<\/p>\n\n\n\n
June 5th<\/sup>, 2025, 6pm-<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have created an opportunity for you to experience, first-hand, a local redevelopment initiative in Worcester, have a meal, mingle with your colleagues, and watch a baseball game if you like, all in one evening after the session! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Polar Park opened in 2021 on a vacant lot adjacent to downtown as part of the city\u2019s redevelopment project to revitalize Worcester\u2019s Canal District. The area earned its name as the location of the canal dug mostly by Irish immigrants and connected Worcester, Providence, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Blackstone River Valley, which is now the National Heritage Corridor<\/a> for its role in the American industrialization, was a crucial transport corridor in the 19th<\/sup> Century until it was replaced by the railroads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Polar Park<\/a> is a 9,500 person capacity stadium funded by public-private partnership of $159 million, dubbed as the most expensive minor league park ever built. The City of Worcester funded over half of the total investment, and Polar Beverages, a local beverage company known for its seltzers, served as a major sponsor with the naming rights. You will observe new housing development and food establishments emerging in the district. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Polar Park is home to the Worcester Red Sox (\u2018Woo Sox\u2019), which debuted as a Triple-A affiliate of the world-famous Boston Red Sox. On June 5th<\/sup>, Woo Sox will have a game against Rochester Red Wings, and the night\u2019s theme for game highlight is Caribbean Heritage Night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the price equivalent of a typical dinner take-out, you will get an entrance to the Polar Park, enjoy ball park food, be outdoors after sitting inside attending sessions all day, mingle with your colleagues and friends, and join the locals in a family fun atmosphere while the game is on. The Polar Park is walkable from most of the hotels, or you can take a city bus from campus. Please join us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration: $25 (includes ball park food, entrance ticket to the game)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n June 7, 2025, 6-9pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join us for a relaxed lakeside dinner<\/a> for a complete change of scene from Worcester, mingle you\u2019re your colleagues, celebrate the EG centennial and hear where the 8th<\/sup> GCEG will be hosted in 2028!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration fee: $125 (includes transportation, buffet dinner and a drink ticket).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The New England region is the origin place of America\u2019s industrialization. The fieldtrips will showcase aspects of historical industrialization and contemporary urban contexts in central Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n June 8, 2025: 9am-6pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every economic geographer is familiar with Springfield Armory, one of the origin places of early assembly-line mass production using inter-changeable parts. It was the first federal government funded armory that manufactured military firearms 1777-1968. Springfield Armory National Historic Site<\/a> commemorates the site with an exhibit hall, where we will watch a video followed by a guided tour specifically designed for GCEG. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Springfield Museums, which is comprised of 5 buildings on art, history and science, we will follow a guided tour specifically designed for GCEG of the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History<\/a>, where it showcases why Springfield has been known as \u2018the city of the firsts\u2019 in various innovation, such as handcuffs, lawn mowers, fire engines, etc. The exhibits include a collection of \u2018horseless carriages (automobiles)\u2019, weaponry and Indian motorcycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also have an option to spend some time visiting either exhibits of four other buildings of Springfield Museums, or make your way to the Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a> (entrance fee not included) where the game was invented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration fee: $85 (includes boxed lunch, transportation, museum entrance, guided tours)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n June 8, 2025, 8am-5pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n This tour takes you to two important mills in New England, Slater Mill<\/a> and Boott Cotton Mill Museum<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Slater Mill (1793) was the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in the United States, and is located along the Blackstone River, a long-time working river that runs from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island. Financed by the family which also founded Brown University, it originated with a technology transfer (or some may call it industrial espionage) of Awkright system from Belper, United Kingdom. With a guided tour for GCEG audience, you can observe technological evolution that took place once the technology arrived from the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Boott Cotton Mill (1835-1958) showcases a live demonstration in the 1920s era weave room, as well as various exhibits of textile products, labor conditions, and the decline of the mill. A guided tour for the GCEG audience will be provided. It also features 1840s Boarding House, which showcases the room and board services provided for women who worked in the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration fee: $75 (includes box lunch, transportation, museum entrance, guided tours).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n June 8, 2025: 9-10:30am<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join us on a walking tour of the vibrant neighborhoods of Worcester’s “Canal District!” Participants will spend a little over an hour (and walk 1.25 miles) learning about Worcester\u2019s industrial heyday and the influence of its varied immigrant communities and businesses. We will talk about the area\u2019s early 20th century economic decline and recent revitalization, and along our way we will examine the unique mix of 19th century, 20th century, and contemporary architecture in the area. We will encounter a number of restaurants on the tour, enabling you to select somewhere for lunch on your own once the tour has ended. *Meet at the Worcester Union Station (the city bus station is just next door).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration fee: $8 (guided tour)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n To register<\/strong> for any of the above events, go to our conference registration page and log in using your AAG username and password. If you have already registered for the conference, the system would acknowledge your registered status when you press the button “Register” and then give you an option to sign up for above-mentioned events. If you wish to register more than one ticket for any of the above events (for your family member, etc.), please contact meeting@aag.org<\/a> with your request. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GCEG Gala Dinner<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fieldtrips<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Springfield Armory and Museums<\/u><\/strong><\/summary>\n
Slater Mill and Boott Cotton Mill<\/u><\/strong><\/summary>\n
The Walking Tour of Worcester\u2019s Canal District<\/u><\/strong><\/summary>\n