Massachusetts

From the Pilgrims to the first shot in the American Revolution, Massachusetts has something for every history enthusiast. You can spend days wandering the Freedom Trail in Boston or visiting Plimoth Plantation to learn about the Pilgrims. From the Cape Cod beaches to the Berkshire mountains, Massachusetts is a wonderful place to visit with children, especially in the summer months.

I lived in Massachusetts for two years in the late 1990s and early 2000. While it definitely was different from my home state of North Carolina, I grew to love its culture, people, and especially its history. Every weekend, we would explore a new little town just a few hours from our home in Cambridge. From the village green in Lexington where the “shot heard round the world” was fired to the solemn memorials to victims of the Salem Witch Trials, there is history around every bend in the Commonwealth!

See my list below of historical sites, most of which are located within an easy day trip of the tourist hub, Boston. This list is by no means exhaustive but gives you an idea of historical sites to see in each area. Check back often for more of these sites to be reviewed by The History Mom! Note that only sites reviewed by The History Mom are marked with *. Other links are external links to the museum’s own website.

For help planning your Massachusetts vacation, check out https://www.visitma.com. Also see additional sites on the National Park Service’s website.

Boston

No trip to Massachusetts is complete without visiting Boston. Boston has played an important role in American history from the 18th century when the Sons of Liberty first lit the sparks that led to the American Revolution here.