Welcome to Great Barrington
Great Barrington today is a vibrant small town acting as the hub for “South County” of the Berkshires. The town and its surroundings support a year-round population as well as second homes. Great Barrington is home to over 55 restaurants catering to a wide spectrum of culinary tastes. The recently renovated Mahaiwe Theater has become a center for year-round music and cultural events
Great Barrington is the birthplace of W. E. B. Du Bois, an African-American academic and civil rights activist, most known for being one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868, at a house later replaced by present-day Route 23 would run. As a child, Du Bois attended the Congregational Church. Many of these church members donated the funds needed for Du Bois to attend college. Du Bois lived in the town until he was seventeen. The W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite has interpretive trails and a walking tour.
