THANKS to Cranachin's posting about the 17th Century Saturdays celebration in the North Shore. We were in Salem yesterday (Aug 1) and visited a couple of these 17th-c houses.

Again, details here:
http://www.escapesnorth.com/17thCenturyBrochure.pdf

this is a great list, yk. We went some time ago and we really enjoyed the Minuteman Park and the literary sites in Concord. And what is off the beaten path is all a matter of perspective: If you read Little Women, Eight Cousins, etc as many times as I did, then Concord would classify as a "must-see." Incidentally, we recall eating in a tavern quite near the Old Manse and Orchard House that was supposedly around in revoluationary times. I have long forgotten what else we ate, but the bread pudding was very good. I was a bit disappointed in Walden Pond. We did not see people in historical garb as shown in the photos; we did see guys selling ice cream.

To add to your list, I really enjoy the historical re-enactment places when done well, and Massachusetts has two:
Sturbridge Village, which is a bit far if your vacation is a short one. Really, really excellent, though. The characters have a very deep understanding of the history. http://www.osv.org/

Plimouth Plantation, much closer to Boston and quite enjoyable. This one is just delightful if you ask the actors questions and engage with them. Boston.http://www.plimoth.org/

This is off the beaten path for most Fodor's members, but the National Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield and is really a must-see. We saw the old building--now it is much newer and supposedly even more interesting. The interactive activities really are enjoyable.

One place I would have liked to have gone but did not was the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

Great suggestions! We will be in Boston sometime this fall and this will sure help.

Great list, yk!

Bookmarking for my upcoming trip to Boston!

Talking about historical personages and Concord, there is also the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where many notables are buried (Thoreau, Alcott, etc.):

http://www.concordma.gov/pages/conco...emetery/sleepy

I was taken to dine at the Wayside Inn many years ago and always remember thinking how small the people were during the Revolutionary era! Great history!

I was interested in yk's mention of the valuable book collection in the Congregational Library. Last November when we worshipped at Old South Church in Boston with our son we afterwards saw some of the collection in a special talk. What impressed us were copies of a rare Bay Psalm book used by the Pilgrims as well as the Algonquin Bible printed for the first time in a native tongue. Sermon on that Nov. 9 was a tribute to Rev. Prince who became minister in 1715 and it was he who collected the original books donated at his death which were piled up in a spare room and finally properly catalogued. See www.oldsouth.org and you can search also for the sermon (Nov. 9, 2008) about this Colonial preacher with his prayer for deliverance from a British fleet which was successful!

Ozarksbill

A couple of people here suggested going to the Mary Eddy Baker Museum mapparium when I went to Boston. It was a highlight for my Geographer DS, and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit there as well. it probably takes about an hour to see.

http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/...apparium.jhtml

My family (husband, myself and 2 teenage sons) spent the day yesterday at Lowell National Historic Park. It was wonderful! We started at the Vistor Center and watched the 20 min film - great overview. Next we took the canal boat tour which goes through a working lock (built in 1796 - the engineering is impressive!). This was 90 minutes and very well done.

We took a break for lunch - many restaurants with outdoor seating to choose from. Walked over to the Boott Cotton Mill which has working weaving looms - they had only 10 working and it was LOUD (they provide ear plugs) - imagine when they were all going at once! Nice museum upstairs including film clips from mill workers - very informative.

The last stop was a boarding house with a great exhibit about "The Mill Girls" - again very interesting. They were setting up for an outdoor concert in this area which looked like a lot of fun. There was also a Quilt Festival happening but it didn't appeal to my guys.

We arrived around 10 AM and left at 4 PM - a very full day. I highly recommend this historic park. My 16 yo son had to visit a historic place for his AP History class and do a 2-4 page write-up, which was our main reason for going there. He now has plenty of material to work with!

BBEAR, thanks for your excellent review. I totally agree with you on the Lowell Historic Park. Unfortunately, we went on a weekday so the canal locks cruise was not available, but we still enjoyed the rest of the exhibits, including a ranger-guided tour on which he told us about the history of Lowell, plus a visit of another mill building. In the museum where the room with all the loom machines is just impressive - one has to experience it, words alone are totally inadequate to describe it.

Ditto on Lowell Historic Park! Isn't it amazing what some towns have done with those huge empty New England cotton mills? Our daughter worked at a museum in one in Manchester, NH, where they have also made the huge buildings into offices and condos and such. In our Lowell stop that summer we enjoyed a folk festival. Yes, the exhibits in restored buildings tell a story about an industrial past. Also that nice canal boat ride.
Ozarksbill [email protected]

<B>A little-known GEM in Boston:
Ayer Mansion</b>
http://ayermansion.org/

<i>Boston's Tiffany Treasure

Built between 1899 and 1902 for businessman and art collector Frederick Ayer, the Ayer Mansion is the country’s only surviving residence designed entirely by famed American artisan, Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Named a National Historic Landmark in 2005, the Ayer Mansion exemplifies Tiffany’s astounding versatility. At the Ayer Mansion, Tiffany-designed stone and glass mosaics, graceful metalwork, Favrile glass, custom furniture, intricate plaster work, and elaborate stained glass windows all work together to create a masterpiece.</i>

The mansion, located in Back Bay, is open to the public 12 times a year, on the second Saturday of each month at 3pm.

The facade of the building is covered in mosaics, however, they are in dire need of repair that one can easily walk past it without ever noticing the intricate work.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5572.jpg

Once inside, the entry foyer is impressive enough to take one's breath away. On one side is a large marble fireplace, inlaid with turquoise-colored mosaics. Opposite the fire place is the grand staircase leading to the upper floors. The apse-like ceiling is covered with gold-colored mosaics, while the wall is made of opalescent glass to give the impression of a 3-dimensional colonnade.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5564.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5569.jpg

From the landing of the staircase, one looks up to a Tiffany glass skylight.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5563.jpg

Other amazing touches include original electric Favrile glass lamps, and the oval-shaped stair well with the original chandelier.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5568.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...N/IMG_5571.jpg

My photos don't do justice to the beauty of this place. Go pay a visit if you can!

This weekend (Thursday-Saturday), <b>May 13-15, 2010</b> is <u>Doors Open Lowell</u>

http://www.doorsopenlowell.org/

<i>Doors Open Lowell offers an insider’s look into the preservation of twenty-five of Lowell’s magnificent historic buildings. It’s a free event held during National Preservation Month to celebrate Lowell’s architectural heritage and urban living and culture. </i>

I hope someone here will see this and go; unfortunately we're busy this weekend and won't be able to attend. :(

My last comment was a year ago...about Lowell, MA! But glad to know about Ayer Mansion. As a matter of fact in the meantime we have just moved to the Boston area to be near our son. So we will be out exploring...and likely at the Lowell Festival in July.

Ozarksbill (should be Watertownbill)
[email protected]

<b>Food Tours of Boston</b>:

Michele Topor's North End Market Tour
http://www.northendmarkettours.com/h...rkettours.html
Report by gail here: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

Michele Topor's Chinatown Market Tour
http://www.northendmarkettours.com/h...chinatown.html
Report by dfrostnh here: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...atown-tour.cfm

Jewish cuisine tour in Brookline:
http://www.brooklinetour.com/content/view/102/142/

Russian cuisine tour in Brookline:
http://www.brooklinetour.com/content/view/99/147/

East Boston "Eastie" tour:
http://www.tastethistours.com/

Chocolate Walking tour:
http://www.bostonchocolatewalkingtours.com/

Bookmarking