Fun Friday
Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.
Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to the beautiful state of Massachuettes
1.) Freedom Trail located in Boston Learn about early Boston and U.S. history on this 2.5-mile-long trail that passes through 16 historic locations. Look out for the brick markers—starting in downtown Boston, crossing through the North End, and finishing at the famous Bunker Hill Monument in neighboring Charlestown. You'll pass by notable stops like Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, and the USS Constitution frigate.
You can embark on the Freedom Trail for free and at your own pace, but audio guides and guided tours are also available. The trail is lined with lots of cool cafes and restaurants for you to fuel up along the way.
2.) Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum hours of operation are 10-5pm price of admission is roughly $34 The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum is a history lesson you won’t forget. Relive the event that started the American Revolution with historical interpreters, interactive exhibits, and full-scale replicas of 18th-century sailing vessels. Join a town meeting, hang out with talking portraits, and take part in the tradition of tossing tea into the harbor. Then, enjoy a spot of afternoon tea in Abigail’s Tea Room or visit the gift shop for some souvenirs. Entry to the museum is on a first come, first-served basis, so join the line early.
3.) The House of the Seven Gables located in Salem hours of operation are 10-4pm The House of the Seven Gables is open February through December, please visit 7gables.org for opening hours and days as they vary seasonally. Visitors will have the option to enjoy a ground pass or a guided tour[link to: https://7gables.org/tickets]. Advance reservations are required for both of these experiences. PLEASE NOTE: The grounds pass does not include access to the interior of Turner-Ingersoll Mansion a.k.a The House of the Seven Gables. The only way to access the interior of the mansion is with a guided tour. Notes for your visit: Tickets are available on a rolling basis. We do not have release dates in advance. All purchases are non-refundable. Face masks are required for all visitors ONLY in the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, regardless of vaccination status. Visitors are required to comply with all site rules or will be asked to leave without a refund. The Museum Store will be open during operating days and hours.
4.) Lizzie Borden House located in Fall River hours of operation are 10-5pm Come visit the location of one of America's most chilling unsolved murders. House tours are conducted every day of the week beginning at 10:30 am, with the last tour going in at 3:30 pm. For our more brave guests, we also rent rooms to stay overnight! Spend the night in America's most haunted B&B if you dare!
5.) Plimoth Patuxet Museums located in Plymouth hours of operation are 9-5pm Price of Admission is roughly $34 Plimoth Patuxet Museums is an internationally known living history museum located south of Boston in the picturesque seaside town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, known for telling America's Founding Story with accuracy and vibrancy. It's a journey 400 years back in time! Guests are living history at the museums three exhibit locations - - Plimoth Patuxet (Patuxet Homesite, 17th-Century English Village, Craft Center, Davis Gallery Exhibit featuring We Gather Together - 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving and History in a New Light: Illuminating the Archaeology of Historic Patuxet and Plymouth". - The Mayflower II (National Register of Historic Places) docked at Plymouth Harbor. Climb aboard and experience what the 1620 crossing was like for the Pilgrims, - and the Plimoth Grist Mill, a working reproduction set in the original 1636 location. Spend all day exploring or choose to visit Plimoth Patuxet today and the Mayflower and the mill on your way back from Cape Cod & the Islands.
6.) The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home located in Lenox hours of operation are 10-5pm The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home is an historic house museum and vibrant cultural center located in the heart of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Take a tour of the mansion Edith Wharton designed and where she wrote The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome. Book online at EdithWharton.org.
7.) Whaling Museum located in Nantucket hours of operation are 10-4pm The Whaling Museum, operated by the Nantucket Historical Association (founded in 1894), is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Featuring permanent and rotating exhibitions in 9 premium galleries, with over a thousand works of art, artifacts and treasures on display, it tells the Island's fascinating stories over 4 centuries. Numerous daily programs by our interpreters, childrens' activities in the Discovery Center and intimate spotlight tours compliment the visit. The museum is home to a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a massive Fresnel lens, a restored 1847 candle factory and a relaxing, fully-accessible rooftop deck offers stunning views of Nantucket harbor. Maximize your visit by going to our 9 historic homes and sites which are open to the public.
8.) Old Sturbridge Village A recreated New England village, with authentic period buildings, provides visitors with an intimate view of life in the early 1800s.
