National Register of Historic Places listings in Massachusetts facts for kids

This is a list of properties and districts in Massachusetts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Have you ever wondered about old buildings or special places that tell a story about the past? In Massachusetts, there are tons of these amazing spots! This page is all about the cool places in Massachusetts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special list of important buildings, neighborhoods, and other sites that are worth protecting because of their history.

Massachusetts has more than 4,300 places on this list. That's about 5% of all the historic listings in the entire United States! Only New York has more. You can find these special places in all 14 Massachusetts counties.

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Discovering Historic Places in Massachusetts

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is an official list kept by the United States government. It helps to identify and protect important historical and archaeological sites across the country. When a place is added to this list, it means it has special historical, architectural, or cultural value. It could be an old house, a bridge, a whole neighborhood, or even a boat! Being on the list encourages people to preserve these places for future generations.

Why Massachusetts Has So Many Historic Spots

Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in the U.S. It played a huge role in early American history, from the first European settlements to the American Revolution. Because of this long and rich past, there are many buildings, battlefields, and other sites that tell important stories. This is why Massachusetts has the second-highest number of listings on the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a living history book!

Exploring Historic Places by County

Every single one of Massachusetts's 14 counties has places listed on the National Register. Some counties have hundreds of listings! For example, Middlesex County has over 1,300 historic sites, making it the county with the most listings. Worcester County also has many, with over 670 places. Even smaller counties like Nantucket and Dukes have their own unique historic treasures. These listings include everything from old churches and town halls to historic homes and industrial buildings.

Famous Historic Sites You Can Visit

Massachusetts is home to many famous historic places that are on the National Register. Some of these you might even recognize!

• The Church on the Hill in Berkshire County is a beautiful old church.
• The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Essex County, is a famous house from a classic American novel.
• The Sankaty Head Light is a historic lighthouse on Nantucket.
• Faneuil Hall in Boston, Suffolk County, is known as the "Cradle of Liberty" because of important speeches and meetings held there during the American Revolution.
• The Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard is one of the oldest operating carousels in the country.
• The Ware–Hardwick Covered Bridge connects Hampshire and Worcester Counties. It's a charming example of old bridge building.
• The PT 796 in Fall River, Bristol County, is a historic military boat.
• The Alvah Stone Mill in Montague, Franklin County, is an interesting old mill building.

These are just a few examples of the many amazing historic places you can find across Massachusetts. Each one helps us understand the past better!

Images for kids

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  Distribution of listings by county as of September 2014

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  Church on the Hill, in Berkshire County

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  House of the Seven Gables, in Salem, Essex County

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  Sankaty Head Light, in Nantucket

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  Faneuil Hall, Boston, Suffolk County

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  The Flying Horses Carousel, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County

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  The Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge, Hampshire and Worcester Counties

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  The PT 796, Fall River, Bristol County

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  The Alvah Stone Mill, Montague, Franklin County