Boston Surroundings

Visitors to this living history museum at Old Schwamb Mill can see craftsmen using 19th century lathes powered by a fast moving brook to fashion wooden, oval picture frames. First built as a grist-mill in 1637, it is reputedly the oldest continuously operating mill site in the Western hemisphere. The Schwamb family altered it and has operated the mill as a woodworking facility since about 1860.

Braintree is located 17 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Boston. The town features an interesting library and some historical sites.

The Braintree Historical Society is located in the Gilbert Bean Museum and features displays of artifacts and records relating to the Town of Braintree. Furniture from the 16th to 19th centuries and an exhibit on the Civil War are highligts of the museum.

Chelsea is a suburb of Boston, located directly across the Mystic River from Boston. The area was first settled in 1624 and became incorporated as a city in 1857. Chelsea is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area.

Governor Bellingham-Cary House is a Georgian home, built in 1659. During the siege of Boston (1775-76), George Washington stayed at the house. Today the Cary House is a museum of early Americana artifacts that date back over 300 years ago.

The Cohasset Historical Society displays a variety of items from the town's history including books, art, theatrical artifacts, and a large collection of women's and girl's clothing from the early 1800's throughout the mid 1900's.

The Fairbanks House was built around 1641 for a family of Puritan immigrants. Fairbanks House is believed to be the oldest standing timber framed building in North America and opened as a museum in 1904. On display in the house are furniture and other items of the Fairbanks.

Dorchester is located south of Boston and is part of the Boston, Massachusetts-New Hampshire metro area.

The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum is dedicated to the memory of the thirty-fifth President of the U.S. It is the official national memorial to JFK, designed by noted architect I.M. Pei and opened in 1979. The facility is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration and it features three theaters, personal memorabilia, photographs and historical exhibits that document the life of JFK and his presidency.

Littleton is an agricultural community located northwest of Boston. Some of the town area is an Indian preserve, the Nashoba Indian Praying Town.

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The Children's Hands On Art Museum in Littleton provides elaborate and inspirational settings for children to create art. Supplies for painting, sculpting and all activities are provided.

Lynnfield is located in Eastern Massachusetts. The town features a green space in the downtown area which is surrounded by historical structures including the 1714 Lynnfield Meeting House and Lynnfield Public Library.

The Fisher Richardson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Royall House was built in 1637 and reconstructed about one hundred years later. The home was occupied by the Royall Family from 1737 to 1775. The Royall family was one of the richest families in New England with 27 slaves to serve them - the original slave quarters are of great interest to visitors.

Needham was first settled in 1680 and incorporated in 1711. Located west of Boston, along the Charles River, Needham is within easy commuting distance of Boston. The town has numerous parks and Rosemary Pool to enjoy.

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The museum offers educational interactive displays for children.

The Longwood Opera uses recent university graduates of performing arts in it's productions, giving "unseasoned" artists an opportunity to gain experience.

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The Brown Bag Opera offers condensed operas with violin, cello, piano and voice, and performs mainly for schools. After the performance the musicians interact with the students and demonstrate their instruments. The objective is to inspire students.

This is the birthplace of Abigail Adams, wife of former president John Adams.

The Fred Holland Day Historic House Museum, part of the Norwood Historical Society, offers guided tours of the house built in 1859. Fred Holland Day was a noted photographer, publisher, historian and philanthropist.

The Second Empire style house has eight fireplaces, oak and mahogany paneling and woodwork, fabric wall coverings and Day family belongings.

Antique to high-tech models of thermometers are featured in the largest (currently numbering over 4,000) collection of thermometers in the world.

It is said that the teenage daughters of the Scituate lighthouse keeper scared off British soldiers during the War of 1812, using fife and drum.

The "Little Red Schoolhouse", as it is referred to, was originally opened in 1893 as a high school. The building has been used as classrooms and offices over the years, and is now home to the Kathleen Laidlaw Historical Center Society Headquarters as well as genealogical and historical library.

The Kendall Whaling Museum merged with the New Bedford Whaling Museum in 2001.

The Stone Zoo is a 26 acre site in Stoneham. Some of the collection here includes colobus monkeys, Canada lynx, snow leopards, Mexican gray wolves, river otters, spider monkeys, birds of prey and more. The Treasures of the Sierra Madre exhibit features jaguars, cougars, coyote, and Gila monsters. In Windows to the Wild are hyacinth macaws, flamingos, meerkats and others.

Stoughton is located southwest of Boston, within regular commuting distance. The town is named after William Stoughton, a former lieutenant governor.

This 1870 house was the home of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science. On display in the house are period furnishings and old shoe-making shop.

This house was briefly occupied by Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science. The home features period furnishings and some personal effects of Mary Baker Eddy.

The Armenian Library and Museum of America pays tribute to Armenian Heritage through a collection of historical objects and artifacts. The collection features religious artifacts, inscribed rugs, folk costumes, metalwork, paintings, currency, illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, home furnishings, photographs, and musical instruments. The exhibits change regularly, with 400 items on display at a time.