When looking to visit a historic site , to say you’re spoiled for choice in Massachusetts is an understatement. Overwhelmed would be a better word. Inundated, would be another.
With over 400 years since the first settlers made landfall in what would become Massachusetts , it’s no surprise that the state has accrued its fair share of historically significant locations. A lot can happen in four centuries, in a lot of different places.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have that kind of time. For each one place visited, there are two missed out on. So how’s a traveling history buff to choose? A lot of it comes down to personal preference – what time period (pre-revolutionary era, Civil War, etc.) or sites (restored houses, parks, museums) that you’re looking for.
That being said, some have a reputation that proceeds them. Here are ten of the most popular historic sites to visit in Massachusetts.
North Bridge, Concord
Open daily sunrise to sunsetFree admission
Why not start our list with the site of the “shot heard around the world.” The question of who fired that first shot on April 19, 1775, in the confrontation between British troops and American colonists at North Bridge has been the subject of much debate – but what can be agreed upon is it started the American Revolution. Visitors can explore the Concord Museum, which features exhibits on the American Revolution, including Paul Revere’s lantern and other artifacts from the era.