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Ian Bowles

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Historic Sites

 

The Massachusetts park system is rich with history. Self-guided or interpretive programs are available at selected parks.

Southeast Massachusetts

Borderland State Park

N. Easton

Dighton Rock State Park

Berkley

Fort Phoenix State Reservation

Fairhaven

Freetown-Fall River State Forest

Assonet

Horseneck Beach State Reservation

Westport

Myles Standish Monument State Reservation

Duxbury

Nickerson State Park

Brewster

Pilgrim Memorial State Park (Plymouth Rock)

Plymouth

Scusset Beach State Reservation

Sandwich

Schooner Ernestina

New Bedford

Shawme-Crowell State Forest

Sandwich


Northeast Massachusetts

Great Brook Farm State Park

Carlisle

Halibut Point State Park

Rockport

Lawrence Heritage State Park

Lawrence

Maudslay State Park

Newburyport

Walden Pond State Reservation

Concord


Central Massachusetts

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

Uxbridge

Leominster State Forest

Westminster

Moore State Park

Paxton

Spencer State Forest

Spencer

Wachusett Mountain State Reservation

Princeton

Gardner Heritage State Park

Gardner

Holyoke Heritage State Park

Holyoke

Holyoke Range State Park

Amherst

Lake Dennison Recreation Area

Winchendon

Skinner State Park

Hadley

Wells State Park

Sturbridge


Western Massachusetts

Mt. Greylock State Reservation

Lanesborough

Natural Bridge State Park

North Adams

Pittsfield State Forest

Pittsfield

Western Gateway Heritage State Park

North Adams


Greater Boston

Boston Harbor Islands

Hingham

Lynn Heritage State Park

Lynn

Roxbury Heritage State Park

Roxbury


Historic Sites and Museums in Greater Boston

Boston - Fort Warren, Georges Island This military fort defended Boston Harbor in all U.S. wars through World War II and was used as a prison during the Civil War for Confederate military and civil personnel.

Boston - Fort Independence, Castle Island Continuous fortification since 1634. Present fort built between 1834 and 1851.

Hull - Fort Revere Telegraph Hill 617-727-5290 Originally called Fort Independence, this site is a pentagonal fortification with 22 cannons.

Milton - Trailside Museum Blue Hills Reservation, 1904 Canton Ave. 617-333-0690 Live animal exhibits and other displays depicting natural history of the Blue Hills area are featured.

Quincy - The Quincy Homestead 345 Butler Rd., corner of Hancock St. 617-472-5117. Historic homestead built in 1706 with furnishings of the 1822 period.

West Roxbury - Brook Farm Historic Site Baker Street, 1/3 mile west of VFW parkway. Open year-round, dawn to dusk 617- 698-1802. This National Historic Landmark is 179 acres of rolling fields

 

Observation Towers in Greater Boston

  • East Boston - Belle Isle Marsh (tower - 16 feet)
  • Views of the Marsh, Beachmont, Winthrop and the Boston skyline
  • Milton - Eliot Tower (elevation - 620 feet) Blue Hills Reservation.
  • Medford - Wright's Tower (elevation - 243 feet)
  • Pine Hill, Middlesex Fells Reservation
    Excellent views of the Boston skyline, Harbor Islands, Mystic River Valley and the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
  • Medford - Mystic River Reservation Tower (tower - 16 feet)
  • Mystic Valley Pkwy. Views of the lower Mystic River Basin
  • Milton - Chickatawbut Tower (elevation - 504) Blue Hills Reservation
  • Stoneham - Bear Hill Tower (elevation - 317 feet), Middlesex Fells Reservation. Views north to Cape Ann, New Hampshire and west to Mt. Wachusett.
  • Weston - Norumbega Tower (elevation - 110 feet) Charles River, Norumbega Rd.
 

Universal Access