Worcester Facts

• The Massachusetts Spy was one of the few papers published continuously during the Revolution. On July 14, 1776, Isaiah Thomas, performed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on Worcester City Hall.
• The first mass produced Vaentines Day Card were sold in 1847, invented in Worcester by Esther Howland .
• The famous Smiley Face was created here.
• The local courthouse was seized during Shays' Rebellion.
• The city was an important site for the abolitionist and suffragist movements of the 19th century.
• Worcester lays claim to being the birthplace of barbed wire, the monkey wrench, the smiley face and the space suit.
• Worcester is on the Blackstone River

Notable residents of Worcester

• Robert H. Goddard, physicist and rocket science pioneer
• Denis Leary, comedian and actor
• Abbie Hoffman, activist

Bob Cousy, basketball player

• Rich Gedman, baseball player
• J. Geils, musician
• Erik Per Sullivan, actor