Massachusetts (MA) Historic Homes and Sites

Heritage Museums & Gardens

67 Grove Street Sandwich, MA 02563 Phone: 508-888-3300

A walk through history surrounded by gardens

The tract of land now known as Heritage Museums & Gardens played an important part in the history of the town of Sandwich. In 1677, Lydia Wing Hamilton Abbott was the first resident to live on the land. At present much of the Wing family farm remains part of the grounds of Heritage and Abbott's Orchard is now the parade field of the American History Museum. The internationally-known Charles Owen Dexter was the next own of the land.
Beginning in 1921, Mr. Dexter and his wife spent summers at the farm and for the next 15 years he worked in his garden hybridizing plants. He started with vegetables and expanded his interests to rhododendrons. It was for the latter that he became renowned. The Dexter estate changed hands four times between 1945 and its acquisition by Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Lilly III who founded Heritage Museums & Gardens (formerly known as Heritage Plantation). The Lilly family, originally from Indianapolis, IN, spent their summer vacations in Falmouth. Where better, thought Josiah, to found a museum dedicated to his father then on Cape Cod, where he had such happy memories. Mr. Lilly first thought that he would create an automobile museum and Heritage Museums & Gardens started to evolve.... Open April 1 to October 31 from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Concord Museum

Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road Concord, MA 01742 Phone: 978-369-9763 Fax: 978-369-9660

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

Concord’s remarkable past is brought to life through artifacts from an outstanding collection, self-touring galleries, period rooms, audios and hands-on activities. Highlights include the Exploring Concord film and engaging Why Concord? history galleries; a nationally-significant collection of Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture; Revolutionary War artifacts including the famous Revere lantern; American literary treasures in the Thoreau Gallery and the study of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great spokesman for individualism and self-reliance. A visit to the Concord Museum provides an inspiring introduction for an exploration of this famous community. Open daily year round.

Discover Quincy

Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700 Fax: 617-471-3087

While in Quincy, be sure to visit our many historic treasures

Adams National Historical Park		Josiah Quincy House
United First Parish Church		Adams Academy/Quincy Historical Society
Granite Railway/Quarry		Dorothy Quincy Homestead
Abigail Adams Cairn		Hancock Cemetery
Moswetuset Hummock		USS Salem
Thomas Crane Public Library

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

4 South Market Bldg. Boston, MA 02109 Phone: 617-523-1300 Fax: 617-523-1779

Faneuil Hall Marketplace rests adjacent to historic Faneuil Hall, which was built by merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742 and is now a prominent stop on The Freedom Trail. It began in 1764 as “The Cradle of Liberty. Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty rallied colonists to assert their independence during the American Revolution. Today it’s Boston’s central meeting place. The Marketplace is a treasure trove for shopping and dining in the Greek Revival-style Quincy Market filled with 45 international eateries and the flanking North and South Market buildings with 80 specialty shops. For information call 617-523-1300.

Freedom Trail Foundation

99 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111 Phone: 617-357-8300 Fax: 617-357-8303

Explore the rich history of America's Revolution

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking trail through Boston that connects 16 of the country's most important historical sites linked to the American Revolution. Lively and informative costumed characters travel the Trail during the summer. These characters are fun and engaging for children of all ages (from 5 to 75!) and act as ambassadors to the era of America's founding and the birth of our country's freedom. Tours: June 29-September 1; Saturdays and Sundays 11am & 1pm. Tours last 90 minutes and begin at the Boston Common Visitor Center. $12 Adults, $6 Children. Call for tickets and information 617-227-8800.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Columbia Point Boston, MA 02125 Phone: 617-514-1600 Toll-Free: 866-JFK-1960 Fax: 617-436-3395

The life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy

Situated on a 10-acre park overlooking Boston Harbor, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the nation's official memorial to John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. The museum at the Kennedy Library enables visitors to step back into the recreated world of the early 1960s and experience first-hand the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy. In 25 dramatic exhibits, including three theaters and 20 video presentations, visitors are inspired by the stirring eloquence of John F. Kennedy and by the grace of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Concord Museum

Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road Concord, MA 01742 Phone: 978-369-9763 Fax: 978-369-9660

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

Concord’s remarkable past is brought to life through artifacts from an outstanding collection, self-touring galleries, period rooms, audios and hands-on activities. Highlights include the Exploring Concord film and engaging Why Concord? history galleries; a nationally-significant collection of Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture; Revolutionary War artifacts including the famous Revere lantern; American literary treasures in the Thoreau Gallery and the study of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great spokesman for individualism and self-reliance. A visit to the Concord Museum provides an inspiring introduction for an exploration of this famous community. Open daily year round.

Glen Magna Farms

Ingersoll Street Danvers, MA 01923 Phone: 978-774-9165

Mansion built in the 19th century features decorative gardens and a teahouse.
Hours: Gardens open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-dusk; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon. A guided tour of the house and gardens is offered May-July. Reservations required. Fee charged.

The House of the Seven Gables

115 Derby Street Salem, MA 01970 Phone: 978-744-0991 Fax: 978-741-4350

Cross the threshold into one of the most famous structures in America & experience the countless surprises beneath its legendary gables.

Discover The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts. This seaside historic site showcases the seventeenth century Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, forever immortalized as “The House of the Seven Gables” by author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Professional guides welcome guests year round to explore Salem’s architecture, maritime history, and the literary legacy of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Admission also includes a visit to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birthplace to learn more about how the author’s life and seaside gardens and a unique museum store. Open mid-January through December, 10:00am-5:00pm, with extended hours until 7:00pm, July-October.

Discover Quincy

Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700 Fax: 617-471-3087

While in Quincy, be sure to visit our many historic treasures

Adams National Historical Park		Josiah Quincy House
United First Parish Church		Adams Academy/Quincy Historical Society
Granite Railway/Quarry		Dorothy Quincy Homestead
Abigail Adams Cairn		Hancock Cemetery
Moswetuset Hummock		USS Salem
Thomas Crane Public Library

Plimoth Plantation

137 Warren Avenue Plymouth, MA 02360 Phone: 508-746-1622

Your visit to the year 1627 is self-guided.

The 1627 English Village is a re-creation of the small farming town built by English colonists in the midst of the Wampanoag homeland. Find yourself immersed in the year 1627, just seven years after the voyage of the Mayflower. In the village you will be surrounded by the modest timber-framed houses, fragrant raised-bed gardens, well-tended livestock and fascinating townspeople of Plymouth Colony, the first permanent English settlement in New England. Most of the objects in and around the houses are modern reproductions designed for everyday use and can be handled gently. The people you will meet are costumed role players who have taken on the names, viewpoints and life histories of the people who actually lived in the colony in 1627, popularly known as the "Pilgrims" today.

Amherst History Museum

The Strong House, 67 Amity Street Amherst, MA 01002 Phone: 413-256-0678

Open: May 17– October 28, Wednesday through Saturday noon-4 p.m. Call ahead for seasonal changes in hours.

Exhibits of 18th- and 19th-century art and furniture. Admission charge.

Arrowhead

780 Holmes Road Pittsfield, MA Phone: 413-442-1793

Truly a literary historic site, Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick and several other works in this house. Tours are available. Open seasonally.

Berkshire Athenaeum

1 Wendell Avenue Pittsfield, MA Phone: 413-499-9480

The featured exhibit of this library is the Herman Melville Memorial Room.

Bidwell House

Art School Road Monterey, MA 01245 Phone: 413-528-6888

The Bidwell House was built circa 1750 as the parsonage for the first minister to the the present-day towns of Monterey and Tyringham. Surrounding the house are terraced stone walls brimming with perennial beds. these provide a fabulous setting for this gem of a Georgian saltbox. The remaining acreage is woodlands laced with hiking trails and foot paths leading to historical landmarks throughout the property.
Beautiful in all seasons, the grounds and gardens ARE a pleasant adjunct to a visit to the museum. Additionally, The Kitchen Garden demonstrates the early colonial style and variety of plants and 19th-century Shaker vegetable gardening. Near it is an heirloom herb garden. There is also the remains of an old orchard.
Hours: Late May to mid-October, Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Chesterwood

Williamsville Road, one mile south of Routes 183 and 102 Stockbridge, MA 01262 Phone: 413-298-3579

Chesterwood is the country home, studio, and gardens of America’s foremost sculptor of public monuments, Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), creator of the Minute Man and Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial. It is situated on 122 acres in the idyllic hamlet of Glendale near Stockbridge. Each year, during the month of May, French left his permanent home and studio in New York for six months and moved with his family to Chesterwood, where he worked on 201 commissions. Many of French’s plaster sketches, including models of his Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial, are on view today in his studio as well as in the permanent exhibit in Barn Gallery. Visitors to Chesterwood are invited to explore a self-guided tour of the beautiful formal gardens and woodland paths created by French himself.
Hours: Late May-early October, daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $16; children age 13-17, $8

Colonel John Ashley House

Cooper Hill Road Ashley Falls, MA 01222 Phone: 413-298-3239 Fax: 413-298-5239

Built In 1735 by Colonel John Ashley, the Ashley House – now the oldest in Berkshire County - was the center of social, economic, and political life in south Berkshire County in the eighteenth century. The famous Sheffield Declaration, a petition against British tyranny and a manifesto for individual rights, was drafted in the upstairs study of the house in 1773. The cause for abolishing slavery in America was strengthened in the celebrated 1781 Massachusetts court battle that freed the Ashleys' slave, Elizabeth Freeman (nicknamed "Mumbet") under the new state constitution. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ashley House exemplifies early 18th century architecture.

Crane Museum of Papermaking

Housatonic Street Dalton, MA 01226 Phone: 413-684-6481

Open: June to mid-October, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.

Situated in Crane's historic 1845 old stone mill. Exhibits and displays of nearly 200 years of papermaking in Dalton.

Emily Dickinson House

280 Main Street Amherst, MA Phone: 413-542-8161

The birthplace and home of Emily Dickinson. Tours are offered. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Folly at Field Farm

554 Sloan Road Williamstown, MA 01267 Phone: 413-458-3135 Fax: 413-458-3135

Once the guest house for the main residence of modern art aficionados Lawrence and Eleanor Bloedel, the Folly exemplifies an era of form and function. A three-bedroom, pinwheel-shaped shingled structure, designed in 1965 by noted modernist architect Ulrich Franzen, the Folly overlooks the pond and still contains unique furnishings designed by Franzen.

Forbes Library

20 West Street Northampton, MA Phone: 413-587-1011

Visitors to the library will enjoy the Calvin Coolidge room, featuring Coolidge memorabilia.

Hadley Farm Museum

208 Middle Street Hadley, MA 01035 Phone: 413-586-1160

Open: May-October, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Early New England farm equipment in restored 1782 barn: blacksmith tools, ox cart, stage coach, plows, early domestic appliances.

Historic Deerfield

88 Old Main Street Deerfield, MA 01342 Phone: 413-775-7214

Open: Daily, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; call for seasonal changes.

Historic Deerfield is “New England as you hope to find it!” Located in western Massachusetts off Routs 5 and 10 in the 330-year old village of Deerfield, the Museum has been called “the gem of rural New England,” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This Museum of New England’s history and art welcomes visitors of all ages from around the world to Deerfield’s mile-long thoroughfare, simply called, “The Street.” The Museum features twelve houses dating to the 18th and 19th centuries and three exhibition galleries within the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Historic Deerfield’s decorative arts treasures can be viewed on both the guided and self-guided tours. A full calendar of programs, special events, group tours and village walking tours are offered throughout the year. The Museum Store and Bookshop feature gifts for all occasions, museum reproductions and a wide selection of books about early America and the decorative arts. Open Daily, year round, 9:30-4:30 except Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 & 25.

