Pages of the Past: A Bus Tour of Springfield’s Historic Libraries

Join us for a journey through Springfield’s rich literary and architectural history on the Pages of the Past bus tour! Hosted in partnership with The Springfield Libraries and Springfield Museums, and sponsored by Peter Pan Bus Lines, this guided tour will take you through the city’s most historically significant libraries, offering a glimpse into their storied pasts and lasting impact on Springfield’s cultural and educational landscape.

Explore landmarks such as the Springfield Central Library along with current, as well as former, neighborhood branch libraries in Forest Park, Indian Orchard, East Springfield, Mason Square, and beyond. Our guide, Dr. Kate Benson, will share the histories and evolution of these architectural and cultural landmarks—from their founding by influential figures to their roles in shaping the community’s access to knowledge and learning. Whether you’re a history buff, book lover, architecture fan, or simply curious about the city’s past, this tour promises a unique and enlightening adventure—all from the comfort of a Peter Pan Bus!

Tour Highlights:

📚 Visit historic libraries that have served Springfield for generations

📖 Learn about the city’s literary legacy and its influence on education and culture

🚌 Travel in comfort with Peter Pan Bus Lines, a Springfield institution since 1933

🏛️ Discover stunning architecture and rare collections housed within these iconic spaces

About the Bus Tour & Presenter

The newly relaunched Annual Bus Tour is co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums, and Springfield City Library, and is sponsored by Peter Pan Bus Lines, a Springfield institution since 1933.The bus tour will be presented by Dr. Kate Benson. Dr. Benson is the award-winning author of Hospital Hill and its companion novel, Shadows in the Ward. She is also the author of Behind the Walls, a volume on the history of insane asylums in institutions in New England. She is a special education teacher and architectural photographer who leads a lecture series on the history of mental illness and its treatment. She is currently hard at work on a number of asylum projects. She is also the owner of Otherwords Press, an independent publishing imprint representing authors from all over the world. Kate is a Springfield Preservation Trust board member and lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, her beagle, and a very feisty cat.

About the Springfield Preservation Trust

Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect properties in Springfield that have architectural or historic significance. As the only non-profit, non-government advocacy group for historic preservation in Springfield, the Trust will continue to be the voice of preservation into the future. Learn more at springfieldpreservation.org.

About Peter Pan Bus Lines

Peter Pan Bus Lines operates the largest privately-owned bus transportation network in the United States with over 1,000 daily departures to over 100 destinations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Peter Pan coaches travel over 25 million miles every year, or the equivalent of nearly 100 trips to the moon annually. That translates to one of Peter Pan’s buses traveling around the world three times every day. The business was founded in Springfield in 1933 by Peter C. Picknelly and is now four generations strong, still operated by the Picknelly family. Learn more at peterpanbus.com.

Host or Publisher Springfield Preservation Trust