9.) Heritage Museums & Gardens located in Sandwich will reopen April 22, 2024 Visit Our Beautiful Cape Cod Gardens & Museums Offering 100 Magnificent Acres, Family Fun, American Automobile Collection, & Museum Exhibits Within our peaceful confines you’ll find walking trails, outdoor discovery opportunities, gardens that invite lingering, and exhibits to expand your understanding of art and history. Heritage offers up-close experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. Play in Hidden Hollow or take a ride on the Carousel. See our gorgeous collection of vintage automobiles. It’s a place of joy and fun. It’s a place to make lasting memories. And it’s a place you’ll want to visit again and again. 100 Magnificent Acres, Family Fun, American Automobile Collection, & Museum Exhibits
10.) Hancock Shaker Village located in Pittsfield Thursday-Sunday 5-8pm Hancock Shaker Village is a living history museum committed to bringing the Shaker story to life and preserving it for future generations. Called the "City of Peace" by the Shakers who lived here for 179 years until 1960, this community was the third of 19 major Shaker Villages located in New York, New England, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. There are 20 historic buildings on this site. The values that the Shakers embraced -- equality, pacifism, community, sustainability, responsible land stewardship, innovation, simplicity and quality in work -- still resonate here. The working farm is the oldest in the Berkshires. Visit the gardens and animals, meet the interpreters, see demonstrations, hike the trails, immerse yourself in unique art exhibitions, and explore. A farm-to-table cafe is on site.
11.) New Bedford Whaling Museum hours of operation are 9-5pm Anchored in the story of New Bedford’s whaling industry, NBWM shares the art, science, history, and culture of this vibrant maritime region and its people. We're a champion for whale conservation, and a keeper of the region's collective memory. Surrounded by cobblestone streets once strolled by Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville, the Museum is conveniently located within the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Dive into whale biology, ecology and behavior, and marine mammal conservation. Marvel at massive whale skeletons and the world’s largest ship model, the Lagoda – a half-scale model of a 19th century whaling vessel. See a digital replica of America's longest painting in motion - the incredible “Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World.” The original 1848 painting is longer than the Empire State Building is tall! Enjoy exhibitions focused on the museum's impressive art collections, and changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Wheelchair accessible.
12.) Harvard Museum of Natural History located in Cambridge hours of operation are 9-5pm At the Harvard Museum of Natural History, just steps away from the historic Harvard Yard, you can witness the amazing artistry of the celebrated Blaschka glass flowers & sea creature collections, roar with the Siberian tiger, buzz with honeybees, find your birthstone gem, and go back in time in Romer Hall, home of the famous 42-foot Kronosaurus. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is the most-visited attraction at Harvard—for its incomparable collections based on the research of scientists across the University, and its ongoing exhibitions like Climate Change, The Rockefeller Beetles, Birds of the World, Marine Life, and more. The Harvard Museum of Natural History’s mission is to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it, sparking curiosity and a spirit of discovery in people of all ages.
13.) The Jenney located in Plymouth hours of operation are 10-4:30pm Historic Plymouth Tours and Educational Programs. Your journey into history begins here. Discover Plymouth's History - a Walking Tour: Hear about the people, places, and events that shaped the beginning of our country as you walk through the historic district of Plymouth. Forefathers Monument Tour - This hidden gem is the largest free standing solid granite monument in our country. The faith of the Pilgrims will become real to you as you learn what each of the five statues represents. Business Not as Usual - Pilgrim Economics and Conversations with a Pilgrim: Our guides help visitors learn all aspects of the Pilgrim family including economics, education, government, and faith. All tours require a reservation. Visit our website for tour times and information. Open seasonally, April to November.
14.) Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum closed for the winter season The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (PMPM) was founded in 1892 as the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association—Cape Cod’s oldest non-profit organization. Standing at 252 feet, 7.5 inches, the Pilgrim Monument was constructed to commemorate the Mayflower Pilgrims’ first landing in the New World in November 1620 and the signing of the historic Mayflower Compact in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Provincetown Museum features exhibits that showcase Provincetown’s significant place in American history. Featured exhibits include Our Story: The Complicated Relationship of the Indigenous Wampanoag and the Mayflower Pilgrims and An Anecdotal LGBTQ+ History of the Last Century of Provincetown. Other exhibits showcase the town’s deep maritime roots, the early days of modern American theater, and more. PMPM is accessible from downtown Provincetown via scenic ride to the top of High Pole Hill in a state-of-the-art inclined elevator. Elevator access included in the cost of admission.