Historic Northampton

46 Bridge Street Northampton, MA Phone: 413-584-6011

This group of historic structures includes the Damon House, the Shephard House and barn, and the Parsons House. Open seasonally.

Jones Library

43 Amity Street Amherst, MA Phone: 413-256-4090

Exhibits focus on Emily Dickenson and Robert Frost, two of Amherst's most distinguished residents.

Joseph Skinner Museum

35 Woodbridge Street South Hadley, MA 01075 Phone: 413-538-2245

Open: May through October, Wednesdays and Sundays, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Set in a church built in 1846, this museum features 19th-century glassware, furniture and musical instruments. An exhibit of locally unearthed minerals is also of interest. Admission is free.

Kingman Tavern Historical Museum

41 Main Street Cummington, MA 01026 Phone: 413-634-5527

Open: July and August, Saturday, 2-5 p.m.

Museum features an exhibit of miniature rooms and antique furniture. Open seasonally. Admission fee.

Memorial Hall Museum

8 Memorial Street Deerfield, MA 01342 Phone: 413-774-3768

Open: May 1-October 30

Occupying a building originally constructed in 1798 for Deerfield Academy, Memorial Hall Museum holds over 31,000 items and includes the Old Deerfield Children's Museum, offering family activities in a reproduction of a 1690s house. Exhibits focus on the life and world of an agricultural economy from the earliest Native Americans to the arrival of Europeans.

Merwin House

14 Main Street Stockbridge, MA Phone: 617-994-6662

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission.

William and Elizabeth Doane purchased this handsome house in 1875 as their summer retreat. They named it Tranquility because it overlooks a peaceful bend in the Housatonic River. The Doanes and their daughter, Vipont Merwin, traveled extensively, collecting European and American furnishings and objects to decorate their home.

Mission House

19 Main St. Stockbridge, MA 01262 Phone: 413-298-3239

Built in 1739 and originally located atop Prospect Hill, this National Historic Landmark was disassembled, moved, and restored between 1926 and 1927. Landscape architect Fletcher Steele designed the Colonial Revival garden, which features a colonial-style dooryard garden of circular brick paths enclosed by a tidewater cypress fence. A replica of an old cobbler shop serves as the entrance to the property; a grape arbor in the Well Courtyard behind the house leads to a small Native American museum.
Hours: Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day, daily, 10 a.m.- to 5 p.m. Fee charged.

Naumkeag

Prospect Hill Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 Phone: 413-298-3239 Fax: 413-298-5239

Eight acres of terraced gardens

This 44-room house was the summer cottage of the Choate family, and features original furniture, ceramics, and artwork collected from America, Europe, and the Far East. Famous for its eight acres of terraced gardens and landscaped grounds, transformed from 1926 to 1956 into separate garden rooms such as the afternoon garden, rose garden, evergreen garden, Chinese garden, arborvitae walk, and linden walk. The most famous feature of the landscape is Steele’s Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools flanked by four flights of stairs overhung by birch trees.
Hours: Memorial Day to Columbus Day, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission fee for non-members.

Old Greenfield Village

Route 2, along the Mohawk Trail Greenfield, MA Phone: 413-774-7138

The museum offers visitors a variety of shops, offices, and exhibits recreating a New England town as it appeared in 1895. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Porter-Phelps-Huntington House Museum

130 River Drive Hadley, MA 01035 Phone: 413-584-4699

Open: May 15-October 15, Saturday through Wednesday, 1-4:30 p.m.; closed Thursdays and Fridays. Open mornings by appointment.

Historic house museum preserving the material possessions and papers of six generations of one of Hadley's founding families. Tours and interpretations of the house and its contents. Concert series and afternoon teas. There is an admission fee.

Shrine of Divine Mercy

Eden Hill Stockbridge, MA Phone: 413-298-3931

Site of the first Christian mission to the Native Americans in the area. The structure is set on 350 acres, featuring stained class, murals, and wood carvings.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

1 Armory Square Springfield, MA Phone: 413-734-8551

This National Historic Landmark houses the world’s largest collection of American military firearms dating from colonial times and offers year-round public programs, exhibits, and special events.

Stone House Museum

20 Maple Street Belchertown, MA 01007 Phone: 413-323-6573

Open: Guided tours mid-May-October, on Wednesday and Saturday, 2-5 p.m.

Rogers Group sculpture; Early American furnishings; carriage shed, mid-1800s carriages and sleighs. Textiles, 20th century print shop, living history programs. Admission charge.

Storrowton Village Museum

1305 Memorial Avenue West Springfield, MA 01089 Phone: 413-205-5051

Open: June 19-August 24, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; group tours by appointment year-round.

Historic Storrowton Village Museum offers an authentic 19th- century American experience. Traditional village green, gift shop, and meetinghouse and gazebo. Storrowton Tavern, a full-service restaurant Educational programs for children, special events, and guided tours. Located on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition. Admission charge.

The Mount - Edith Wharton Restoration

Plunkett Street Lenox, MA Phone: 413-551-5111

The Mount is a historic site and a center for culture inspired by the achievements of Edith Wharton. Designed by Wharton in 1902, the house embodies the principles outlined in her influential book, The Decoration of Houses (1897). The property includes three acres of formal gardens surrounded by extensive woodlands. Programming at The Mount reflects Wharton’s core interests in the literary arts, interior design and decoration, garden and landscape design, and the art of living. The Mount is open daily, May through October. Information: www.EdithWharton.org.

William Cullen Bryant Homestead

207 Bryant Road Cummington, MA 01027 Phone: 413-634-2244 Fax: 413-634-2244

Boyhood home of one of America's foremost 19th-century poets, the William Cullen Bryant Homestead is a National Historic Landmark. Purchased in 1789 by Ebenezer Snell, Bryant's grandfather, the Homestead and surrounding countryside inspired much of Bryant's poetry such as "The Rivulet" and "To A Waterfowl." Though Bryant moved to New York City to become editor and publisher of The New York Evening Post, the Homestead became Bryant’s summer retreat in his later years, and he converted it from a center-stair colonial to a Victorian cottage. The house collection includes extensive colonial and Victorian pieces from his travels to Europe and Asia.

Wistariahurst Museum

238 Cabot Street Holyoke, MA 01040 Phone: 413-322-5660 Fax: 413-534-2344

Open: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, noon- 4 p.m.

Twenty-six-room Beaux Arts mansion of silk manufacturer William Skinner featuring many outstanding architectural details and a house tour that weaves the tale of the people who lived and worked there. Dinosaur footprints and gardens. Admission charge.

1869 Schoolhouse Museum

Route 6 Eastham, MA 02642

Open: July and August, daily, 1-4 p.m.; September, Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

One-room schoolhouse; school memorabilia, farm implements, and fishing industry artifacts, whaling and military artifacts. Admission is free.

Aptucxet Trading Post Museum

24 Aptucxet Road Bourne, MA 02532 Phone: 508-759-9487

Open: Seasonal hours. Call ahead for information.

Replica of Pilgrim-Dutch trading post; windmill; 17th-century herb and wildflower gardens; Native American artifacts; picnic area. Salt works, Gray Gables Railroad Station. Admission charge.

Benjamin Nye Homestead

85 Old County Road East Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-2368

This home was built in 1685, and offers visitors rooms decorated with authentic and replica items from late 17th and early 18th century colonial America. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Brooks Academy Museum

80 Parallel St. Harwich Center, MA 02645 Phone: 508-432-8089

Open: Tours through the summer months, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 1-4 p.m. and at other times by appointment.

This 1844 building was the site of a school that offered some of the region's first courses in navigation. Maritime and Native American artifacts are featured, as are displays of antique glass, photographs, toys, clothing and more. Collection includes Charles D. Cahoon paintings, Crowell carved birds, the Cape's largest cranberry culture exhibit, historic photographs, manuscripts, and genealogical records.

Cape Cod's Oldest Windmill

Route 6 Eastham, MA

Built in 1793, this windmill powered an 18th century grist mill. Open year-round.

Captain Bangs Hallet House

11 Strawberry Lane (off Route 6A) Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 Phone: 508-362-3021

Open: June 1 through October 15, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with tours at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

The original part of this Greek Revival sea captain's house was built in 1740. A century later, additional portions of the house were built. The kitchen has its original 1740 brick beehive oven and butter churn. A nice collection of china, pewter, maritime artifacts, and clothing from the sea captain era are displayed here. The 50 acre property has nature trails. Open throughout the summer on select afternoons.

Captain Edward Penniman House

Fort Hill Road Eastham, MA Phone: 508-255-3421

The Victorian-era home of a whaling captain features original furniture and household items. Open seasonally.

Centerville Historical Society Museum

513 Main Street Centerville, MA 02632 Phone: 508-775-0331

Open: May 2-December 15, Tuesday-Saturday, noon– 4 p.m.

There are a variety of exhibits, including furnished period rooms and Sandwich glass and maritime artifacts. Of particular note is the museum's collection of miniature bird carvings by Anthony Elmer Crowell. Also interesting is the museum's exhibit of 300 quilts and costumes, spanning three centuries. Admission is free.

Eastham Windmill

Route 6 Eastham, MA

The oldest windmill on the Cape. Recently renovated, the it sits in the park on Route 6 at Samoset Road.

Falmouth Historical Society Museums and Colonial Garden

55 Palmer Avenue, adjacent to the Village Green Falmouth, MA 02540 Phone: 508-548-4857

Open: June 27-October 7, Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Two 18th-century houses showcase period furnishings, china, toys, vintage clothing (including a laundry room filled with Victorian underwear), fine art and heritage quilts. Special exhibits capture the excitement of Falmouth’s 19th-century whaling industry, the science of pre-Civil War medicine, and the life of Katharine Lee Bates, Falmouth-born author of America the Beautiful.

First Church of Christ

Route 130 Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-0434

The oldest parish on the Cape, this church is open seasonally to visitors. There is an admission fee.

First Congregational Church

Wellfleet, MA Phone: 508-349-6877

Famous for its steeple clock, which, according to legend, is "the only clock in the world that strikes ship's time." The interior of this 1850 Greek Revival building is stunning, with pale blue walls, a brass chandelier hanging from a gilt ceiling rosette, and curved pews forming an amphitheater. Sunday evening concerts are held here throughout the summer.

French Cable Station Museum

Cove Road and Route 28 Orleans, MA 02653 Phone: 508-240-1735

Open: June, Friday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; July-early September, Monday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

One of the most significant developments of the 19th century was the transatlantic cable connecting North America to Europe by telephone. This museum houses the original equipment used to lay that cable. Admission fee.

Grist Mill

Chase Park, Shattuck Place Chatham, MA

Built in 1797, this historic mill gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the historic of agriculture and agricultural processing on the Cape. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Highland House Museum – Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse

27 Highland Road Truro, MA 02666 Phone: 508-487-3397

Open: The Museum: June 1 -September 30, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, 1- 4:30 p.m. The Lighthouse: May-mid-October, daily, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Located near Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse, the Highland House Museum is an example of a turn-of-the-century summer hotel. The museum illustrates everyday life of the past, from the time of the Pamet Native Americans to the early days of this century. The museum contains 17th-century firearms, shipwreck mementos, early fishing and whaling gear, household tools, farming implements, furniture, Sandwich glass, a pirate’s chest and more. The Cape Cod Lighthouse includes an Interpretive Center offering a 10-minute video and an observation deck on one of the highest cliffs on the Cape. Aadmission charge.

