Welcome to MASSACHUSETTS!
Capital City: Boston
Real Pirates
by Barry Clifford (ages 6-12)
The Untold Story of the Whydah – from slave ship to pirate ship – National Geographic Kids
World Classroom: Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a favorite historical destination. If you like pirates and history, you’ll want to check out the Whydah museum. Where will you’re studies take you today? Click any link below for cool information about the national parks and sites for this state.
National Historical Parks
Adams National Historical Park – Quincy, MA
Visit Adams Historical Park NPS.gov
Visit the birthplace homes of John and John Quincy Adams, and if you plan just right you may even be able to participate in or witness a reenactment of the Boston Massacre.
Boston National Historical Park – Boston, MA
Visit Boston Historical Park NPS.gov
The Boston area is packed with amazing history! This should be on every American’s bucket list. See where the Boston Tea Party happened in the Old South Meetinghouse. Visit a museum dedicated to the first major battle of the Revolutionary War at Bunker Hill Museum, and see how this area was a major freedom hub for the Underground Railroad. Visit the Paul Revere house along with other buildings and museums showcasing their importance to the history of the US. Even explore the USS Constitution ship and learn about its past adventures.
Lowell National Historical Park – Lowell, MA
Visit Lowell Historical Park NPS.gov
Pawtucket Falls
Lowell Trolley in Lucy Larcom Park
Mill Girls Boarding House
mill model
assembly line demo
Minute Man National Historical Park – Concord, MA
Visit Minute Man Historical Park NPS.gov
Paul Revere capture site
Hartwell Tavern
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park – New Bedford, MA
Visit New Bedford Whaling Historical Park NPS.gov
New Bedford Whaling Museum
National Historic Sites
Boston African American National Historic Site – Boston, MA
Visit Boston African American Historic Site NPS.gov
Walk a portion of the Underground Railroad and hear the stories of pain, courage, humanity and freedom!
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site – Brookline, MA
Visit Frederick Law Olmsted Historic Site NPS.gov
What goes into the design of a park? Do you think you’d enjoy creating a park? Find out what it takes by visiting this site dedicated to Frederick Law Olmsted who was an influential park designer.
The Hollow
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site – Brookline, MA
Visit JFK Historic Site NPS.gov
Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site – Cambridge, MA
Visit Longfellow House Historic Site NPS.gov
The photography of the inside of Henry Longfellow’s home is well worth a visit! Each room is a work of art. And the flowers on the grounds are amazing. There are so many colors and varieties – which is your favorite? Come and see what was the inspiration behind the immortal poetry of Longfellow.
Poet’s Narcissus
Salem Maritime National Historic Site – Salem, MA
Visit Salem Maritime Historic Site NPS.gov
More cool things to see in Massachusetts! For all lovers of maritime communities this is your place. Check out the museums and buildings. See their history and hear their stories.
Derby Wharf
Derby Wharf Light of Salem Harbor
Pedrick Store House
Friendship of Salem
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site – Saugus, MA
Visit Saugus Iron Works Historic Site NPS.gov
Visit this museum and visitors center to see what it’s like to work with iron. This metal has been an important part of our lives today, but do we know what actually goes into the process from start to finish?
Iron Works House – Broadhearth Visitors Center
museum display of anvil base and hammer head
Springfield Armory National Historic Site – Springfield, MA
Visit Springfield Armory Historic Site NPS.gov
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
This museum is a MUST SEE for all lovers of children’s picture books and literature and art! Bring the whole family and enjoy a day of childhood, color and creativity. See art from many children’s book illustrators. Who are some of your favorite illustrators or authors? What are some of your favorite pictures books?
National Recreation Area
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area – Boston, MA
Visit Boston Harbor Islands Rec Area NPS.gov
Which of the 34 islands and peninsulas would you want to visit at this national recreation area? There is so much to do here! Take a lighthouse boat tour, walk trails, go boating, camp and more! Click the link for information and access to each of the islands with up-to-date ideas for each one.
National Seashore
Cape Cod National Seashore – Eastham, MA
Visit Cape Cod Seashore NPS.gov
Ever wonder how many pirate ships have sunk in Cape Cod? While we may never really know, we can at least enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery here. Experience a new adventure here with sand and sea and lighthouses and more!
Great Island Trail
Nauset Light Eastham
Highland Lighthouse
Additional things to do in the Cape Cod area of MA
Whydah Pirate Museum – West Yarmouth, MA
Arrrgggh! Gather yer mates and bring them for some scavenging of information! See real pirate treasure from the 1717 sinking of the Whydah pirate ship off the coast of Cape Cod. You’ll get double the history as the Whydah was initially a slave trading ship. Learn what the slave trade was really like as well as how pirates really behaved. You may be surprised!
Little Sandy Pond and Horse Pond – West Yarmouth, MA
Enjoy the nature of West Yarmouth in a variety of simple trails around a quiet pond.
