Attleboro

Attleboro is a city of 46,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts on the border with Rhode Island. It has several museums, a major Catholic shrine, and a steampunk festival.

Understand

History

Attleboro used to be called the “Jewelry Capital of the World” because of the presence of numerous jewelry manufacturers. It was founded in 1634 under the name of Attleborough, after the English town of the same name where the founders had lived.

Cumberland (Rhode Island) and North Attleborough were part of Attleborough until the voted in a referendum in 1884 to separate. The town was renamed Attleboro in 1914.

Get in

Map of Attleboro

Attleboro is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Taunton, the same distance to Providence, 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Fall River, and 39 miles (63 km) south of Boston.

By car

Interstate 95

Get around

By bus

GATRA (Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority), 10 Oak Street, ☏ +1 508-823-8828, +1 508-824-7439 (TTD), toll-free: +1 800-483-2500. Varies, 7AM-7PM daily. GATRA central offers about a half-dozen or so routes stitching together North and South Attleborough with Plainville and points between. The routes join various bus stations and parking lots with town centers, and will require some planning to make use of. One bus per hour from 6AM-6PM. $1.50, Day pass: $4, 10-day ride pass: $13, free transfers. (updated Oct 2022)

See

Museums

Attleboro Area Industrial Museum, 42 Union Street, ☏ +1 508-222-3918. Th F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Collects and preserves historical information and artifacts related to Attleboro’s industrial times. Open to the public as a resource center. Take a look at several replicas of industrial workplaces. Free. Guided tours $4, children $3. (updated Oct 2022)
Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, ☏ +1 508-222-2644. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. The Attleboro Arts Museum is downtown just across from city hall. It's one of the largest art galleries between Boston and Providence; displaying a wide range of visual and performing arts. Free, donations welcome. (updated Oct 2022)

Parks and outdoors

Capron Park Zoo, 201 County Street, ☏ +1 774-203-1840. 9AM-4PM daily. Capron Park Zoo provides a habitat for wildlife from all around the world. Walk through the rain forest and make your way to the home of black and white ruffed lemurs, and end your trip by the bear den. $10, discounts for children and seniors. (updated Oct 2022)

National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette (La Salette), 947 Park Street, ☏ +1 508-222-8530. 10AM-5PM daily. This popular attraction is composed of a church, monastery, and a place to rest and relax. It's a peaceful place that links the values of ecumenism, peace, and justice. Placed in a 10-acre ground is La Salette’s shrine, accompanied by a view of 350,000 lights spread across the 10 acres. It hosts events such as the Christmas festival of lights that runs from Thanksgiving day to January 2nd, healing service events, and recovery programs. Free, donations welcome. (updated Oct 2022)
Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon), 1417 Park Street, ☏ +1 508-223-3060. sunrise-sunset daily, nature center Tu-Sa 10AM-3PM. A short distance from downtown, Oak Knoll features woodlands that are welcoming throughout the year. Be on the lookout for cottontail rabbits, red-winged blackbirds, yellow-rumped warblers, downy woodpeckers, and foxes. Salamanders and frogs are among the species you’ll see in the sanctuary’s vernal pool. If you’d prefer a guided tour, the staff lead nature walks throughout the year. The nearby Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary features an all accessible trail. Free, $2 suggested donation. (updated Oct 2022)

Do

Activities

The Attleboro Recreation Department, 81 Pine Street (Bartek Center), ☏ +1 774-203-1889. provides a place where individuals can participate in a wide selection of activities including boxing and volleyball. No admission charge.
Swimming The Recreation Department provides their services to three city-owned pools that are open to go to:
- Fred E. Briggs Memorial Swimming Pool, 36 East Street. Daily 11AM – 6PM.
- Twin Village Swimming Pool, 700 South Main Street. Daily noon – 6PM.
- William Liddel Memorial Swimming Pool, 787 Washington Street.

Events

Jewelry City Steampunk Festival. A one-day celebration in October of steampunk with performances, costumes, and vendors (online for 2020). All events are within walking distance of the Attleboro commuter rail station on the Boston-Providence rail line. (updated Jul 2020)

Buy

Eat

Budget

Tex Barry's Coney Island Diner, 31 County St, ☏ +1 508-222-9787. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 11AM-3PM. Classic hot dog stand in an old diner car. $9. (updated Oct 2022)

Mid-range

Ebenezer Restaurant, 80 Oneil Blvd, ☏ +1 508-226-0647. 11AM-6PM daily. Excellent Spanish cuisine. Everything from nachos to atol de elote and churros. $20-30. (updated Oct 2022)
Papagallo Restaurant, 87 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 774-203-3532. M-Sa 11:30AM-8PM, Su 1-8PM. Eclectic Iberian menu with an emphasis on seafood. Sangria made in-house. $20-35. (updated Oct 2022)
Briggs Corner Pizzeria, 1123 Oakhill Ave, ☏ +1 508-222-6222. 11AM-9:30PM daily. Casual neighborhood sit-down joint offering thin crust pizzas and other comfort foods. $20-40. (updated Oct 2022)
Chub's Blue Pig BBQ, 68 Union St, ☏ +1 774-203-3515. Th-Su 11:30AM-4:30PM. High quality smoked meats. Get there early, when the food runs out they're closed for the day. $20-40. (updated Oct 2022)

Drink

Sleep

The Colonel Blackinton Inn, 203 North Main Street, ☏ +1 508-222-6022. Built in the mid-19th century, the inn provides 9 guest rooms. Some rooms with shared bathrooms, and many have scenic river overlooks. The inn also functions as a tavern serving dinner. It's closed Tuesdays, but Brunch is available on Sunday from 11AM. You’ll find live music out on the sunny garden terrace during the warmer months. (updated Oct 2022)

Go next

Routes through Attleboro

Boston ← Mansfield ←	N S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
END ←	N S	→ North Attleborough → Warwick
Boston ← North Attleborough ←	N S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
END ←	N S	→ Pawtucket → Providence
Lincoln ← Cumberland ←	W E	→ Norton → Brockton
Canton ← Mansfield ←	N S	→ Providence → North Kingstown

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