Hoxie House

Water Street Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-1173

The oldest restored home on Cape Cod, built in 1675. Open seasonally for tours. There is an admission charge.

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

397 Main Street Hyannis, MA 02601 Phone: 508-790-3077

Open: Mid-April-Memorial Day, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Memorial Day-Columbus Day, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Columbus Day-October 31, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Nov

This museum focuses on Kennedy's life and activities during the times he vacationed in Hyannis. There is an admission charge.

John F. Kennedy Memorial

Ocean Street, Route 28 Hyannis, MA

This monument, erected in the popular Kennedy retreat on the Cape, memorializes the fallen President. There is no admission fee.

Johnathan Young Windmill

Town Cove Orleans, MA Phone: 508-240-2484

Here you can watch demonstrations of the windmill as it pumps saltwater into shallow vaults to make salt. Open during the summer season. Follow Route 6A to Town Cove.

Josiah Dennis Manse Schoolhouse

Nobscusset Road and Whig Street Dennis, MA Phone: 508-385-2232

Built in 1736, this old schoolhouse was originally a home. Inside, visitors will find exhibits and artifacts related to the whaling industry and maritime life on Cape Cod. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Marconi Wireless Site

South Wellfleet, MA

The site of the first transatlantic wireless transmission: In 1912 it was the first station in North America to pick up distress signals from the HMS Titanic. Free admission.

Old Atwood House

347 Stage Harbor Road Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-2493

Built in 1752, the house is owned by the Chatham Historical Society. It has a gambrel roof, wide floor planks and a beehive oven in the kitchen. Of particular note is the 1974 Durang Wing collection of seashells from around the world. An herb garden and the old turret and lens from the Chatham Light are on the grounds.

Old Indian Meeting House

Route 28 Mashpee, MA Phone: 508-477-0208

Built in 1684, this church was originally a site for worship by converted Native Americans. Open seasonally. Admission is free.

Old Schoolhouse Museum

Route 6 Eastham, MA Phone: 508-255-0333

While modern day schools look more like office buildings or factories, this is a one-room schoolhouse. In addition the museum has a display of U.S. Life Saving Service records and a collection of whale jawbones. Located across from the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center, the museum is open weekday afternoons throughout the summer.

Olde Colonial Courthouse

Route 6A Barnstable, MA Phone: 508-362-8927

Built in 1772, this is the second-oldest courthouse in the United States. The Tale of Cape Cod, a local group dedicated to preserving the Cape's history, sponsors a series of lectures/slide shows here during the summer months. Call for further information

Osterville Historical Society Museum

Parker and West Bay Roads Osterville, MA 02655 Phone: 508-428-5861

The Captain Jonathan Parker House was built in 1824 and was originally a half-Cape house. Capt. Parker was one of many schooner captains in the village that made his trade in fishing and transportation up and down the seacoast. Many additions to the house were made over the next centuries. The house contains seven rooms of historical maps, 18th and 19th century furniture, art and ceramics. The Osterville Garden Club designed and maintains each year a 19th century ornamental garden that marks the entrance to the Museum.
Hours: Late May to mid-September, Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Private tours by appointment.
Admission: Free.

Pairpoint Glass Works

Route 6A Sagamore, MA Phone: 508-888-2344

At this glassworks factory artisans still make their wares using the same techniques used two centuries ago. The blowing room is open for demonstrations every Friday.

Pilgrim Monument

High Pole Hill Road Provincetown, MA 02657 Phone: 508-487-1310

Open: April 15-October 31, daily, 9a.m.-5 p.m.; July-August, daily, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; weekends in November.

Completed in 1910 to commemorate Provincetown as the first landing place of the Pilgrims. Visitors can walk to the top of the 252-foot granite monument and visit the Provincetown Museum to learn about Provincetown history. Admission charge.

Provincetown Museum

High Pole Hill Provincetown, MA Phone: 508-487-1310

The history of the Cape is detailed here, including a granite tower monument commemorating the Pilgrim's first landing on the Cape in 1620. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Railroad Museum

Chatham Railroad Company, Station Depot Road Chatham, MA

Learn more about the history of trains through the museum's railroad memorabilia, including train models, a diorama of the 1915 Chatham railroad station and old equipment.

Sandwich Glass Museum

129 Main Street Sandwich, MA 02563 Phone: 508-888-0251

Open: February-March, Wednesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; April-December, daily, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed January, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Sandwich was home to a glass factory throughout much of the 19th century. This museum features exhibits of glassware made from 1825 to 1888. Admission charge.

Stoney Brook Mill

Stoney Brook Road Brewster, MA

Visitors to this historical replica can see a working mill from the 18th century. Open year-round. Admission is free.

Sturgis Library

Route 6A Barnstable, MA Phone: 508-362-6636

Built in 1644, this is the oldest public library in the United States. In addition to the collection of books, there is an interesting collection of genealogical material, as well as an exhibit on maritime history. Open year-round.

Swift-Daley House

Route 6 Eastham, MA

Built in 1741, this home exhibits antique furniture and tools. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Taylor Hallet Museum

Yarmouth Port, MA Phone: 508-362-3362

Yarmouth Port's history is chronicled in the old photographs and memorabilia.

The Old Whaling Church

89 Main Street Phone: 508-627-4442

The church was built in 1843. With its dramatic front columns and majestic steeple, it's an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture. The church is now a community performing arts center and has many special events scheduled throughout the year. Call the church or consult the local papers for a schedule of events.

Trayser Museum Complex

Route 6A Barnstable, MA

The red-painted brick building houses maritime and Indian artifacts, ship models, and Sandwich glass. The building's downstairs has been recreated to look like it did in the mid-18th century when the building operated as a Customs House. Also on the grounds is a jail, complete with inmates' graffiti. The jail dates back to 1690.

Wellfleet Historical Society Museum

266 Main Street Wellfleet, MA 02667 Phone: 508-349-9157

Open: June 21-September 10, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1-4 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Memorabilia featuring toys, marine equipment, and needlework. Tours of the area's historic sites are available. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

West Parish Congregational Church

Route 6A West Barnstable, MA Phone: 508-362-4445

This structure is the site of the oldest Congregational church parish in the United States. Open seasonally for tours. Admission is free.

Wing Fort House

69 Spring Hill Road East Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-3591

This homestead boasts many 18th century structures and one house built in 1641, as well as period decorated rooms. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Winslow Crocker House

250 Main Street Yarmouth Port, MA Phone: 617-994-6661

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission.

Explore a colonial Cape Cod house with a 20th-century flavor. In 1936, Mary Thacher had house moved six miles down the Old King’s Highway to its present location. Over a ten-month period, the house was taken apart beam by beam and reassembled. Today it provides an attractive backdrop for Thacher’s significant collection of antique furniture. Hooked rugs, ceramics, and pewter add colorful accents to the display.
Admission: $4. Historic New England members free. $3 seniors. $2 students and children.

Woods Hole Historical Museum

Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone: 508-548-7270

Open: Mid-June-mid-October, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A guided walking tour

Set in the historic Bradley House, this museum features a model of the village of Woods Hole as it was in 1895. Admission is free.

American Antiquarian Society

185 Salisbury Street Worcester, MI Phone: 508-755-5221

In 1812, this organization was begun by Isaiah Thomas. It now functions mostly as a research library.

Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor

Broadmeadow Brook Visitors Center
4414 Massosoit Road Worcester, MA Phone: 508-754-7363

The northern end of this historic region, which extends southward into Rhode Island. Considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Blackstone River Corridor features numerous historic mills and sites. This visitors' center details many of them, in addition to a look at the evolution of this important developmental stage in American history.

Clara Barton Birthplace Museum

68 Clara Barton Road North Oxford, MA 01537 Phone: 508-987-5375

Open: June 1-Columbus Day weekend, Wednesday – Sunday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.. Call ahead for seasonal changes

The first home of one of America's most famous women and the founder of the American Red Cross. Exhibits feature Barton's career and history, in addition to family memorabilia. Admission charge.

First Church of Christ

On the Green Lancaster, MA Phone: 508-365-2427

This meetinghouse, built in 1817, was designed by the famous Boston architect Charles Bulfinch.

Fruitlands Museums

102 Prospect Hill Road Harvard, MA 01451 Phone: 508-456-3924

Open: May 13 through October 31, weekdays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Set on the site of an 1843 social experiment by A.B. Alcott. Fruitlands was conceived as a 19th century utopia, but is now home to a museum exhibits focusing on the Shaker society, the region's native American population, in addition to Fruitlands itself. Admission charge.

General Artemus Ward Home

786 Main Street Shrewsbury, MA Phone: 508-842-8900

This 18th century home of Revolutionary War General Artemus Ward has been restored, and exhibits period furniture, artifacts, and historical information. Open seasonally.

Goddard Library

Clark University Worcester, MA Phone: 508-793-7461

Robert Goddard is credited as the founder of American rocketry, pivotal in the history of our early forays into outer space. This library features memorabilia of his life and his work.

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Off Rte 20 Sturbridge, MA 01566 Phone: 508-347-3362 Toll-Free: 800-SEE-1830

Old Sturbridge Village: The Story of a New Nation

Step out of your world and into ours. Explore early New England in the company of farmers, craftsmen, and fascinating characters. Celebrate yesterday's proud traditions on your remarkable journey into America's past. Old Sturbridge Village offers a variety of ways to experience the artifacts, activities, and seasonal celebrations of rural New England during the first 50 years following the American Revolution (1790-1840). The centerpiece of the museum is a recreated rural New England town of the 1830s encompassing a center village, mills area, and countryside. Period handcrafts, heirloom gardens, and heritage breeds of farm animals are part of every village visit. Hands-on opportunities abound. The Visitor Center is home to our new History Gateway, including Kidstory an early learning gallery and Icons of New England exhibit, focusing on the history of what makes New England unique. Open year-round, daily except Mondays. Call ahead for holiday schedules.

Salisbury Mansion

40 Highland Street Worcester, MA Phone: 508-753-8278

Built in 1772, this mansion was home to a local wealthy businessman. Open for tours, exhibits show family artifacts and household items from the 18th and 19th centuries. There is an admission fee.

Waters Farm

Waters Road West Sutton, MA 01590 Phone: 508-865-0101

Built in 1757 by Stephen Waters, Waters Farm was owned by the same family for six generations until 1974 when the house, outbuildings, contents and property were donated to the Town of Sutton. The Sutton Beauty Apple was created here and the farm is thought to be the site of the first commercial apple production in the country. Within its walls is the story of how the prosperity of one family progressed over 230 years and six generations. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the main house contains three chimneys, nine fireplaces, and three brick ovens. Also on the property is a circa 1840 Old English Style barn, a shingle mill, sugar house, blacksmith shop, corn barn, and cook barn.

Worcester Historical Museum & Salisbury Mansion

30 Elm Street Worcester, MA 01609 Phone: 508-753-8278

Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

This museum focuses on the history of the city of Worcester. A library also is on the site. Admission charge.

Abiel Smith School

46 Joy Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-725-0022

The first public school in the U.S. to teach black children, built in 1834. Currently the site of the Museum of African-American History and the Black Heritage Trail.

