Massachusetts
Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen colonies and became the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution on February 6, 1788. Known as the Bay State, it has Boston as both its capital and largest city. Its geography extends from the Atlantic coastline, Cape Cod, and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket to the river valleys and rolling hills of central Massachusetts and the Berkshire Mountains in the west.
The founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620 and the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 established the region as an important center of colonial life. More than a century later, events in Boston, Lexington, and Concord helped ignite the American Revolution. During the nineteenth century, the state became a leader in manufacturing, education, literature, and social reform, giving Massachusetts an enduring influence on the political and cultural development of the nation.
Recent Articles
Star of War of 1812
Walking through a local cemetery, I noticed something that made me pause: a five-pointed metal star planted beside a grave holding an American flag. Cast into its surface are the words: War of 1812 I have come to recognize the familiar markers for Revolutionary War patriots and Civil War soldiers. Those appear often in New England cemeteries. But […]
Thomas Eames Sign
Driving along a road in Framingham is this roadside sign that marks the location where the home of Thomas Eames once stood. There is no remaining structure, only the sign indicating that this was the site of a 17th century homestead. On February 1, 1676, during the King Philip’s War, the Eames house was attacked. At […]
Samuel Colburn
As I was walking through downtown Dedham, I came across a simple rock monument honoring Samuel Colburn. I must admit I was not aware of the Crown Point Expedition. That unfamiliar name immediately caught my attention. I was excited to take a photo and look up more information later. There is something satisfying about discovering a small marker and realizing it opens […]
Millmore’s Confederate Statue
Standing outside the Framingham History Center is a powerful piece of the town’s history: a Civil war memorial sculpture created by the noted nineteenth century artist Martin Millmore. Millmore, an Irish-born sculptor who became one of Massachusetts’ more prolific creators of war memorial, is known for honoring ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary calls to service. His works appear in communities across […]
Vault Alarm
Looking up, above the street level to the second floor of the Citizens Bank in Natick, I noticed a small metal box mounted on the exterior wall. It reads: Vault Alarm This is a relic from a time when security was mechanical. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, banks were designed to safeguard […]
Henry Knox in Framingham
In Framingham, Massachusetts, there stands a granite block bearing an inscription that is easy to pass by without a second glance. Yet the words carved into this stone marks one of the most daring feats of the American Revolution: “Through this place passed Henry Knox in the winter of 1775–1776 to deliver to General George Washington […]
Gibson House Museum – Baker’s Breakfast Cocoa
When visiting the Gibson House Museum in Boston, this colorful tin caught my eye in the kitchen. Baker’s Breakfast Cocoa, the title sparked my curiosity. The tin was produced by Walter Baker & Co, the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the United States. Founded in the late 1700s, in Massachusetts, Baker’s became a household […]
Alexander Hamilton Statue in Boston
I love walking the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and pausing to take in the sculptures that line the path. Each one is placed not just to decorate the boulevard but also to invite reflection. One of the most prominent is the statute of Alexander Hamilton. I found myself wondering why Hamilton, who never lived in Boston. […]
Union Oyster House
Walking along the Freedom Trail in Boston, it is easy to miss the plaque outside the Union Oyster House. But if you pass it by, you are missing not only a good meal, but an extraordinary chapter in American history. The Union Oyster House is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States, serving diners […]
Edgar Allen Poe Statue
This is a statue of Edgar Allan Poe on the sidewalk along Boylston Street in Boston. He is caught in mid-stride, coat swirling with a raven perched atop a stack of books at his feet. The placement of this statue is intentional and rooted in Poe’s relationship with the city where his life began. Poe […]
Bell System Icon
Walking through Wellesley, with my eyes turned to the ground, I took a moment to notice the iron cover in the sidewalk labeled: “Bell System”, this little iron circle tells a story of a different kind of infrastructure, one that once revolutionized the world. The Bell System was more than just a telephone company it was a […]
Revolutionary War Medallion
I enjoy wandering through old cemeteries and to the small symbols that mark the lives of people who came before us. Among the most powerful markers are the medallions places at the graves of Revolutionary War veterans, each one a reminder of the earliest defenders of our young nation resting beneath New England’s grass. As I explored these burying […]
