Massachusetts National Historic Sites

9/4/1999 ... parked on Cambridge and walked a little on the African American Trail, stopping at the African Meeting House [NHL] (Boston African American NHS).

The Meeting House exterior ...

... and interior

4/26/2016 Our trek covered (* indicating part of Boston NHP): ... African Meeting House NHL (p/o Boston African American NHS) - Also known First African Baptist Church, it was built in 1806 and is the oldest black church edifice still standing in the U.S.

African-American Museum

The Meeting House from one side ...

... and the other

The sign

Window detail

9/5/1999 Next to Frederick Law Olmsted NHS [House NHL]. Took a tour of the home/offices and landscaped grounds of the landscape architect. Olmsted and his company did over 5000 projects, including Central Park and the Biltmore Estate.

The park sign

Olmsted's house

Me out front

Maureen on the landscaped grounds

9/4/1999 ... then to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS [Birthplace NHL], his birthplace. Saw a very good video on Rose Kennedy, then toured the house, redone by Rose to look like 1917 when JFK was born.

The park sign

Kennedy's birthplace

A Kennedy memorial

8/22/1996 ... ended up in Cambridge at Longfellow NHS [NHL]. Beautiful home and gardens. Took an excellent tour of the home by a ranger with a great deal of information and a true personal interest in Longfellow and the arts. The home was used by Washington as his headquarters, rented by Longfellow, then owned by him and his family (his daughter was born, lived and died there at 78). The house was full of great art, books, etc.

The park sign

The front of the home ...

... and the side

4/25/2016 The sites we got were: ... Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters NHS/Longfellow House NHL - The home of noted American poet Henry and previously served as the headquarters of General George Washington, 1775-76.

The park sign

A far view of the house ...

... and closer up

Detail of the front ...

... and the back

The back garden

8/23/1996 Walked down to Salem Maritime NHS and got some info ... Back to the NHS and saw a slide show about the biggest port in America, then walked around a bit seeing the remaining wharves, Customs House, etc.

The park sign

Me near the water

The Customs House

11/19/2025 NRT Derby Wharf. This trail on the historic wharf reaches into Salem Harbor and ends at Derby Wharf Light, an 1871 lighthouse, passing by exhibits on Salem's world trade ventures. We walked a good chunk of the way out on the wharf, with a little lighthouse at the end. On the way we saw the ship “Friendship of Salem” under restoration; that, and the wharf itself, part of the ... NPS Salem Maritime NHS. At the end of the wharf intersecting with the road we could see the large Custom House. From here we continued on our trek towards sites well north of the Boston area ... .

The park sign

I photo ...

... info about the wharf

Friendship of Salem

The lighthouse on the wharf ...

... and us

The Custom House ...

... with signage

A closer look

9/9/1995 From there drove to Saugus to the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site [NHL]. Also very interesting - saw huge 17th century furnaces, 500 pound hammer to make wrought iron, etc., as well as a 17th century restored home.

Interpretive sign and a view of the area

Me by a big furnace

11/20/2025 NPS Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. This is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, founded by John Winthrop the Younger and in operation between 1646 and approximately 1670. We enjoyed walking around this area a lot. It started high above mill area, where the original river flow would have been over (or under) the multiple huge mill wheels. We then walked down the steep hill to the mill and furnace building bases, where the water returned to the main river flow. It was a really pleasant morning to check out the pretty amazing engineering considering the time period. On the NHS property, along the Saugus River, we walked a little way on the ... NRT Saugus Iron Works Nature Trail. The trail traverses the historic site and adjacent riverside woodland overlooking the Saugus River, tidal mudflats, and other wetlands.

The park sign

Iron Works House

A cool 360 photo of ...

... a nice model of the site

A panorama of the forge area ...

... and a little closer in

Ken at the steps ...

... down to the forge area

Me reading ...

... interpretive signage ...

... about the forge

One of the buildings ...

... and some wheel detail

A look at the river ...

... with some signage

Another view of the forge buildings

Another great 360 from the bridge

On the NRT ...

... looking back at the dock

One last shot of me and Ken

8/16/1996 ... continued up to Springfield, MA and the Springfield Armory NHS [NHL]. Brief visit here; displays of firearms through the ages, and good videos of different types and how they load and fire.

National Historic Sites - Massachusetts