Top Things to do in Massachusetts
Top Hotels in Massachusetts
Countries
10 Historic Sites in Massachusetts That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Massachusetts, United States including Jabez Howland House, Lizzie Borden House, Atwood Museum, Harvard University, Lexington Green, Minuteman National Park - Old North Bridge, Buckman Tavern, Minute Man National Historical Park, White Cedar Swamp, Walden Pond State Reservation.
Restaurants in Massachusetts
1. Jabez Howland House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 67 reviews
Howland, the son of two Mayflower passengers, bought this house in 1667.
Reviewed By jpatrickr - Bonita Springs, United States
Built by the son of Pilgrim John and Elizabeth Tilley Howland. The pilgrims actually stayed here during the winter months. Well restored building with many period artifacts and a nice tour. Very reasonable with a small but reasonably priced gift shop. Nice hand dipped candles!
2. Lizzie Borden House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,079 reviews
Reviewed By 152acaciaw
Our family is visiting the area from Las Vegas and we are a bunch of true crime lovers so we just had to go to the Lizzie Borden house! The tour exceeded our expectations! Our tour guide, Sue, was so awesome! You could tell she truly enjoyed what she does! She had such a cool enthusiasm and all of the small details made the tour truly special! She gave a great narration and then let us tour the rooms after each section. We are definitely going to come again for the nighttime tour to hear all of her paranormal stories!! Definitely worth the visit! Hope they open Maplecroft by the next time we return! Thank you, Sue!!
3. Atwood Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 151 reviews
Exhibit hours and days vary throughout the year. For details please visit our website. **Advance reservations are required during the pandemic.** Most, but not all exhibits may be open at this time. ** New exhibits this year include: - An outdoor Wetu (Wampanoag dwelling), - The Turning Point - Mayflower Exhibit, - WWII Commemoration, and - Honoring the Suffrage Movement. Explore Cape Cod of centuries past with 12 galleries in 14 exhibits, starting with a tour of a historical dwelling built circa 1752. Discover Cape Cod's captivating history, art, and culture at the Chatham Historical Society's Atwood House Museum. In addition to the 18th century Atwood House, Museum highlights include: a Mural Barn with works by Alice Stallknecht, the Nickerson North Beach Camp, a fishing gallery, Double Take Then and Now photo exhibit, Main Street Cape Cod, stories of the Pendleton and other shipwrecks, several rotating exhibits, a research facility, a popular gift shop and more.
Reviewed By EllieR33 - Leeds, United Kingdom
We visited last week, on a very wet day in Chatham, as we were looking for something indoors to do, and most things were closed as it was the end of September. This place was a lucky find, we must have spent a good couple of hours there and could have taken longer. The tour of the original old house that forms part of the site, the beach cabin out back, the displays of clothing, shells and war history were all fascinating. We especially enjoyed learning about the story of the rescue of the crew members from the Pendleton shipwreck. The staff here are friendly, and informative, thoroughly recommended if you're in Chatham
4. Harvard University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,134 reviews
Founded in 1636, Harvard is America's oldest institute of higher learning and one of the country's most prestigious universities. Among the illustrious alumni are civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois, philosopher Henry David Thoreau, writer Gertrude Stein, composer Leonard Bernstein, cellist Yo Yo Ma and seven U.S. presidents.
Reviewed By vincentdE9094KZ - Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
The Harvard campus is a beautiful and historic place to experience calm, mature trees, and beautiful red brick buildings. If the Memorial hall is open it is worth going in.
5. Lexington Green
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 373 reviews
Site of the first battle between the Minutemen and the Redcoats during the Revolutionary War.
Reviewed By SneakinDeacon - Christiansburg, United States
Our Bus Tour of New England stopped here and were were able to visit the site where the American Patriots first faced off with the British Red Coats. Our tour group had the service of a local guide who explained just what happened here in 1775, which made our visit even more enjoyable. The guide also pointed out the houses and building that were standing at the time of the skirmish. The actual Lexington Green is an open park that has the Minuteman Statue standing at one end. At the other is a Monument where the remains of those patriots who were killed are buried. Located adjacent to the Green is Buckman Tavern, which dates back to 1709 and is where the Lexington Minutemen assembled on April 19, 1775 before confronting the Red Coats. The Lexington Green and surrounding area is a must stop for anyone who enjoys history.
6. Minuteman National Park - Old North Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 715 reviews
The "shot heard round the world," which signaled the start of the Revolutionary War, was fired from this spot.
Reviewed By KarenV87 - Tampa, United States
This was the highlight of our visit to Concord. The origination of the phrase "the shot heard round the world" from the Concord Hymn as told by Ralph Waldo Emerson's family who lived in the house known as the Old Manse. You can see the house and the bridge as you enter the site. There's also a grave of the British soldiers who died in the battle. There is a verse from James Russell Lowell's poem "Lines" inscribed in the memorial plaque. It gave me chills reading the following: They came three thousand miles and died, to keep the past upon its throne: Unheard, beyond the ocean tide, their English Mother made her moan. There is also a famous statue called "The Minute Man" and a memorial obelisk at the foot of the North Bridge. You'll also see lots of wildlife. We had our first chipmunk sighting on the wall near the grave of the British soldiers. They are so cute! You might even see a wild turkey. It's just a great place to visit for nature or history.
7. Buckman Tavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 229 reviews
This Historic Tavern is one of the few colonial era buildings still standing around the Battle Green and was used by the Lexington Militia on April 19th, 1775 as a gathering place. It is now a Museum with self-guided audio tours. *Due to COVID-19 concerns, Buckman Tavern is closed until March 30th*
Reviewed By Hollyrik - Bellevue, United States
We enjoyed the 45 minute tour conducted by Sarah at Buckman Tavern. As this was the only tour of a 1775-era building available during the pandemic, we were glad the Historical Society was able to maintain this tour in operation. Sarah gave us an excellent idea of how the building was used, and how it related to the 4/19/1775 events that happened right outside its front door.
8. Minute Man National Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 774 reviews
The more than 900 acres of this national park run along the route of the battle of Lexington and Concord.
Reviewed By djanel2016 - Knoxville, United States
I would recommend starting your tour of the Minute Man National Historical park with a stop by the visitor center and watching their great multimedia presentation. They use a variety of methods to explain the Battles of Lexington and Concord. I have been to several national historical parks and this was, by far, the best multimedia presentation i have seen, both entertaining and educational. Make sure to go to the North Bridge visitors center as well,
9. White Cedar Swamp
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
The site of Marconi's wireless transmission station.
Reviewed By Wander555899
An easy walk through and unusual landscape. Most of the walk is on a raised walkway through a beautiful, peaceful ecologically sensitive area. Somewhat mystical on foggy days but always beautiful.
10. Walden Pond State Reservation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 661 reviews
In order to preserve the natural environment, visitors are limited at this site, where Thoreau wrote his famous essays.
Reviewed By TrainManDan10 - Keene, United States
My wife and I went to the Walden Pond State Reservation on my birthday as I had studied Thoreau in High School, consider myself a naturalist, and approve of his non-violent Civil Disobedience. Everything that we found there, the setting, the pond, the original foundation of his 10 x 15 cabin, the re-constructed cabin with a re-enactor, the LEADS GOLD museum, the film, and the gift shop to be first class and an excellent reflection of Thoreau. In the Gift Shop, I bought one of the many different versions of Walden Pond and an excellent biography, "Henry David Thoreau A Life" by Laura Walls, published during the 200th anniversary of Thoreau's birth, 2017. You can catch her lecture about her book on youtube.
