New England National Parks and Sites

NEW ENGLAND NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Adams National Historical Park: Quincy Two U.S. presidents born 75 feet away from each other—that’s something you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the United States! Peruse the building that was home to four generations of the Adams family over 200 years, and soak up a singular family history while viewing more than 12,000 original books still housed in the Adamses’ library. 617-770-1175; nps.gov/adam/index.htmSEE MORE:A Visit to the Adams National Historical ParkBoston National Historical Park: Boston Echoes of rifle blasts, secret meetings, and fiery meetinghouse speeches come back to life during the dramatic hour-long Freedom Trail tours led by rangers from Boston National Historical Park. This in-depth exploration of the birthplace of the American Revolution will make you question just what was in those baked beans that generated so many firebrands, including William Bainbridge and Joseph Warren. 617-242-5642; nps.gov/bost/index.htm

Lowell National Historical Park: Lowell Looking at photos of Lowell’s mill workers, it’s hard to believe that by 1850, they were annually producing enough cloth to circle the earth twice. Jump aboard a canal boat or a replica trolley and return to the time when Lowell was the textile production hub of the Industrial Revolution. 978-970-5000; nps.gov/lowe/index.htmMinute Man National Historical Park: Concord & Lexington Hitch up your breeches and don your tricorn hat to join the masses for a giant reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord on Patriots’ Day. Or, if you’re not up for costumes, commemorate the famous battle by strolling the grounds or listening to one of the storytelling events regularly offered by rangers. 978-369-6993; nps.gov/mima/index.htmSEE MORE:Concord, MA | The Perfect Summer Daytrip

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: New Bedford There’s nothing like a 66-foot whale skeleton to get you jazzed to learn more about New Bedford, the 19th-century whaling capital of the country. Or, if you’re interested in mammals more your own size, the museum offers invaluable information about the lives of the town’s famed inhabitants, including Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville. 508-996-4095; nps.gov/nebe/index.htm

Salem Maritime National Historic Site: Salem With more than 17 miles of rigging line, the tall ship Friendship at Salem captures the spirit of craftsmanship and discovery that this port city’s famed maritime hub must have exuded in the 18th century. Visit Salem’s slew of wharves, warehouses, and historic homes and conjure Hester Prynne back to life in the house where Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter. 978-740-1650; nps.gov/sama/index.htmSEE MORE:Historic Downtown Salem | Art, Architecture, and AttractionsMuseum of African American History: Boston Boston’s road to the abolition of slavery wasn’t a straight one, so it’s fitting that tours along the Black Heritage Trail aren’t either. Examining all the nooks and crannies you’d never have seen on your own, this rambling exploration passes by old stops on the Underground Railroad and the homes of famous abolitionists and ends at the African Meeting House, a gathering place for such legendary antislavery activists as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. 617-742-5415; afroammuseum.orgJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site: Brookline If you haven’t seen Jack’s original bassinet and porringer—or if you have no idea what those words mean—it’s high time you make a visit to the family home preserved in JFK’s honor. Meander through the house that his father purchased in 1914, and then take a look at the surrounding North End neighborhood through Kennedy’s eyes by jumping onto one of the ranger-led tours. 617-566-7937;nps.gov/jofi/index.htmSEE MORE:Visiting the JFK Birthplace

Longfellow House/Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site: Cambridge It’s hard to beat the credentials of 105 Brattle Street. As the very site where George Washington took command of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, the place where the first anesthesia for childbirth was administered, and the longtime home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this old house will surprise you with a plethora of unexpected discoveries. 617-876-4491; nps.gov/long/index.htmSaugus Iron Works National Historic Site: Saugus The traditions of the Pawtucket people under their fearless female leader Great Squaw Sachem, widow of Nanepashemet, once clashed and intermingled with the advent of bog-ore mining in unforeseen ways here. Rewind the clock at the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry while strolling among the waterwheels, hot forges, mills, and 17th-century homes and herb gardens. 781-233-0050; nps.gov/sair/index.htm

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Springfield Stretching over two city blocks and employing 14,000 workers in its heyday, the hulking giant that was once the Springfield Armory supplied weapons to the U.S. military for close to 175 years. With an enormous collection of small arms on exhibit, this site bears homage to one of the United States’ most enduring and profitable products. 413-734-8551; nps.gov/spar/index/htm

SEE MORE: The Cape Cod National Seashore | The Beach that Saved the CapeThe Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area | Forgotten Islands

RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Roger Williams National Memorial: Providence Roger Williams was no ordinary fellow; this was a man who spoke seven languages and upon his death was laid to rest three times! Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious beliefs, Williams founded the settlement that would become Rhode Island in 1636. Visit this memorial to the remarkable man who began a new society based on the idea that one’s religious practices should be determined by the individual, not the state. 401-521-7266; nps.gov/rowi/index.htm

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Weir Farm National Historic Site: Branchville (Ridgefield/Wilton) Feel the creative juices flow as you step onto the grounds of this 200-year-old farm, which has influenced generations of artists. The only National Park site dedicated to American painting, rangers offer tours of the historic Weir House and welcome visitors to explore the property’s 60 acres of forest and farmland. 203-834-1896; nps.gov/wefa/index.htm

NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site: Cornish Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens created more than 150 works in his lifetime, 100 of which are on display on the grounds of his regal home and gardens. Honor the artist who created Boston’s Robert Gould Shaw Memorial and other famous public monuments by taking a tour, or meandering through the gardens to the “Temple” where his remains lie. 603-675-2175; nps.gov/saga/index.htm

MAINE NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Acadia National Park: Mt. Desert Island, Isle au Haut, Schoodic Peninsula Named “the island of barren mountains” by French explorers because of its rugged character, Mount Desert is home to the highest point on the North Atlantic coast. The majesty of this place has drawn visitors for centuries, creating a rich cultural history of Wabanaki inhabitants, French explorers, English fishermen, and American artists from the Hudson River School. Since 1916, more than 47,000 acres of land and shoreline in  three locations have been preserved to create a pristine landscape for outdoor enjoyment. Whether it’s kicking back on a sandy beach at sunset or climbing Cadillac Mountain at sunrise, there’s no reason not to join the long line of wanderers who have looked to Acadia as a place of solace and adventure. 207-288-3338; nps.gov/acad/index.htmSEE MORE:Acadia National Park | Things to Do & See

VERMONT NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES

Marsh–Billings–Rockefeller National Historic Site: Woodstock “Don’t just appreciate nature from afar—get in there and muck around!” That’s approximately what conservationists George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and the Rockefeller family would say if they could join you at their beloved park today. So honor these pioneers by participating in myriad year-round outdoor activities, including snowshoeing, hiking, horseback riding, or just sitting under a 400-year-old tree. 802-457-3368; nps.gov/mabi/index.htm What are your favorite New England national parks and sites?