15.) Hammond Castle Museum located in Gloucester will reopen March 31, 2024 The Hammond Castle Museum is a dynamic STEM museum offering tours, temporary exhibits, cultural events, and educational programming. It was custom-built to encompass Hammond’s private residence, laboratory, and museum-quality collection of architectural elements such as the facades of medieval shops and doorways from chateaus. Hammond’s extensive list of patents and his work on radio control and on echo-guided torpedoes for the military are also on display. Hammond Castle Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At nearly a century old, it is not handicapped accessible. It is available for weddings and private rentals.
16.) Battleship Cove located in Fall River hours of operation are 9-5pm Home to five National Historic Landmarks and Official Veteran Memorials on both state and national levels, Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965. A non-profit memorial and museum located in Fall River, Massachusetts, veterans, families, schools, Scouts, and interested visitors from around the world have walked the decks of these historic vessels and viewed the legendary aircraft on display. Day visits, overnight camping experiences, and special events allow the public to immerse themselves in the exploration of the historic entities on exhibit and see for themselves the sacrifices made by both the military personnel who served on these amazing ships and aircraft and those who supported their construction See battleship USS Massachusetts BB59, destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr DD850, submarine USS Lionfish SS298, PT Boats 617 and 796.
17.) Atwood Museum located in Chatham hours of 10-4pm Owned and operated by the Chatham Historical Society, the Atwood Museum is located at 347 Stage Harbor Road. The original part of the museum is a house built in the 1750s by sea captain Joseph Atwood when he was a subject of George II of England. The house was occupied by the Atwood family until 1923, before the Historical Society acquired it in 1925. The house provides an excellent view into the way of life during the 18th and 19th centuries in New England. The museum is displaying two new exhibits in 2023: Land Ho!: Chatham: A Fishing and Shipping Community and History & Beyond: 1923-2023. Land Ho! tells the story of the shipping and fishing industries in Chatham through a series of beautiful handmade ship models. History and Beyond: sponsored by the Kemper Family Foundation, celebrates the Centennial of the Historical Society. Through a series of 6 vignettes, History & Beyond recognizes the women who founded the Society, and explains the shifting realities of Chatham in 1923.
18.) Whydah Pirate Museum located in West Yarmouth Friday-Sunday 10-4pm Experience Cape Cod's newest interactive science museum featuring real pirates and real treasures! A must-see attraction for all ages where you will touch, see and interact with the world's only authenticated pirate treasure, discovered off the coast of Wellfleet.
19.) Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House located in Concord hours of operation are 10-5pm Immortalized by Louisa May Alcott in the beloved classic, Little Women, Orchard House (c. 1650) is best known for being where the groundbreaking novel was written and set in 1868. One of the oldest, most authentically-preserved historic sites in the country, Orchard House has, for over a century, provided inspirational accounts of the Alcott family’s contributions to the fields of literature, education, philosophy, the arts, and social justice through award-winning guided tours, unique educational programs for students of all ages, and lively living history events . The Concord School of Philosophy and a Museum Store are also on the premises.
20.) John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum hours of operation are Thursday-Saturday 10-4pm The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation preserves and promotes the legacy of President Kennedy, his family, and their deep connection to Cape Cod. The JFK Hyannis Museum has three multimedia exhibits designed to open a window on the days JFK spent on Cape Cod; days relaxing with family, days as President of the United States when the Cape provided a time to relax and be reinvigorated and days spent sailing on the ocean to which he was so constantly drawn. The Museum's exhibits feature videos, photographs, art and artifacts relating to John F. Kennedy, his family, his friends and the Cape Cod he so dearly loved.
21.) Adams National Historical Park located on Quincy From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn's Hill to the gentleman's country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of "heroes, statesman, philosophers ... and learned women" whose ideas and actions helped to transform thirteen disparate colonies into one united nation. The historic houses are closed for tours for the season and will reopen May 2024. The Visitor Center at 1250 Hancock Street will remain open Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm.
22.) Southwick's Zoo located in Mendon Open from early April through October, Southwick’s Zoo is a privately-owned zoo located at 2 Southwick Street in Mendon, MA. Spanning over 200 acres, Southwick’s Zoo is New England’s largest zoological experience. Southwick's is home to over 850 animals in naturalistic habitats including lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees, white rhinos, two-toed sloths, and more. Southwick’s also offers a wide variety of attractions including the Skyfari SkyRide, Woodland Express Train, Soaring Eagle Zip Line, 35-acre Deer Forest, petting zoo, walk-through aviary, presentations and keeper talks, the Rainforest Adventure Maze, the EARTH Discovery Center, and so much more! Southwick’s Zoo’s mission is to provide an extensive zoological collection and educational facility for their visitors. Southwick’s Zoo offers a full day of family fun and an exciting environment for visitors to learn more about animals and their conservation.
