Massachusetts
Recent Articles
Thoreau’s Cabin
While visiting Walden Pond, I stopped at this replica of Henry David Thoreau’s famous cabin. Although the original cabin no longer exists, this reconstruction offers visitors an opportunity to imagine the simple life Thoreau embraced while living beside the pond from 1845 to 1847. At just 10 by 15 feet, the cabin reflected Thoreau’s belief […]
The Fairbanks House
While exploring Dedham, I stopped at the Fairbanks House, a remarkable reminder of New England’s earliest colonial history. At first glance, it appears to be a simple wooden farmhouse, but it is recognized as the oldest surviving timber-frame house in North America. Construction of the original section of the house began around 1637 for Jonathan […]
Gore Place
Surrounded by open lawns and mature trees, the Gore Place remains one of the finest surviving Federal-era estates in New England and offers a glimpse into the aspirations of the young American republic. Gore Place was built between 1804 and 1806 for Christopher Gore and his wife, Rebecca Amory Payne Gore. Christopher Gore was one of […]
W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite
While exploring the Berkshires, we made a stop at the W. E. B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite near Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Although little remains of the house itself, the site marks the place where one of America’s most important intellectuals, writers, and civil rights leaders spent his early years. Standing by the sign, it was remarkable to […]
Stonehurst: The Robert Treat Paine Estate
Tucked away in Waltham, Massachusetts, Stonehurst is one of the region’s architectural treasures. The estate was created between 1883 and 1888 for Robert Treat Paine Jr., a prominent Boston lawyer and philanthropist whose father had helped found the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Paine envisioned the property not simply as a house, but as a […]
Nathaniel Thayer Estate
Driving through South Lancaster, I was surprised to come upon one of the grandest estates in central Massachusetts: the Nathaniel Thayer Estate, later known as Thayer Hall. Set amid expansive lawns and towering trees, the stately yellow mansion immediately conveyed the elegance and prosperity of nineteenth-century New England. Although many visitors associate South Lancaster with […]
Stephen Phillips House
I drove to Salem to visit the Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House, one of the city’s finest historic homes. Walking through its rooms felt like stepping back into the period when Salem was one of America’s most important seaports and a center of international trade. More than a museum, the house offers a glimpse into the […]
Edward Gorey House
The Edward Gorey House is one of the more unusual places I have visited. This modest Cape Cod residence draws visitors into the eccentric world of one of America’s distinctive artists and writers. Located in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, the house was the home of author, illustrator, playwright and artist Edward Gorey from 1986 until his death in […]
Nichols House Museum
Many historic houses close for the winter season, making December a challenging time for a house museum enthusiast. When Marty was looking for something to do for my December birthday, he managed to reserve a tour of the Nichols House Museum on Boston’s Beacon Hill. What seemed like a simple outing quickly became an adventure of […]
Castle Hill
Perched high above the salt marshes and Atlantic coastline of Ipswich, Massachusetts, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate is one of the great surviving country estates of New England. The massive brick mansion and endless coastal views create a setting that feels both grand and connected to the natural beauty surrounding it. Built in 1918 for […]
The Lizzie Borden House
The Lizzie Borden House is one of the most infamous true-crime sites in American history. Located in the heart of Fall River, this modest Victorian home became the scene of the brutal 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, a crime that remains officially unsolved more than a century later. On August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and […]
The Otis House
Perched at the top of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill stands the Otis House, one of the finest surviving examples of Federal style architecture in the city. Designed by renowned architect Charles Bullfinch in 1796 for Harrison Gray Otis, the house reflected the growing prestige and sophistication of Boston’s wealthiest citizens. Otis was a lawyer, politician, real estate developer […]