Adams National Historic Site

135 Adams Street Quincy, MA Phone: 617-770-1175

This landmark estate was home to the Adams family for 4 generations, including two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

African Meeting House

8 Smith Court Boston, MA Phone: 617-739-1200

Built in 1806, this structure is the oldest standing black church in the nation. In 1832 the Antislavery Society was founded at the site. Exhibits on display.

Black Heritage Trail

46 Joy Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-725-0022

Beginning at the African Meeting House on Smith Court, this walking tour follows the history of the African-American community in 19th century Boston. Many of the sites are open to the public and are listed separately here. The the walk includes the following: The African Meeting House (1806), Smith Court, the Abiel Smith School (1834), the George Middleton House (1797), 54th Regiment Memorial on Boston Common, Phillips School, the John J. Smith House, the Lewis and Harriet Hayden House, and Coburn's Gaming House (1844).

Boston by Sea: A Seafaring Adventure Through Boston's Past

Rowes Wharf Boston, MA Phone: 617-542-8000

Cruise the Harbor aboard Mass Bay lines as live actors bring the history of Boston and its Harbor to life through authentic maritime music, original skits, and fascinating true stories. Learn about the Boston Tea Party, "Old Ironsides," pirates, and more. Tours depart from Rowes Wharf.

Boston Common

Between Beacon and Tremont Streets Boston, MA

The center of many activities throughout the year, the city's grand park is the oldest park in the United States. Nearly 50 acres in size.

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area

Boston, MA Phone: 617-223-8666

This state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. The islands can be reached via a 45-minute ferry ride from downtown Boston. Islands offer shell and slate beaches. Lovells Island has a swimming beach. Bumpkin Island has slate and shell beaches.

Boston Massacre Site

Next to the Old State House Boston, MA

On March 5, 1770, British Redcoats fired on a mob of colonists at this site. Five were killed, among them Crispus Attucks, the first African-American patriot to be killed in the Revolution. The massacre was a watershed event in the period leading up to the American Revolution.

Boston National Historical Park Visitor Center

15 State Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-242-5642

Historical exhibits are featured at the park site, which also has a variety of available maps and brochures. The Freedom Trail tour is sponsored here.

Boston Public Library

666 Boylston Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-536-5400

Historic building, built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and featuring sculptures, paintings, murals, and a courtyard.

Boston Women's Heritage Trail

Boston, MA Phone: 617-522-2872

This walk honors some of the city's most prominent women, encompassing Beacon Hill, the North End, Chinatown, and downtown Boston. Maps for this walk are available at Boston Common.

Bunker Hill Monument

Monument Square Charlestown, MA Phone: 617-242-5641

Monument marks the site of the Bunker Hill skirmish, one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War, which took place on June 17, 1775. Free admission.

Bunker Hill Pavilion

55 Constitution Road Charlestown, MA Phone: 617-241-7575

The Battle of Bunker Hill is recreated in multi-media show, which runs seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Captain Robert Bennet Forbes House

215 Adams Street Milton, MA Phone: 617-696-1815

Built in the 19th century, this sea captain's home features a collection of antique porcelain, as well as other historic artifacts. There is an admission fee.

Charles River Museum of Industry

154 Moody Street Waltham, MA 02453 Phone: 617-893-5410

Open: Thursday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Located in America's first factory, the history 1814 Boston Manufacturing Company textile mill, on the National Register of Historic Places. Exhibits include the American Industrial Revolution, steam power, Waltham Watch Company, plus the bicycle and automobile manufacturing industries along the Charles River. Explore the inventions that powered America into the modern age and the geniuses who perfected them. Admission charge.

Charlestown Navy Yard

National Historic Park Charlestown, MA Phone: 617-242-5692

Visitors will get a glimpse into the Naval history of Boston at this site, actively used by the U.S. Navy from 1800 until 1974. Includes a museum detailing the history of "Old Ironsides," the USS Constitution. Admission to the Navy Yard is free.

Christ Church

Garden Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-876-0200

Used as a barracks during the Revolutionary War, this 1761 church is the oldest surviving church building in the country.

Copp's Hill Burial Ground

Uphill from the Old North Church Boston, MA

Pre-revolutionary graves can be found here, including those of Cotton Mather and Edward Hart, builder of the USS Constitution.

Dorchester Heights Monument

Thomas Park South Boston, MA Phone: 617-742-5642

The site of the first battle won by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Dorchester Historical Society

195 Boston Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-265-7802

The Society maintains and exhibits three structures: The Blake House (built in 1648), the Lemuel Clapp House (built in 1710) and the William Clapp House (built in 1806), plus an extensive exhibit of Dorchester pottery.

Fairbanks House

511 East Street Dedham, MA Phone: 617-326-1170

Built in 1636, this is the oldest surviving wooden-frame house in North America. Exhibits feature original home furnishings and textiles. Admission fee.

Faneuil Hall

Merchants Row Boston, MA Phone: 617-523-1300

Built in 1742, this marketplace and meeting area became a focal point of discussion and protest against the British government during the colonial era. Historical talks are held daily in what has become known as the "Cradle of Liberty."

First Church

Garden Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-547-2724

Built in 1872, this church is a prime example of 19th century architecture.

General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace

786 Washington Street Braintree, MA Phone: 617-848-1640

Originally constructed in 1720, this home has been restored to its 18th century appearance and features authenic furnishings from that period. There is an admission charge.

Gibson House Museum

137 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 617-267-6338

Open: Year-round; visits are by guided tour, Wednesday-Sunday, 1, 2, 3 p.m.; closed New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

This Victorian home, built for Catherine Hammond Gibson in 1859, is open for visitors to observe the 19th century lifestyle and culture in Boston. Admission charge.

Granary Burying Ground

Tremont Street Boston, MA

America's most historic cemetery features the graves of John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and those killed in the Boston Massacre. Free admission.

Harborwalk

Boston, MA Phone: 850-337-8250

A self-guided walk that traces the history of the Boston waterfront. The tour begins at the Old State House, brochures are available at the National Park Service Visitor's Center on State Street.

Harvard University

26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-495-1000

America's oldest university and one of the world's most revered learning institutions, Harvard has given degrees to some of the nation's most important historical figures. Campus tours are available regularly, admission is free.

Hooper Lee Nichols House

159 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-547-4252

The original structure, much of which is still visible, was built between 1685 and 1690. The house was remodeled into a Georgian mansion in the 1730s. Tours are available and there is an admission charge.

Innovation Odyssey Tour

28 State Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-350-0358

Visit the people and places behind Boston's great inventions. An actor/tour guide brings Boston innovations - from the telephone to the Internet - to life on this cutting-edge, two-hour tour of Boston and Cambridge. Sites include Harvard, MIT, and the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital. Imagine a world without computers, telephones, or anesthesia. Tours depart from 28 State Street, every Saturday at 2:00 pm. A shuttle from the Museum of Science departs at 1:40 pm.

Jackson Homestead

527 Washington Street Newton, MA 02458 Phone: 617-796-1450

Open: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays

The Jackson Homestead, a 1809 Federal-style farmhouse, is a nationally accredited museum and home to Newton's Historical Society. The exhibits and programs concentrate on topics of New England history, including the home as a site on the Underground Railroad. Collections include paintings, costumes, photographs, manuscripts, maps, and historical artifacts.

John Adams Birthplace

133 Franklin Street Quincy, MA Phone: 617-773-1177

This colonial saltbox, built in the early 18th century, was the birthplace of the 2nd President of the United States, John Adams. There is an admission fee.

John F. Kennedy Birthplace National Historic Site

83 Beals Street Brookline, MA Phone: 617-566-7937

Guided tours are available at the site, covering the house and neighborhood, where President John F. Kennedy was born in 1917. There is an admission charge.

John Quincy Adams Birthplace

141 Franklin Street Quincy, MA Phone: 617-773-1177

In 1767, the 6th President of the United States was born here. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

King's Chapel

58 Tremont Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-523-1749

Founded as the first Anglican Church in America in 1754, this became the site of the country's first Unitarian church soon after the Revolution.

Literary Trail of Greater Boston

Omni Parker House Boston, MA Phone: 617-350-0358

A tour for everyone who loves history, good books, and beautiful settings. Discover the homes, gathering places, and landscapes of America's most beloved authors on a guided tour, or on your own with the Self-Guided Tour Package. Travel from Boston to Cambridge and Concord and visit sites such as Walden Pond, Longfellow House, Concord Museum, and Orchard House. Tours depart from the Omni Parker House the second Saturday of the month, beginning August.

Longfellow National Historic Site

105 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-876-4491

A historic "double whammy," this site was headquarters for George Washington in 1775 and 1776. It was author Longfellow's home in 1837-38. There is an admission charge.

Louisburg Square

Beacon Hill Boston, MA

This residential and historic square is surrounded by homes once resided in by Louisa May Alcott, William Dean Howells, and other famous Boston residents.

Memorial Hall Transept at Harvard University

45 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: 617-496-4595

This memorial space boasts a 2,600-square-foot marble floor, a 60-foot-high wooden gothic vault, two stained glass windows spanning 708 square feet each, stenciled walls, and 28 white marble tablets bearing the names of 136 Harvard associates who fell on behalf of the Union cause during the Civil War.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA Phone: 617-547-7105

In this cemetery are the graves of architect Charles Bulfinch, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Winslow Homer, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, in a tranquil arboretum and garden-like setting.

New England Holocaust Memorial

Union Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-457-8755

Commemorates the millions of lives lost in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

Nichols House Museum

55 Mount Vernon Street Boston, MA 02108 Phone: 617-227-6993

Open: May 1 - October 31, Tuesday through Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; November 1 - April 30, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; closed most major holidays

Built in 1804, this home on Beacon Hill features exhibits of antique furniture and household items. Admission charge.

Old Burying Ground

Garden Street and Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA

Historic cemetery features the graves of eight Harvard presidents, and Cato Stedman and Neptune Frost -- both African-American veterans of the Revolution.

Old Corner Bookstore

1 School Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-367-4000

Still operating as a bookstore today, this historic site was home to quite a group: Longfellow, Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Oliver Wendell Homes met here to plan and discuss their works.

Old Manse

269 Monument Street Concord, MA 01742 Phone: 978-369-3909 Fax: 978-287-6154

Find your place

Overlooking the North Bridge, site of the first organized armed resistance of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, this National Historic Landmark was built ca.1770 by the minister, Reverend William Emerson. Emerson's grandson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, first drafted his essay "Nature" while living at the Old Manse. Nathaniel Hawthorne and his bride, Sophia, honeymooned here from 1842 to 1845. Hawthorne named the house in 1846 when a collection of his short stories was published as “Mosses from an Old Manse”. The house contains 200 years of family furnishings, including a Steinway cross-strung grand piano, eighteenth-century Cantonware, William Emerson's clock, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing desk.

Old North Church

193 Salem Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-523-6676

Still in use today, the oldest church in Boston was built in 1723. The building played a truly reknowned role during the Revolution as the spot where lanterns were hung -- "one if by land, two if by sea" -- to warn about the approach of British troops.

Old Schwamb Mill

17 Mill Lane at 29 Lowell Street Arlington, MA 02474 Phone: 617-643-0554

Open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The historic Old Schwamb Mill site itself survives as a continuously operating site where, for more than 300 years, immigrant Puritan, Yankee, and German entrepreneurs harnessed the water power of a fast-moving brook to run machines and develop a series of family-owned businesses. Today The Old Schwamb Mill continues to produce museum quality hand turned wooden oval and circular frames. See the production of a frame and hear what the woodworker says about his work.

