[mk_page_section full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ section_id=”hero” el_class=”difd_slider-active” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_column_text][vc_vulcanHeroSlider images=”1414″][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section padding_top=”128″ padding_bottom=”128″ section_id=”welcome” el_class=”difFullHeight difd_add-triangle-top-left-orange” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516205908265{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Western Massachusetts was the site of several “firsts” and known for innovation. Among the many examples of this are the first Gee Bee Monoplane, railroad sleeping cars, the first wrench and the first dog show in the United States. Here are 5 other interesting facts about Western Mass:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_padding_divider][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_circle_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/carle-5.jpg”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”1.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516205923040{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Several esteemed authors have roots in the region including beloved authors Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and Emily Dickinson. Today there are sites that immortalize the talents of all three.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”2.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516205957778{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Forest Park in Springfield is one the largest municipal parks in the country. Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead (who also designed Central Park in NYC), the park features a zoo, aquatic gardens, outdoor amphitheater, winding wooded trails, and surprising, expansive views. The park is the site of America’s first public, municipal swimming pool and currently hosts a popular high-tech lighting display, known as Bright Nights during the holiday season.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_circle_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/armory.jpg”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”3.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516205990825{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The first armory in the United States is the Springfield Armory National Historic Site commissioned by George Washington.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”4.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516206095888{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Notable residents (past or present) of Western Mass include WWE Wrestler John Cena, Blue Bloods actress Bridget Moynahan, Author Augusten Burroughs, Musicians Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Actors Kurt Russell and Uma Thurman.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_circle_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2015-bhof-induction-ceremonies-726-1.jpg”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”5.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516206137359{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Basketball was invented at Springfield College by Dr. James Naismith. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame pay homage to the sport and Dr. Naismith with a high tech museum located on the Springfield Riverfront.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section bg_image=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/holyoke-overview.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” speed_factor=”0.5″ video_color_mask=”#004f6b” video_opacity=”0.8″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”96″ padding_bottom=”96″ section_id=”subscribe” el_class=”difFullHeight” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Best of Western Mass” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%2300b2ba”][vc_column_text align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1510243760717{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Exclusive info and promotions sent directly to your inbox monthly.[/vc_column_text]
[vc_text_separator title=”CONNECT WITH US” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ accent_color=”#00b2ba” el_class=”cyanText”][mk_social_networks size=”large” style=”circle” margin=”8″ icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_hover_color=”#f47e46″ align=”center” facebook=”https://www.facebook.com/explorewesternmass/” twitter=”https://twitter.com/XploreWesternMA” instagram=”https://www.instagram.com/explorewesternmass/”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section bg_image=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/footer-section-bkg.jpg” bg_color=”#ffffff” bg_position=”center bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” speed_factor=”0.5″ bg_gradient=”vertical” video_color_mask=”#ffffff” gr_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” video_opacity=”1″ padding_top=”96″ padding_bottom=”96″ section_id=”footer-section” el_class=”difd_page-footer difd_add-triangle-middle-left-orange difd_add-triangle-invert-bottom-right-cyan-transform-scale_0.33_” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_row_inner el_class=”difd_page-links-grid”][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”127″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” title=”THINGS TO DO” link=”https://difhosting1.com/things-to-do/”][vc_single_image image=”125″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” title=”FOOD & DRINK” link=”https://difhosting1.com/food-drink/”][vc_single_image image=”126″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” title=”Lodging” link=”https://difhosting1.com/lodging/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_text_separator title=”Partner Ads” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_class=”grayText” accent_color=”#666666″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” custom_src=”http://placehold.it/400×300″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” custom_src=”http://placehold.it/400×300″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” custom_src=”http://placehold.it/400×300″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/mk_page_section]
