List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts facts for kids

Naumkeag, a beautiful estate in Stockbridge designed in 1885 for Joseph Hodges Choate.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to 192 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs). These are special places recognized for their importance in American history. Massachusetts has the second-highest number of NHLs in the United States, right after New York.

Fifty-seven of these landmarks are in the state capital, Boston, and are listed separately. The first ten NHLs in Massachusetts were chosen on October 9, 1960. The most recent ones were added in 2021. Outside of Boston, Cambridge has the most NHLs (19). Every county in Massachusetts has at least one National Historic Landmark. For example, Franklin County has the Old Deerfield Historic District.

These landmarks were chosen for many different reasons. Some are very old buildings, like the Fairbanks House in Dedham. Built in the late 1630s, it's the oldest wooden house in the nation. The Old Ship Church in Hingham (1681) is the oldest church in the U.S. still used for religious services. Cole's Hill in Plymouth was a burial ground for the first settlers of Plymouth Colony in 1620. The Nauset Archeological District shows early meetings between Europeans and Native Americans. The Old Deerfield Historic District is a well-preserved colonial village.

Many sites are linked to the American Revolution and its heroes. Lexington Green, Buckman Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House all played roles in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the war. Wright's Tavern in Concord was also important. You can also find the homes of generals like Benjamin Lincoln, John Glover, and Rufus Putnam. The Longfellow House was even used by George Washington during the Siege of Boston.

Massachusetts also has many NHLs connected to famous writers and artists. Arrowhead in the Berkshires was where Herman Melville wrote much of his work, including Moby-Dick. In Concord, you can visit Walden Pond, the Ralph Waldo Emerson House, The Old Manse (home to Emerson's grandfather), Orchard House (where Louisa May Alcott grew up), and The Wayside (home to Nathaniel Hawthorne). Hawthorne's House of Seven Gables in Salem is also a landmark. Other literary sites include the John Greenleaf Whittier House, The Mount (Edith Wharton's estate), and Redtop, where William Dean Howells hosted many literary gatherings.

Important scientific and academic places are also on the list. The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in Milton has the longest continuous weather record in North America. The Goddard Rocket Launching Site in Auburn is where rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard did some of his first tests.

What are National Historic Landmarks?
A Few Amazing Massachusetts Landmarks
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What are National Historic Landmarks?

National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are places that the United States government recognizes as being very important to the history of our country. They can be buildings, sites, structures, objects, or districts.

There are different types of landmarks:

#	National Historic Landmark
#⁺	National Historic Landmark District
#^*	National Historic Site

A Few Amazing Massachusetts Landmarks

Here are some examples of the cool National Historic Landmarks you can find in Massachusetts:

Homes of Presidents and Important People

John Adams Birthplace and John Quincy Adams Birthplace in Quincy: These are the houses where two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams, were born. They are now part of the Adams National Historical Park.
John F. Kennedy Birthplace in Brookline: This is the house where President John F. Kennedy was born and spent his childhood. It's now a National Historic Site you can visit.
Maria Baldwin House in Cambridge: This was the home of Maria Louise Baldwin, the first African-American female principal of a school in New England.
W.E.B. Dubois Boyhood Homesite in Great Barrington: This site is what remains of the childhood home of W.E.B. Du Bois, a famous African American thinker and activist.

Historic Buildings and Places

Fairbanks House in Dedham: Built in the 1630s, this is likely the oldest wooden house in North America that has been owned by the same family continuously. It's now a museum.
Old Ship Church in Hingham: This church, built in 1681, is thought to be the oldest church in the nation still used for religious services. Its roof looks like an upside-down ship!
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Saugus: This site preserves one of the earliest iron-making factories in colonial America, dating back to 1646. It's a National Historic Site.
Springfield Armory in Springfield: This was the first place in the U.S. where weapons were made and researched for the military. It was also a key spot during Shays' Rebellion in 1787.

Cool Ships and Unique Structures

Schooner Adventure in Gloucester: This is one of the last surviving fishing schooners that worked in the Grand Banks.
Schooner Ernestina in New Bedford: This is the oldest surviving fishing schooner from the Grand Banks, built in the 1800s.
USS Massachusetts in Fall River: This battleship fought in World War II and won 11 battle stars. You can visit it at Battleship Cove.
Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs: This carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in the United States! It's a fun piece of history.

Places of Learning and Innovation

American Antiquarian Society in Worcester: This building houses the third oldest historical society in the U.S., founded in 1812. It was the first one to focus on the entire nation's history.
Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University in Cambridge: Built in 1718-1720, this is the oldest building at Harvard University and the second oldest academic building in the country.
Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in Milton: This observatory has the longest continuous weather record in North America. Scientists here developed many ways to measure weather.
Goddard Rocket Launching Site in Auburn: This is where Robert H. Goddard, a pioneer in rocketry, launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926.