Know before you go
- All programs are free unless noted.
- Please be aware parking fees may apply – visit the park web page for applicable parking fees at Massachusetts State Parks or to learn how to borrow a ParksPass from a community partner.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Be season smart and safe. Dress for the weather by wearing sturdy footgear and dressing in layers for maximum comfort.
- Carry drinking water and snacks.
- Have a map and cell phone.
- Seasonal weather such as heavy rains and storms affect parks and trails. All events, programs and activities are subject to change. Please take a moment to call ahead to confirm.
- Programs are listed by geographical region, date and time.
Featured Revolution 250 Events
South
Walking Tour of National Monument to the Forefathers
Allerton Street, Plymouth
Saturday, May 2nd from 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Join DCR’s Regional Interpretive Coordinator, Preservation Planner, and Park Interpreter to learn about recent work to preserve the National Monument to the Forefathers, designed by Hammatt Billings to capture the ideals of the first colonial settlers. Faith, standing 81 feet tall at the center of the monument, is surrounded by Liberty, Law, Morality and Education, concepts on which early Colonists built systems of government and communities. Those same ideals helped fuel the American Revolution. In recognition of the significance of the Forefathers Monument’s role in shaping the nation, the National Park Service awarded DCR a Semiquincentennial Grant in 2022 to conserve the sculpture and make the surrounding park universally accessible. See the restored monument and learn about the upcoming landscape improvement project.
Boston
Dillaway-Thomas House at Roxbury Heritage State Park
Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Built in 1750, the Dillaway-Thomas House is said to be one of the oldest buildings in Roxbury. Reverend Oliver Peabody originally built the house as a parsonage for the First Church of Roxbury. His successor, Reverend Amos Adams, lived here with his family until 1775, when the American Revolutionary War broke out. Due to its prime location at the top of a hill, the house became the headquarters for General John Thomas of the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston. Visitors can take in the views of Boston, see the historic architecture, and learn about the important role of Roxbury in American history and the stories of the City of Boston. Phone (857) 399-1220.
ART EXHIBIT May 2-31 in the Community Gallery, Open During Park Hours
Parks as Revolution: Watercolors by Karl Pastore
The ideas of the American Revolution – independence, equality, freedom – are embodied in the forests, parks, and reservations of the Commonwealth, where all people can access clean air, waters, and unique landscapes. This exhibit of watercolors by Karl Pastore captures the beauty of DCR’s historic parks. Places like Blue Hills Reservation, Walden Pond, and Mount Greylock are part of some of the earliest state parks in the nation. In greater Boston, the former Metropolitan Parks System was the nation’s first regional park system, a leader in securing the freedom to explore nature.
Artist’s Statement
Karl Pastore is a self-taught painter who finds inspiration in nature. His work combines his unique artistic vision with his 37 years of public service at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the former Metropolitan District Commission. The paintings in this exhibit were created from photographs taken over years of hiking and exploring DCR parks with family and friends. Karl’s work captures the light, texture and feeling of experiencing the varied landscapes of DCR’s parks. He hopes you are inspired to visit them yourself!
June 4th Opening Day at Dorothy Quincy Homestead
Dorothy Quincy Homestead, 34 Butler Road, Quincy
Celebrate Opening Day at the Dorothy Quincy Homestead with DCR and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (NSCDA-MA), who have operated the site since 1904. The Homestead served as a home for five generations of Quincys, one of the leading families of Massachusetts. Their progeny include Josiah Quincy, Samuel Quincy, President John Quincy Adams, and Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. During the pre-Revolutionary period, this estate house was likely visited by influential American patriots such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Hancock. The house was also the childhood home of Dorothy Quincy Hancock, the first First Lady of Massachusetts, the wife of John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the first governor of the Commonwealth. Over the past few years, the NSCDA and DCR have invested in the preservation of the National Historic Landmark property, with significant funding support from the Quincy Community Preservation Committee. Learn about this site, where revolutionaries once met. Fees may apply. More details at Dorothy Quincy Homestead.
Preservation Month Events by Region
West
Sunday, May 3rd from 10:00am—1:00pm.
Historic Knox Trail Hike
Join local historian Tom Ragusa and DCR staff for a free guided hike along the Great Road, “Ye Trodden Path”—or the Knox Trail in Otis State Forest. Meet at the Upper Spectacle Pond Dam on Webb Road in Sandisfield, 1 mile off Cold Spring Road.
In Colonial times, the Great Road connected Springfield and Albany. In the winter of 1776, Henry Knox led his “Noble Train of Artillery” along this route on its way to Boston, help-ing turn the tide of the American Revolutionary War. Remarkably, portions of the original road still exist today, hidden within the forest. In celebration of MA250 and Massachusetts Preservation Month come explore a preserved section of the Berkshires’ oldest roads, visiting significant landmarks. Co-sponsored by the Otis Historical Commission.
Program Details: Duration: 3 hours, Distance: 3 miles (moderate difficulty), Recommended for ages teen and up. What to Bring: Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. Bring water, sunscreen, a snack or lunch, and bug spray. Hiking poles are recommended. Dogs are permitted on leash. Reasonable accommodations may be available upon request. For more information, call 413-426-7890.