Old South Meeting House

310 Washington Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-482-6439

Built in 1729, the Old South Meeting House was the largest building in colonial Boston. Hosting historic gatherings such as the outraged protests over the Boston Massacre to the infamous meeting where Samuel Adams launched the Boston Tea Party, Old South continues to be an active meeting place in Boston. The exhibition "Voices of Protest" and innovative, hands-free audio program "If These Walls Could Speak" tell the story of compelling figures from Old South's history and reveal the controversial history of free speech that continues to this day. Open daily, modest admission charged.

Old State House (Museum of Boston History)

Corner of State Street and Washington Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-720-1713

Visit Boston’s oldest public building, the seat of Royal authority, where the American Revolution was fomented by Sam Adams, James Otis, John Adams, and John Hancock. See tea from the Boston Tea Party; objects from the Boston Massacre, Battle of Bunker Hill; Paul Revere’s handiwork; John Hancock’s red velvet coat. Daily 9-5. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Olmsted National Historic Site

99 Warren Street Brookline, MA Phone: 617-566-1689

A mansion with federal style architecture and early 19th century furnishings and household items on display. Tours are available to the public, there is an admission fee.

Otis House Museum

141 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02114 Phone: 617-277-3956

Open year round, Wednesday-Sunday. Tours every half hour, 11 a.m. -5 p.m.

Discover what life was like for Boston’s elite after the American Revolution, as the city grew and Beacon Hill became the most fashionable address. In 1796, Harrison Gray Otis, a congressman and real estate entrepreneur, and his wife, Sally, lived and entertained lavishly in this elegant home, designed by Charles Bulfinch. Today the house portrays both high-style living in the Federal era and the cycles of change in a dynamic urban neighborhood. Museum shop.
Admission: $8. Seniors, $7; students and children, $4.

Park Street Church

1 Park Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-523-3383

Site where, in 1829, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison gave his first speech against slavery.

Paul Revere House

19 North Square Boston, MA Phone: 617-523-2338

The oldest building in downtown Boston, built in 1680, was also home to Paul Revere; whose patriotic ride is one of the most famous events of the Revolutionary War. Open year-round. See www.paulreverehouse.org for information.

Quincy House

20 Muirhead Street Quincy, MA Phone: 617-227-3956

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission

Built as a country estate in 1770 for Revolutionary War leader Colonel Josiah Quincy, the house features an unusual monitor, or half-story space above the roof with small windows on all sides. From here Quincy had a clear view of shipping lanes in and out of Boston Harbor and on October 10, 1775, scratched “Governor Gage sail'd for England with a fair wind” into one of the windows. That pane of glass was carefully preserved by the family, and is on display in the house today. The family produced three mayors of Boston and a president of Harvard.

Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial

Boston Common Boston, MA

Sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gauden, commemorating the service of the Civil War's first black regiment.

Site of the First Public School and Franklin Statue

School Street Boston, MA

Built in 1635, the nation's first public school had Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Cotton Mather as students.

State House

Beacon Street Boston, MA Phone: 617-727-3676

The capital building for the State of Massachusetts was originally designed by Charles Bulfinch and constructed in 1795. Tours of the site are held regularly, Monday-Friday.

Trinity Church

Copley Square Boston, MA Phone: 617-536-0944

This church, built in 1877, was designed by H. H. Richardson, and is a prime example of the Romanesque architectural style.

U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Museum

739 Washington Street (the former Fore River Shipyard) Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-479-7900

Open: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This museum features the U.S.S. Salem, a U.S. Navy battleship in use early this century. Admission charge.

USS Cassin Young

Pier 1, Charlestown Navy Yard Charlestown, MA Phone: 617-242-5601

Guided tours of this floating museum focus on the history and active duty life of this World War II destroyer. Free admission.

USS Constitution Museum

Charlestown Navy Yard Charlestown, MA 02129 Phone: 617-242-7511

Open: Open: April 15 –October 15, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; October 16-April 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Experience 204 years at sea. The museum is a non-profit museum that brings USS Constitution's "Old Ironsides" tale to life through original artifacts and hands-on activities. The ship is the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world. Admission to the museum is free and is open daily.

1800 House

Mill Street Nantucket, MA

This 19th century home is open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

African Meeting House

York and Pleasant Streets Nantucket, MA Phone: 508-228-4058

This 1827 church later served as a school for African children. No admission charge.

Cottage Museum

1 Trinity Park Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 Phone: 508-693-0525

Open: Summer months, daily, Monday-Saturday

Thirty-five acres of brightly painted cottage dating back to mid 1800s; tour a gingerbread home; performances at the tabernacle. Visitors to the Cottage Museum can view the interior of a typical Campground cottage, complete with period furnishings offering a glimpse of life on the Campgrounds in the 1800s. Also on display are vintage photographs, a selection of stereoscopic photos of Cottage City and the Campgrounds, along with other interesting documents relating to the history of the Campground. Admission charge.

First Congregational Church

Centre Street Nantucket, MA

Visitors to this church are told to climb the tower, for scenic views of the entire island. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Flying Horses Carousel

Circuit Avenue Oak Bluffs, MA

Martha's Vineyard is home to the oldest working carousel in the U.S. The wooden horses have real stirrups. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Greater Light

Howard Street Nantucket, MA

Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association, this is not a lighthouse, but an unusual summer house, remodeled in the 1930's from an 18th century barn. Open seasonally. There is a charge for admission.

Hadwen House

Main Street Nantucket, MA Phone: 508-228-3744

Built in 1846, this mansion reflects life among the wealthy on Nantucket. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Jethro Coffin House

Sunset Hill Nantucket, MA

The oldest house on Nantucket is an example of the plan of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association.

Macy-Christian House

Liberty Street Nantucket,

This home shows off a combination of styles. Originally built in the 18th century, this colonial was remodeled in the revival style of the late 19th century. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

School and Cooke Streets Edgartown, MA 02539 Phone: 508-627-4441 ext 120

Open: Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekdays by appointment only

The island's largest museum and its only research library dedicated to the history of the Vineyard. The collections include over 30,000 items relating to all aspects of life on Martha’s Vineyard, such as agricultural tools, archaeological material, paintings, prints and sculpture, baskets, coins, costumes, decoys, hunting and fishing and shell fishing tools, ethnographic material brought back from the all over the worlds by Vineyard whalers, armament, guns and swords, furniture and household equipment, medical and scientific tools and equipment, musical instruments, fossils and botanical samples, maritime-related tools, sailor’s artwork such as scrimshaw and inlaid work, ship models, shipwreck salvage materials, Wampanoag tools, woodworking tools, toys, a whaleboat, Nomansland fishing boat, wagon, sleigh, fire engine and an 1854 first order Fresnel Lens used in the Gay Head Aquinnah lighthouse for almost 100 years

Mayhew Chapel and Indian Burial Ground

South Indian Hill Road West Tisbury, MA 02568 Phone: 508-627-8687

This Christiantown memorial is the site of an Indian burial ground and the Mayhew Chapel, named after Thomas Mayhew Jr., a missionary. This site is owned by the Wampanoag Tribe and grounds are maintained by Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club. Includes a wildflower sanctuary.
Fee charged.

Mitchell House

1 Vestal Street Nantucket, MA 02554 Phone: 508-228-2896

Open: Mid-June-Labor Day

The Mitchell House (1790) is the birthplace of Maria Mitchell, America’s first woman astronomer. Tour the house with Mitchell House staff and learn about the life of Maria Mitchell, her remarkable family, and Quaker Nantucket in the 19th century. Admission: Adults, $5; children, $4 children; passes to all Maria Mitchell Association museums: Adults, $15; Children, $10.

Nantucket Life Saving Museum

Polpis Road Nantucket, MA 02554 Phone: 508-228-1885

Open: May, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Memorial Day-Columbus Day, daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This museum is the recreation of the 1874 life guard station originally at this site. Admission charge.

Old Gaol

Vestal Street Nantucket, MA

This site is maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. Exhibits feature stocks and other equipment. It was the first prison in the U.S. to allow prisoners to go home at night. Free admission.

Old Mill

Prospect Street Nantucket, MA

This wind-powered mill was built in 1746 and has been working ever since. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. There is an admission charge. Open seasonally.

The Dr. Daniel Fisher House

99 Main Street Edgartown, MA Phone: 508-627-4440

This house was built in 1840 and is an excellent example of Federal-style architecture, the house was beautifully redecorated in 1992.

The Vincent House Museum

off Pease Point Way Edgartown, MA Phone: 508-627-8017

The Vincent House (circa 1675) offers its visitors a chance to see a structure built over 300 years ago. It has much of its original brickwork, hardware, and woodwork.

Unitarian Church

11 Orange Street Nantucket, MA

Built in 1809, this church features a trompe l'oeil interior. Open seasonally. No admission fee.

Whaling Museum

13 Broad Street Nantucket, MA 02554 Phone: 508-228-1736

Open: Open year-round, weekends during the winter

The museum features a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a restored 1847 spermaceti candle factory, exhibition space, and a fully accessible rooftop observation deck. The candle factory, built following Nantucket’s Great Fire in 1846, still has its original whale-oil beam press. In the museum’s Gosnell Hall, visitors will learn about the whale hunt and see the whale skeleton, a rigged whaleboat, a collection of whaling tools, and portraits of whaling captains and their wives. Interpretive talks and audiovisual programs are scheduled daily. The Peter Foulger Gallery showcases changing exhibits, and unique seasonal events. Other galleries throughout the museum’s include its world-famous collection of scrimshaw, Nantucket lightship baskets, the 1850 Fresnel lens from the Sankaty Lighthouse in Siasconset, and the restored 1881 town clock. Admission charge.

Abbott Hall

Washington Street Marblehead, MA

This Victorian town hall is the setting for one of the most recognized paintings in America: The Spirit of '76.

Andover Historical Society

97 Main Street Andover, MA 01810 Phone: 978-475-2236

Open: Guided tours, Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.; museum closed in August

This home, built in 1819, features 19th century artifacts and furnishings. A 19th-century barn is also on the property.

Balch House

448 Cabot Street Beverly, MA

Built in 1636, this home is one of the oldest wood-frame structures in the United States. Open seasonally, admission is free.

Bartlett Museum

270 Main Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Phone: 978-388-4528

Open: Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, Friday-Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; holidays, 1-4 p.m.; other times by appointment

Museum features collections of horse-drawn carriages and Native American artifacts. Open seasonally. Admission is free.

Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House

75 Eastern Point Boulevard Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone: 978-283-0800

Open: June 1-October 15, Tuesday-Saturday. Closed July 4. Tours on the hour, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

To visit Beauport is to enter a labyrinth of rooms decorated like stage sets, each of them a playful concept based on a different historical theme. You will find a sea captain’s room, with ship’s log and telescope at the ready, an early American kitchen awaiting a crowd of guests, and a breathtaking green-and-white dining room overlooking Gloucester Harbor. Folk art, colored glass, and curiosities fill every nook and cranny throughout the house. This was the summer home of Henry Davis Sleeper, one of America's first professional interior designers. Programs include tea on the terrace and specialty tours. Museum shop.
Admission: $10. Seniors, $9; students and children, $5.

Beverly Historical Society

117 Cabot Street Beverly, MA 01915 Phone: 978-922-1186

The society's Cabot House headquarters offers a research library, period rooms, and an exhibit about early banking in addition to images of New England transportation. Open year round. Also Balch and Hale houses. There is an admission charge.

