional Beaux-Arts architecture. The hotel originally opened in 1913 and underwent an expansion in 1929, which solidified its status as the city's most opulent accommodation for many years. The Bancroft Hotel's grandeur and architectural significance were recognized with its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, the building has been transformed into luxury residences known as Bancroft on the Grid, preserving its historical essence while providing modern living spaces.

Architecturally, the Bancroft Hotel is a ten-story structure with a steel frame clad in brick, terracotta, and stone. The building's ground floor features an impressive arcade of arches facing both Franklin and Portland Streets, finished in marble, which adds a touch of classical elegance. The second floor showcases a band of sash windows adorned with elaborate terra cotta surrounds, enhancing the building's decorative appeal. The next five floors maintain a uniform appearance with sash windows set in rectangular openings, creating a harmonious and balanced facade.

Distinctive architectural features of the Bancroft Hotel include the light-colored stone used on the corner bays, which contrasts beautifully with the darker brick of the central bays. The eighth floor stands out with its more intricate window treatments, adding visual interest and breaking the uniformity of the floors below. A detailed cornice separates the eighth floor from the ninth, which is further crowned by a projecting cornice, highlighting the building's classical Beaux-Arts design elements.

Worcester City Hall was built by the Norcross brothers at the end of the 19th century, replacing the Old South Meeting house, which was the first town hall. The construction's design was created by Robert Peabody and John Stearns and looks like an Italian palace. Built of blocks of granite, the City Hall preserves the characteristics of the Renaissance Revival style: grand staircases, its cupola, the use of columns, harmonious and elegant forms. The facade is centered by a clock-tower. The City Hall is currently the 4th tallest building in Worcester.

Erected in the heart of Worcester's financial quarter, opposite the City Hall, the Sovereign Bank Tower offers the best office space for local business owners. The building has a parking garage and a restaurant attached to it. A glass-walled skyscraper, it is the only 25-story building in Worcester; thus it is the city's most visible construction. Built in 1974 on Main Street, the glass high-rise construction serves as an example of modern architectural achievements.

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 2,300 seat theatre that draws over 197,000 patrons annually with world-class performances and headlining acts including Broadway hits. Theatre as one of the Top Theatres in the World. After nine seasons, the award-winning, historic theatre continues to establish its place as a world-class performing arts venue, acting as a catalyst for the economic development of downtown Worcester.

Located on Chestnut Street, the Union Congregational Church, also Chestnut Street Congregational, was erected in 1895. It serves now as the city's central worship place and is ruled by New England Dream Center, a local non-profit organization. The members of the worship center are permanently involved in different social projects as well as charitable activities. Designed by the notable architects Stephen C. Earle and C. Fisher in a Gothic Revival style, the church architecture echoes Notre Dame de Paris and makes a great tourist attraction.

Worcester History Museum, also WHM, is the only institution that houses local history artifacts in its research library and galleries. Archival manuscript collections, maps and photography show Worcester's boom period as an industrially- and commercially-flourishing town. The museum's collections include artifacts like early wood pieces and ceramics, weaponry from the first English settlement through World War II, paintings and sculpture, and important costume and textile collections. Salisbury Mansion, the only house museum in Worcester, is the property of the History Museum.

Main street is located in the heart of downtown within walking distance to shopping, fine dining and world-class entertainment including live theater and great nightclubs