Monday, May 11th from 4:00pm-6:00pm
Open House at Swann Lodge, Swann State Forest, Monterey
Swann Lodge was the hunting lodge of Dr. Arthur W. Swann, a New York City physician who died in 1914. His widow, Susan Sedgewick Swann, gave the lodge to the Forest Commission of Massachusetts in 1918. Until recently, under a long-term lease to a Historic Curator, The Lodge was used through October 2025 as a lodge/dormitory for short term recreational programs and retreats and was also rented to groups for short-term stays. DCR is interested in hearing ideas for the reuse of the now vacant property – see the Request for Expressions of Interest to learn more.
Swann Lodge, Brett Road, Monterey, MA. Follow Directions to Beartown State Forest Headquarters, 69 Blue Hill Road, Monterey, MA 01245, then turn onto Brett Road. The lodge is at the end of the road. Phone (413) 528-0904.
Sunday May 31 from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Preservation Story: The Restoration of the Spectacle Pond Abattoir
Spectacle Pond Farm, Otis State Forest, Sandisfield
Join Regional Interpretive Coordinator Alec Gilman and Historic Preservation Planner Kevin Allen to learn about the history of Spectacle Pond Farm – from its ties to the early settlement of Sandisfield to the present day, the loss of the historic barns and the restoration of the Abattoir, or slaughterhouse. Attendees will get an inside view of one of the few surviving building of this type in New England. Please plan ahead as there are no public facilities at this site. Access challenges include uneven ground and steep stairs (optional).
Central
Saturday, May 9 from 1:00pm – 2:00 pm
Becoming Better Stewards – The CCC at Upton State Forest Tour
205 Westboro Road, Upton, MA 01568
Explore the former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at Upton State Forest and uncover the stories and work behind this New Deal-era program. Discover how the CCC shaped the forest and explore ways to help keep places like this healthy and protected. Less than ¼ miles on a paved surface with no inclines. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.
Programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather. All programs meet at the CCC Camp parking area. Programming is subject to change or cancellation. For the most up to date programming information, call (508) 278-7604.
South
Sunday, May 17th and May 31st 12:00pm – 2:30pm (every half hour)
Ames Mansion Tours
Ames Mansion, Massapoag Road, Borderland State Park
Join DCR’s Paul Clifford for a tour of the historic Ames Mansion, a 1912 stone mansion set within the historic landscape of the former estate of Blanche and Oakes Ames. Learn about Oakes and his botany studies and Blanche and her artistic and women’s rights accomplishments.
Join the Friends of Borderland for a 3-floor fully guided tour of the Ames Mansion. Take a step back into time and learn the amazing story of Blanche and Oakes Ames.
These tours are the only way to see all 3 floors of the mansion. The first tour begins at 12:00pm and following tours start every half hour until 2:30pm.
Tickets available only at the door the day of the tours. Ticket cost is $10.00. Tickets for the tours are free for members of the Friends of Borderland.
Sunday, May 17th from 10:00am – 12:00pm
Guided Walk A legacy written in stone: the CCC at F. Gilbert Hills State Park
In the direst moment of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt offered the nation hope. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) spent billions on projects ranging from road construction to art, and at its height employed up to 20 percent of the U.S. workforce. The legacy of that era is alive in many of our state parks. Join interpreter Simon and Staff Archaeologist JP Patton on a 2-mile walk, as we explore how the CCC reshaped the landscape and the nation. For ages 12 and up. Come prepared to walk outdoors on uneven terrain. This walk departs from the park headquarters at 45 Mill St, Foxborough, MA 02035. Phone: (508) 543-9084
Boston
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North
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Historic Curatorship Properties - Visit throughout the month of May
Visit two historic properties preserved through public private partnership under the Historic Curatorship: the Charles River Speedway in Boston and Mountainside Bakery and Cafe in Princeton. Since 1994 the Historic Curatorship Program has leveraged $7 of private investment for every $1 of public outlay.
The Speedway Administration Building, Charles River Reservation, Brighton (Boston) is one of the first structures built by the Metropolitan Parks Commission in 1899. The Speedway represents the earliest history of the nation’s first metropolitan park system. William D. Austin’s dramatic shingle style masterpiece was the headquarters for the Speedway – a horse racing track hugging the Charles River. After years of vacancy, this landmark started its new life and opened to the public in 2021 as a mixed-use entertainment-retail and artisan-community space. The Speedway | Boston’s Shopping and Food Hall
The Wachusett Superintendent’s House, Wachusett Mountain State Reservation (Princeton) was built as an office and residence for the Reservation’s first Superintendent. This important house is one of the first buildings built by the fledgling state park agency in 1903. Although vacant for 30+ years, the current Curators signed a 40-year lease in 2018 to fully rehabilitate, maintain, and manage the house and garage as a bakery, café and community gathering place. Mountainside Cafe Website
| Last updated: | April 9, 2026 |
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