Buckman Tavern

On the Green Lexington, MA Phone: 617-862-5598

On April 19, 1775 the Minute Men gathered in this historic tavern, right before the beginning of the American Revolution. The exhibits inside feature 18th century furniture. Tours are available seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Castle Hill

290 Argilla Road Ipswich, MA 01938 Phone: 978-356-4351 Fax: 978-356-2143

Grand summer estate of turn-of-the-century plumbing magnate Richard T. Crane Jr, and his family, this David Adler designed 59-room Stuart style mansion is now a National Historic Landmark. Set atop the mile-long Grand Allee, a rolling lawn with a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Great House at Castle Hill also features Grinling Gibbons woodwork in the library, an Italian garden, John Singer Sargent drawings, and period antiques. Castle Hill hosts weddings and private functions, and offers extensive public programs year-round, including tours of the Great House, a 4th of July celebration, a Christmas boutique, concerts and nature programs.

Codman Estate

34 Codman Road Lincoln, MA Phone: 617-994-6690

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission.

Tis country seat was a powerful force in the lives of five generations of the Codman family. In the 1790s, John Codman carried out extensive improvements to the original house and grounds. Later, his grandson updated the house in keeping with Victorian taste. Today, the interiors are richly furnished with portraits, memorabilia, and art works collected in Europe, showing the decorative schemes of every era, including those of 20th-century interior designer Ogden Codman Jr. The grounds feature a hidden turn-of-the-century Italian garden with perennial beds, statuary, and a reflecting pool, as well as a 1930s English cottage garden.

Coffin House

14 High Road Newburyport, MA Phone: 978-462-2634

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission

Coffin House was occupied by the Coffin family over three centuries, and provides fascinating insight into domestic life in rural New England. The structure, which contains the family's furnishings, has rooms from the 17th, 18th, and 19thcenturies. The house depicts the impact of an expanding economy and new concepts, such as the notion of privacy, on architecture and modes of living.
Admission: $5. June 4, free to public. Historic New England members free.

Cogswell’s Grant

60 spring Street Essex, MA Phone: 978-768-3632

Open: June 1-October 15, Wednesday-Sunday tours on the hour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

This 18th-century farmhouse, summer home of collectors Bertram and Nina Fletcher Little, houses their celebrated collection of American folk art, which they assembled over a period of nearly 60 years. Paintings, dressers full of redware, painted furniture, scrimshaw, wood carvings, decoys, sculptures, hooked rugs and other textiles are showcased throughout. The collection is displayed exactly as the family lived with it and shared it with their friends and fellow collectors. Museum shop.
Admission:$10; seniors, $9; students and children, $5.

Concord Free Public Library

129 Main Street Concord, MA Phone: 508-371-6240

The library contains a small collection of books, writings and art about the history of Concord.

Cushing House Museum

98 High Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Phone: 978-462-2681

Open: Individuals and groups under 10 people, May 1-October 31, Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; closed holidays

This mansion, built in 1808, features antique furniture, artwork and a carriage house. Open seasonally. Admission charge.

Custom House Maritime Museum

25 Water Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Phone: 978-462-8681

Open: Call ahead for hours of operation

Follow the history of maritime Massachusetts through the exhibits at this museum. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Danvers Archival Center

15 Sylvan Street Danvers, MA Phone: 508-774-0554

Although not in Salem, this archive contains the nation's largest collection of books and documents concerning the witch trials. Free admission.

Danvers Historical Society

13 Page Street Danvers, MA Phone: 508-777-1666

The society maintains various exhibits dealing with local history. Free admission.

Essex National Heritage Area

New Liberty and Essex Salem, MA Phone: 508-740-1650

The area offers visitors three Heritage Trails to walk: The maritime trail, the early settlement trail, and the industry/textile and leather trail.

Fort Sewall

Front Street, Route 114 Marblehead, MA

This historic fort offers a scenic view of Marblehead Harbor.

General Gideon Foster House

Peabody Historical Society & Museum, 35 Washington St. Peabody, MA 01960 Phone: 978-531-0805

Open: Tuesday, 7- 9 p.m.; Wednesday, 1-4 p.m.; special tours by appointment

This house is the headquarters of the Peabody Historical Society & Museum. Each room of the house features displays relating to Peabody's historic past. The society maintains a large collection of clothing, jewelry and accessories of the Victorian era. The Ruth Hill Library contains an extensive collection of books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and records pertinent to the city of Peabody's history from the earliest times. The library is open to the public for research every Tuesday evening, Wednesday afternoon or by special appointment. The Military Room contains artifacts of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War I and II. The Children's Room offers a special hands-on experience for youngsters.

Golden Ball Tavern

662 Boston Post Road Weston, MA Phone: 617-894-1751

This 18th century house, once a tavern, is now home to an archaeological museum. Exhibits focus on the Jones family, who for six generations owned the property.

Gore Place

52 Gore Street Waltham, MA Phone: 617-894-2798

Gore Place is the early 18oos estate of Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore. The mansion has been called the Monticello of the North and architectural historians consider it to be the most significant Federal period mansion in New England. The mansion and its farm are available for guided tours year-round. A calendar of events includes the April Sheepshearing Festival and the summer music series, Concerts in the Carriage House.

Gropius House

68 Baker Bridge Road Lincoln, MA Phone: 617-259-8843

Open June 1-October 15, Wednesday-Sunday; October 16-May 31, Saturdays and Sundays. Tours on the hour, 11 am-5 p.m. Close most major holidays.

Walter Gropius, founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus, came to teach at Harvard in 1937 and designed this house as his family home. Modest in scale, the house was revolu¬tionary in impact. It combined familiar elements of New England houses—wood siding, stone foundation, and brick chimney—with industrial materials. Every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity of design. The house con¬tains family possessions and an important collection of Bauhaus furniture designed by Marcel Breuer. Museum shop.
Admission: $10. Seniors, $9; students and children, $5.

Hamilton Hall

9 Chestnut Street Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-0805

Federalist meeting house, built in 1805. No admission fee.

Hancock-Clarke House

36 Hancock Street Lexington, MA Phone: 617-861-0928

Where was Paul Revere headed the night he made his famous ride? To this house! Colonial structure is open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Haverhill Historical Society

240 Water Street Haverhill, MA Phone: 508-374-4626

Exhibits feature antique glassware, dolls, and home furniture and items. Of particular interest is a collection of Native American artifacts. There is an admission fee.

Heard House Museum

54 South Main Street Ipswich, MA 01938 Phone: 978-356-2811

Open: Memorial Day through Columbus Day, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m.; Sunday 1-3 p.m.

Built in 1800, this home contains a collection of antique furniture from China and Colonial America. Visitors will also find a display of carriages. Admission charge.

Israel Putnam House

431 Maple Street Danvers, MA 01923 Phone: 978-777-1666

Open: June through September, Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

The Danvers Museum at the Israel Putnam House contains exhibits on local and regional history. Then known as Salem Village, the principal events of the witchcraft tragedy of 1692 occurred in Danvers. In the 19th century, the town became famous for its agricultural output, including the Danvers Globe Onion and the Danvers Half-Long Carrot. The Putnam House features a museum store. Self-guided tour maps of historic sites in Danvers, including sites related to the witchcraft tragedy, are available free of charge. Admission charge.

Jeremiah Lee Mansion

161 Washington Street Marblehead, MA 01945 Phone: 617-631-1069

Beauty and history

Stroll through the historic gardens at this 1768 mansion. The site also features exhibits of military and maritime items, antique children’s toys and furnishings, and examples of decorative arts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Hours: June through October, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fee charged.

John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace

Route 110 Haverhill, MA Phone: 617-373-3979

John Greenleaf Whittier, one of America's best known poets, was born and lived in this in the early part of his life. Exhibits feature Whittier's works and history, as well as 19th century furniture and items. There is an admission charge.

John Greenleaf Whittier Home

86 Friend Street Amesbury, MA Phone: 508-388-1337

Whittier lived and worked in this home for 56 years. The original furnishing remain intact and are on display. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

John Hale House

39 Hale Street Beverly, MA Phone: 508-922-1186

Home to Reverend John Hale, important figure in the infamous witchcraft trials. The house was built in 1694, and features restored 17th century rooms, as well as trial artifacts.

John Whipple House and Garden

53 South Main Street Ipswich, MA 01938 Phone: 508-356-2811

The house was built in the 1650s and moved to its present site in the 1920s. With more than 60 authentic Colonial flowers and herbs, the garden in front of the Whipple House represents a traditional housewife’s garden of the 17th century. The plantings are made up mostly of herbs that would be used in cooking and for medicinal purposes.
Hours: May 25-October 22, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment only. Tours begin on the hour. Fee charged.

King Hooper Mansion

8 Hooper Street Marblehead, MA Phone: 617-631-2608

This historic home features both historic displays and art exhibits. Admission is free.

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

Route 20 Sudbury, MA Phone: 978-443-1776

The Inn that inspired Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn. It has been restored to its 18th century original appearance. There is an admission charge.

Lowell Heritage State Park

160 Pawtucket Blvd Lowell, MA Phone: 978-369-6312

Lowell boasts a remarkable network of 19th-century canals created to provide power to the bustling textile mills that operated along the water's edge. Today the buildings remain and continue to evoke the sense of a great industrial city. Visitors can participate in activities, including canal rides, and explore exhibits about Lowell's role in America's industrial history presented in conjunction with the Lowell National Historical Park. A Victorian garden in the heart of the downtown area, and over two miles of landscaped esplanade, summer concerts, and swimming and boating in the Merrimack River are additional attractions at this popular park. The swim area is managed by the City of Lowell from July to August.
The Rourke Brothers State Boat Ramp, Route 113 (Pawtucket Blvd.) is open seasonally to the public to provide boating access to the Merrimack River. The boat ramp (managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation) is composed of 42 trailer lots, 2 HP trailer lots, 18 car top lots, and 2 HP car top lots. There is no fee to use the use the ramp or to park. The entrance to the boat ramp is directly across from Tyco Electronics, Inc. located at 1011 Pawtucket Blvd. and is one-half mile west of the Rourke Bridge.
Recreational opportunities: Accessible Restrooms bicycling paths, boating, boat ramp, canoeing, fishing, hiking, historic site, scenic viewing area, swimming, visitor's center, walking trails.

Lowell National Historical Park

246 Market Street Lowell, MA Phone: 508-970-5000

In the 19th century, the city of Lowell was a thriving center of the industrial revolution. This park allows visitors to experience this history, complete with a restored mill, multi-media exhibits, walking tours and summertime barge and trolley rides in the canal. There is no admission charge, but a fee is needed to ride the barge or trolley. Reservations can be made by calling.

Lowell's Boat Shop

459 Main Street Amesbury, MA Phone: 508-388-0162

First opened in 1793, this is the oldest, continuously operating boat shop in the country. Admission is free.