23.) Basketball Hall of Fame located in Springfield hours of operation are 10-4pm Located in the town where basketball was invented, this 48,000-square-foot museum has three levels of exhibits on the history and heroes of the game and gives visitors a chance to participate in skill contests.
24.) Parker River National Wildlife Refuge located on Newburyport Covering 4,662 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats, this refuge was established to preserve the feeding, resting and nesting areas of migratory birds.
25.) Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens located in south Deerfield hours of operation are Tuesday-Sunday 10-5pm A wonderful stop at Magic Wings. There are so many unique butterflies and birds to see. Additionally, prior to entering the conservatory there are tanks filled with various frogs and insects (walking sticks, cockroaches,etc). Wearing bright colors attracts the butterflies to you.
26.) Emily Dickinson Museum located in Amherst hours of operation are Tuesday-Sunday 10-5pm The Emily Dickinson Museum comprises two historic houses in the center of Amherst, Massachusetts associated with the poet Emily Dickinson and members of her family during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Homestead was the birthplace and home of the poet Emily Dickinson. The Evergreens, next door, was home to her brother Austin, his wife Susan, and their three children. It is the Museum’s mission to spark the imagination by amplifying Emily Dickinson’s revolutionary poetic voice from the place she called home. Admission to the Museum is by guided tour and timed tickets must be purchased in advance. For the most up-to-date information about scheduling your visit and purchasing your tickets, please visit the link below.
27.) Flying Horses Carousel located in Oak Bluffs hours of operation are Saturday and Sunday 11-4:30pm Try your luck at catching the brass ring and winning a free ride on the oldest working carousel in the U.S., which has been enchanting children and adults for over a hundred years. The 20 hand-carved horses on this official historic landmark have real horsehair manes and tails.
28.) American Heritage Museum located in Hudson hours of operation are 10-5pm The American Heritage Museum at the Collings Foundation featuring the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection is a history museum chronicling the fight of the American soldier for freedom from the Revolutionary War through modern conflicts and the role that technology played in the battles fought. Told through over 85+ large artifacts throughout the 68,000 square foot museum, the AHM maintains one of the largest collection of operating tanks and military vehicles in the World from many nations including many rare examples such as a German Panther, a Russian IS-2, a U.S. M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo, an Iraqi SCUD B Missile and Launcher, and the only U.S. M1A1 Abrams tank on public museum display in the world. Visitors hear and experience the personal stories of those that fought or helped others fight through first-hand experiences like the World War I trench experience, engaging docents who were crew on tanks in modern wars, and the moving story of the crew of the M1A1 Abrams on display.
29.) Springfield Armory National Historic Site hours of operation are Wed-Sun 9:30-4pm The Armory, which manufactured and tested firearms for the U.S. military from 1794 to 1968, houses the country's largest collection of US military small weapons. The displays include rare weapons and the largest collection of confederate weapons anywhere. When it started, the Armory was the first high tech manufacturing to occur in the country, and the advancements in mass production and the ability to create interchangeable parts that started at the Armory, initiated the development of the country's first high tech manufacturing corridor.
30.) Concord Museum hours of operation are Tue-Sun 10-4pm The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord MA’s remarkable past is brought to life through an inspiring collection of historical, literary, and decorative arts treasures. Completely renovated in 2019, the Museum's 16 galleries are focused on Concord's Native American, literary, abolitionist, cultural and revolutionary history. Gain a new understanding of the events of April 19, 1775 at our new multimedia installation! The Concord Museum educates visitors of all ages about the history of Concord and its continuing influence on American political, literary and cultural life. The Museum’s nationally significant collection serves as a catalyst for changing exhibitions, extended classroom learning, dynamic programs and publications relevant to an ever-changing world. Founded in 1886, the Museum is a center of cultural enjoyment for the region and a gateway to the town of Concord for visitors from around the world.
With over 1200 things to do and see here in this state you really can find a hidden gem around every corner from the likes of Dr Suess, to lighthouses, and many others. I hope that you take the time to really deep dive into this state.
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.
Written by: BeautifulChaos318