Lyman Estate and Greenhouses

185 Lyman Street Waltham, MA 02452 Phone: 781-891-1985

The Lyman Estate Greenhouses is complex of four greenhouses consists of an 1804 grape house, 1820 camellia house, 1840 orchid house, and a 1930 sales greenhouse where visitors can purchase plants to take home. Rare orchids covered with exotic flowers bloom throughout the year. During the summer, Black Hamburg and Green Muscat grapevines are laden with enormous clusters of fruit. Autumn in the greenhouses arrives with the sweet scent of citrus plants in bloom, followed by the arrival of their fruit. When winter is at its bleakest, the century-old camellia collection puts forth its magnificent blooms. The expert horticultural staff offers advice and assistance with plant selection and culture. The greenhouse specializes in orchids, exotic house plants, citrus fruits, camellias, and herbs. Five large specialty plant sales are held during the year.
Hours: December 15-July 15, Wednesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; July 16-December 14, Wednesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Lynn Museum & Historical Society

590 Washington St. Lynn, MA 01901 Phone: 781-581-6200

Open: daily, year-round, noon-4 p.m. daily throughout the year, closed holidays

Four rooms exhibit items tracing Lynn's history over a span of 100 years, from 1776 to 1876. Admission charge.

Mary Baker Eddy House

277 Main Street Amesbury, MA Phone: 508-388-1361

The founder of the Christian Science Church, Eddy lived in this home from 1868 to 1870. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Mary Baker Eddy House

23 Paradise Road Swampscott, MA Phone: 617-599-1853

Home where Mary Baker Eddy formulated her ideas, which later led to the founding of the Christian Science Church.

Minute Man National Historical Park

174 Liberty Street Concord, MA Phone: 508-369-6993

The starting point for the American Revolution happened here. Visitors will enjoy tours, exhibits and talks. Sites include the Minute Man statue and the North Bridge, site of the first shot fired in the Revolution. Admission is free.

Munroe Tavern

1332 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA Phone: 617-674-9238

On April 19, 1775 -- the day the American Revolution began, this tavern was the headquarters for General Earl Percy. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

National Heritage Museum

33 Marrett Road, Route 2A Lexington, MA 02421 Phone: 781-861-6559

Open: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

American history exhibits; films, shows, and concerts; permanent exhibit on freemasonry and the American Revolution. Admission is free.

Old Manse

269 Monument Street Concord, MA 01742 Phone: 978-369-3909 Fax: 978-287-6154

Find your place

Overlooking the North Bridge, site of the first organized armed resistance of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, this National Historic Landmark was built ca.1770 by the minister, Reverend William Emerson. Emerson's grandson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, first drafted his essay "Nature" while living at the Old Manse. Nathaniel Hawthorne and his bride, Sophia, honeymooned here from 1842 to 1845. Hawthorne named the house in 1846 when a collection of his short stories was published as “Mosses from an Old Manse”. The house contains 200 years of family furnishings, including a Steinway cross-strung grand piano, eighteenth-century Cantonware, William Emerson's clock, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing desk.

Orchard House

399 Lexington Road Concord, MA Phone: 978-369-4118

In this 19th century home, Louisa May Alcott lived and wrote Little Women. Tours are offered. There is an admission charge.

Parson Barnard House

179 Osgood Street North Andover, MA Phone: 508-686-4035

This 1715 home gives visitors a unique historical perspective. The development of the home and New England life is shown through the first four owners of the house. There is an admission charge.

Parson Capen House

1 Howlett Street Topsfield, MA 01983 Phone: 978-887-3998

Open: June 15 to September 15, Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1-4:30 p.m.

Headquarters of the Topsfield Historical Society, the Parson Capen House is probably the finest surviving example of Elizabethan architecture in America. The house is situated on a knoll overlooking the Common, originally on a 12-acre lot of land granted Reverend Capen by the Town in 1682. The Topsfield Historical Society purchased the house in 1913. It was restored under the direction of George Francis Dow, and an official housewarming was held on January 14, 1914. Docents explain the history of the house and grounds.

Peabody Essex Museum

East India Square Salem, MA 01970 Phone: 978-745-1876

Open: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Exhibits feature Asian art, history and ethnology, also maritime history. There is an admission charge.

Phillips House

34 Chestnut Street Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-0440

Open June 1-October 31, Tuesday-Sunday; November 1-May 31, Saturdays and Sundays. Tours on the hour, 11 am-4 p.m. Close most major holidays.

Visit the mansion to experience a gracious early 20th-century lifestyle. Learn the curious history of how the house came to be on Chestnut Street. Discover rooms decorated with Federal-era furniture, Chinese export porcelain, ship portraits, and artifacts collected in Hawaii. The tour provides insights into the lives of the Phillips family and their domestic staff, Salem history, and life on historic Chestnut Street. The carriage house contains several antique carriages and two elegant Pierce-Arrow automobiles; an antique vehicle meet is held every summer. Museum shop.
Admission: $10. Seniors, $9; students and children, $5.

Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630

Forest River Park Salem, MA Phone: 508-745-0525

Visitors will enjoy this restored Puritan settlement, complete with costumed guides. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Ralph Waldo Emerson House

28 Cambridge Turnpike Concord, MA Phone: 508-369-2236

This 19th century structure was home to author Ralph Waldo Emerson, who lived and wrote there from 1835 to 1889. The original furniture is on exhibit. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Rebecca Nurse Homestead

149 Pine Street Danvers, MA Phone: 508-774-0554

In 1692, Rebecca Nurse became one of the women executed as a result of the Salem witch trials. This 17th century structure was her home. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Rocky Hill Meetinghouse

4 Old Portsmouth Road Amesbury, MA Phone: 978-462-2634

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission

The 1785 Rocky Hill Meeting House is one of the best preserved examples of an original 18th-century meeting house interior. Eighteenth-century hardware remains intact throughout the building. The marbleized pulpit and pillars supporting the upper galleries still boast their original paint. Historic New England acquired the property in 1941 to safeguard the fragile building for future generations.

Ropes Mansion

318 Essex Street Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-3390

Built in 1727 this home features historical items and a formal garden. There is an admission charge.

Salem Heritage Trail

Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-0004

This self-guided walking tour highlights Salem's important and historic contribution to American history. Sites include: House of the Seven Gables, the Peabody Essex Museum, Ropes Mansion (1727), the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the Salem Witch Museum, Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House, Witch Dungeon Museum, the Witch House. Details about each of these sites are available in the historic sites section.

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

174 Derby Street Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-4323

The waterfront area of Salem has been designated a National Historic Site. Buildings include a visitor's center, the Derby Wharf, West India Goods Store and the old Custom House. Free admission.

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

244 Central Street Saugus, MA Phone: 617-233-0050

Founded in 1646, the site features the original blacksmith's shop and ironworker's home. The blast furnace and forge are reconstructed to be historically accurate. Admission is free.

Schooner Ernestina

State Pier New Bedford, MA Phone: 508-992-4900

This schooner was built in 1894, and was used as a vessel for immigrants and exploration of the arctic. The ship now offers sails and educational programs. Open seasonally for tours. There is an admission charge.

Seaman's Bethel

15 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford, MA Phone: 508-992-3295

This location was built in 1830 and is supposed to have been described in Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Route 62 Concord, MA Phone: 508-371-6280

Buried here are the Alcott sisters, Ralph Waldo Emerson, artist Daniel Chester French, Nathaniel Hawthorne and William David Thoreau.

Stevens-Coolidge Place

139 Andover Street North Andover, MA 01845 Phone: 978-682-3580 Fax: 978-682-3580

The house’s collections include Chinese porcelain and other Asian artifacts, American furniture, and American and European decorative arts. Landscape includes a perennial garden, a kitchen and cut flower garden, a rose garden, a French potager garden with a unique brick serpentine wall, and a greenhouse complex.
Hours: Gardens: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. House: Guided tours Mother’s Day through Columbus Day weekend, Sundays, 1-5 p.m.; July-August, Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m. Fee: Garden: no charge; house, fee charged.

Stonehurst, The Robert Treat Paine Estate

100 Robert Treat Paine Drive Waltham, MA 02452 Phone: 781-314-3290

Designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and Frederick Law Olmsted, Stonehurst is the only museum devoted to these two pioneering figures in American architectural and landscape history. In addition to early modern interiors that presage those of Frank Lloyd Wright, visitors can enjoy the Olmsted-designed grounds and woodland trails.

The Wayside

455 Lexington Road Concord, MA Phone: 508-369-6975

Built in the 19th century this home had some famous residents: The Alcotts, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Margaret Sidney. Tours are regularly offered. There is an admission charge.

Tsongas Industrial History Center at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum

115 John Street Lowell, MA 01852 Phone: 978-970-5080

Open: Call for appointment to visit

Activities and exhibits highlight the history of industry and industrial development in New England and the United States. Admission charge.

Wenham Museum

132 Main Street Wenham, MA 01984 Phone: 978-468-2377

Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays

Museum of social history from 175h century to present. Claflin-Richard House (c. 1690); world-renowned doll collection, dollhouse, costumers, model trains, toys. Conant photography collection, family discovery, and changing exhibits. Admission charge.

Witch Dungeon Museum

16 Lynde Street Salem, MA 01970 Phone: 978-741-3570

Open: April through November, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This museum features a tour of the dungeon where those accused of witchcraft were held. Reenactment of the trial is also part of the exhibits. There is an admission charge.

Witch House

310 1/2 Essex Street Salem, MA Phone: 508-744-0180

This historic house was the home of a judge who presided over the witchcraft trials. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Abigail Adams Birthplace

Norton and North Streets Weymouth, MA Phone: 781-335-4205

The second First Lady of the United States was born in this home in 1744. The house has been restored to its condition in the mid 1700s, and contains period household items and furniture. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Battleship Massachusetts

Battleship Cove Fall River, MA Phone: 508-678-1100

The battleship Massachusetts, submarine Lionfish, destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., are among the World War II vessels docked at this location. Visitors will enjoy tours of the vessels and related exhibits. There is an admission fee.

Brockton Historical Society Museums

216 North Pearl Street Brockton, MA 02301 Phone: 617-583-1039

Open: September –June, first and third Sundays, 2-4 p.m.

The history of the area is detailed in this museum, including Thomas Edison (an area resident), Rocky Marciano (boxer born in Brockton), plus exhibits on shoe-making and firefighting.

Captain Gershom Bradford House

931 Tremont Street Duxbury, MA Phone: 617-934-6106

This 19th century structure was home to a sea captain. Inside visitors will find exhibits relating to 19th century life and Bradford's marine career. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Captain John Wilson House

4 Elm Street Cohasset, MA 02025 Phone: 781-383-1434

Open: June-September, Tuesday-Friday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Modest but typical 1810 New England village house is preserved in its original condition and contains a rare collection of antique furniture and artifacts to recreate an Early American dwelling. Admission is free.

Carousel Under the Clock

205 Nantasket Avenue Hull, MA Phone: 617-925-0472

A working antique carousel with authentic wooden horses. Visitors ride to music on a 1928 Wurlitzer organ. Open seasonally. There is a charge to ride the carousel.

Cudworth House

First Parish Road Scituate, MA

This home was built in 1797 and now displays varied selection of antique household items and farm equipment. Of particular interest is a full working 19th century loom. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Dighton Rock Museum

Bay View Road Berkley, MA 02779 Phone: 508-822-7537

Open: Seasonally, by appointment only; call ahead

The focus of this museum is a boulder with inscriptions attributed to Native Americans and Portuguese explorers. Admission is free.

Fall River Carousel

1 Central Street, Battleship Cove Fall River, MA

Built in the 1920s, this carousel is in working order and open for riders seasonally. There is a charge to ride.

Fall River Historical Society

451 Rock Street Fall River, MA 02720 Phone: 508-679-1071

Open: April-early November, Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; June-September, Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.

Set in the mansion of a mill owner, this museum features both artwork and historic items. The exhibit related to Lizzie Borden, the infamous accused murderess, is of particular interest. Admission charge.

Forefathers Monument

Allerton Street Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-746-1620

Monument to the pilgrims made out of solid granite. The largest of its kind in the United States. Free admission.

Fort Phoenix

Off MA Route 6 Fairhaven, MA

This historic fort was first constructed before the American Revolution. The top of the fort provides scenic views of the harbor. There is an admission charge.

Harlow Old Fort House

119 Sandwich Street Plymouth, MH Phone: 508-746-0012

This Pilgrim home was built in 1677.

Hedge House

126 Water Street Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-746-0012

Built in 1809, this was the home of a merchant and shipowner. 19th century home furniture is on display. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Hingham Historical Society Museum

21 Lincoln Street Hingham, MA 02043 Phone: 781-749-7721

Open: June 14-September 3, Tuesday-Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

The Old Ordinary, a 17th-century building that began as a home and eventually became a tavern, currently is a house museum owned and operated by the Hingham Historical Society. Admission charge.

HMS Bounty

Battleship Cove Fall River, MA Phone: 508-673-3886

This replica of the famous ship is often used in films. When not at sea, however, it is docked in Fall River. Tours are offered seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Hull Lifesaving Museum

1117 Nantasket Avenue Hull, MA 02045 Phone: 617-925-5433

Open: Open year-round; call for seasonal hours

Nineteenth-century Life Saving Station facing Boston Light; working rescue apparatus; exhibits, shipwreck lore, and kid's loft. Admission charge.

Jabez Howland House

33 Sandwich Street Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-746-9590

This colonial was built in 1667 and features historic furnishings and household items. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Jenney Grist Mill

6 Spring Lane Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-747-3715

A replica of the mill used by the Pilgrims. The original was built in 1636. Free admission.

John Alden House

105 Alden Street Duxbury, MA Phone: 781-934-9092

Two of the Mayflower'smost famous passengers, John and Priscilla Alden lived in this home in the 17th century. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

King Caesar House

King Caesar Road Duxbury, MA Phone: 617-934-6106

In 1808, this mansion was built by a wealthy ship magnate. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

La Salette Shrine

947 Park Street, Route 118 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: 508-222-5410

These historic statuary gardens were designed as areas for meditation and worship. During the Christmas holiday a unique and decorative light display is offered.

Major John Bradford House

Maple Street and Landing Road Kingston, MA Phone: 617-585-6300

Built in 1674, this home features authentic antique furniture and a historic doll collection. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Manjiro Trail

45 Center Street Fairhaven, MA

For ten years, a young boy named Manjiro, the son of an American whaling captain, spent his life alongside his father after his rescue during a fishing trip. This walk recounts the places important in his life on the South Shore.

Mann Farmhouse and Historical Museum

Greenfield Lane Scituate, MA 02066 Phone: 781-545-1083

Open: Open seasonally; call for hours of operation

Built in the mid 18th century, the house now contains a museum of historical exhibits and a sail loft. The artifacts of the Mann family date from the 17th century and they include primitive Pilgrim furniture, carpenter and shoe making tools, military items, china, children's toys, early farming equipment and many valuable documents and books. Admission charge.

Marine Museum at Fall River

70 Water Street Fall River, MA 02720 Phone: 508-674-3533

Visitors will find the biggest exhibit in the nation concerning the HMS Titanic. The exhibit includes artifacts from the ship, memorabilia about survivors and victims, and a one-ton model of the ship. There is an admission fee.

Martin House Farm

22 Stoney Hill Road at Route 6 North Swansea, MA Phone: 508-379-0376

Stunning rose gardens

The Martin House Farm is a rare example of an 18th and early 19th century farm which still retains the character of its original setting. It consists of the house, two barns and cultivated fields surrounded by dry stone walls and woodlands. A rose garden is a stunning feature.
Hours: May 1-November 1, Wednesday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Closed holidays. Fee charged.

Mattapoisett Museum and Carriage House

5 Church Street Mattapoisett, MA 02739 Phone: 617-758-2844

Open: July and August, Wednesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

Housed in a restored Meeting House dating from 1821, the ancient pews, galleries, and replica of the old high pulpit carry visitors back to an age when life in this quiet New England village revolved around the church and town meeting. Admission is free.

Mayflower II

State Pier Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-746-1622

A reproduction of the original Mayflower, the ship in which the Pilgrims journeyed to America. Visitors will get a sample of what life was like during their voyage in 1620. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Mayflower Society Museum

4 Winslow Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Phone: 508-746-2590

Open: July – mid-September, daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Memorial Day weekend-June 30 and mid-September to mid-October, Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The headquarters of the General Society of Mayflower Descendents is located in this 1754 home built by Edward Winslow, a Pilgrim descendant. It features furnishings spanning three centuries, a flying staircase and formal gardens.
Hours: July-Labor Day, open daily; Memorial Day weekend-June and early September-October, Friday-Sunday. Fee charged.

Middleboro Historical Museum

18 Jackson St. Middleboro, MA 02346 Phone: 508-947-1969

Open: July-september, Wednesday and Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

This historic museum features the miniatures collected by General Tom Thumb and his wife. Thumb was a midget and a celebrity in Phineas T. Barnum's circus. Also six other buildings of 1800-early 1900's social and industrial life exhibits.

New Bedford Whaling Museum

18 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford, MA 02740 Phone: 508-997-0046

Open: Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. Thursdays in the summer. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of whaling and maritime artifacts. Climb aboard the world's largest ship model, the 89-foot bark Lagoda, and view the 66-foot skeleton of a rare blue whale. Admission charge.

Old Burying Ground

Chestnut Street Duxbury, MA Phone: 617-934-5261

This cemetery contains the graves of Myles Standish, John Alden, Priscilla Alden, their son and other pilgrims. No admission fee.

Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum

Battleship Cove Fall River, MA 02720 Phone: 508-674-9340

Open: May 5-June 30 and September 1-October 7, Saturday, noon-4 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; July-August, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; closed October 8-May 4.

Exhibits in this museum center on the history of railroading in the Fall River area and Southern New England. Train cars filled with extensive collection of railroad memorabilia. Open seasonally. Admission charge.

Old Colony Historical Society

66 Church Green Taunton, MA 02780 Phone: 508-822-1622

Open: year-round, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The museum features a vast and varied collection of artifacts telling the story of the Taunton region's rich history from its founding through present day. Special collections include portraits, silver, military, stoves, furniture, and Native American artifacts. A local history and genealogical library is on premises. Admission charge

Old Ship Church

90 Main Street Hingham, MA Phone: 781-749-1679

This is the oldest, continuously operating wooden church in the U.S., built in 1681. Open seasonally.

Plymouth Rock

Water Street Plymouth, MA

The real thing. Plymouth Rock commemorates the site where the Pilgrims first came ashore in 1620.

Quincy Homestead

1010 Hancock Street Quincy, MA Phone: 617-472-5117

This 18th century mansion was the home of Dorothy Quincy, who eventually married John Hancock. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Richard Sparrow House

42 Summer Street Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-747-1240

Exhibits focus on crafts and 17th century pottery. Built in 1640, this is the oldest house in Plymouth. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum

936 County Street New Bedford, MA 02740 Phone: 508-997-1401

Open: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

This 28-room Greek Revival mansion was built for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. in 1834. The house and formal gardens chronicle 150 years of economic, social and domestic life in New Bedford. The grounds encompass a full city block of gardens including a Wildflower Walk, a formal boxwood rose parterre garden, a cutting garden, a boxwood specimen garden and an historic wood lattice pergola. Fee charged.

Scituate Historical Society

First Parish Road Scituate, MA Phone: 617-545-0474

The Scituate Historical society is responsible for and offers tours of seven historic sites. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Spooner House

27 North Street Plymouth, MA Phone: 508-746-0012

Built in 1749, the Spooner family occupied this house for over 2 centuries. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Winslow House

Careswell and Webster Streets Marshfield, MA Phone: 617-837-5753

Built in 1699, this home served as Daniel Webster's law office in the 18th century. Of particular interest it the carriage house, featuring a stagecoach, phaeton and brougham. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Cape Cod	Greater Boston and Cambridge	North of Boston/Merrimack Valley
South of Boston/Plymouth

Berkshires/Pioneer Valley/Mohawk Trail	Cape Cod	Central Massachusetts/Sturbridge
Greater Boston and Cambridge	Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket	North of Boston/Merrimack Valley
South of Boston/Plymouth

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts historic homes and sites conserve the state's past

A walk through history surrounded by gardens

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

While in Quincy, be sure to visit our many historic treasures

Freedom Trail Foundation

Explore the rich history of America's Revolution

The life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

Cross the threshold into one of the most famous structures in America & experience the countless surprises beneath its legendary gables.

While in Quincy, be sure to visit our many historic treasures

Your visit to the year 1627 is self-guided.

Amherst History Museum

Open: May 17– October 28, Wednesday through Saturday noon-4 p.m. Call ahead for seasonal changes in hours.

Arrowhead

Berkshire Athenaeum

Colonel John Ashley House

Crane Museum of Papermaking

Open: June to mid-October, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.

Emily Dickinson House

Folly at Field Farm

Forbes Library

Hadley Farm Museum

Open: May-October, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Open: Daily, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; call for seasonal changes.

Historic Northampton

Jones Library

Joseph Skinner Museum

Open: May through October, Wednesdays and Sundays, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Kingman Tavern Historical Museum

Open: July and August, Saturday, 2-5 p.m.

Memorial Hall Museum

Open: May 1-October 30

Merwin House

Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission.

Eight acres of terraced gardens

Old Greenfield Village

Porter-Phelps-Huntington House Museum

Open: May 15-October 15, Saturday through Wednesday, 1-4:30 p.m.; closed Thursdays and Fridays. Open mornings by appointment.

Shrine of Divine Mercy

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Stone House Museum

Open: Guided tours mid-May-October, on Wednesday and Saturday, 2-5 p.m.

Storrowton Village Museum

Open: June 19-August 24, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; group tours by appointment year-round.

The Mount - Edith Wharton Restoration

William Cullen Bryant Homestead

Wistariahurst Museum

Open: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, noon- 4 p.m.

1869 Schoolhouse Museum

Open: July and August, daily, 1-4 p.m.; September, Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

Aptucxet Trading Post Museum

Open: Seasonal hours. Call ahead for information.

Benjamin Nye Homestead

Brooks Academy Museum

Open: Tours through the summer months, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 1-4 p.m. and at other times by appointment.

Cape Cod's Oldest Windmill

Captain Bangs Hallet House

Open: June 1 through October 15, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with tours at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Captain Edward Penniman House

Centerville Historical Society Museum

Open: May 2-December 15, Tuesday-Saturday, noon– 4 p.m.

Eastham Windmill

Falmouth Historical Society Museums and Colonial Garden

Open: June 27-October 7, Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

First Church of Christ

First Congregational Church

French Cable Station Museum

Open: June, Friday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; July-early September, Monday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

Grist Mill

Highland House Museum – Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse

Open: The Museum: June 1 -September 30, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, 1- 4:30 p.m. The Lighthouse: May-mid-October, daily, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Hoxie House

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

Open: Mid-April-Memorial Day, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Memorial Day-Columbus Day, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Columbus Day-October 31, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Nov

John F. Kennedy Memorial

Johnathan Young Windmill

Josiah Dennis Manse Schoolhouse

Marconi Wireless Site

Old Atwood House