Roxbury Heritage State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roxbury Heritage State Park |
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Dillaway-Thomas House
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 Roxbury Heritage State Park
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Operator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Roxbury Heritage State Park |
Roxbury Heritage State Park is a special park in Roxbury, a part of Boston, Massachusetts. It celebrates history and is built around the Dillaway–Thomas House. This large house was built in 1750. Many people think it is the oldest house still standing in Roxbury. The park also has a beautiful landscaped area about 1 acre (0.4 hectares) in size. From here, you can see great views of the Boston skyline. This park is part of the larger Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston.
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Exploring the Park's History
Roxbury Heritage State Park is located in the John Eliot Square area. This was the very first town center when Roxbury was founded way back in 1630. The main building, the Dillaway-Thomas House, is built in a style called Georgian. It was first built in 1750 as a home for the local pastor, Reverend Oliver Peabody.
The Dillaway-Thomas House and the American Revolution
Later, the house was owned by Martha Dillaway. Then, it belonged to John Thomas, who was an important general in the Continental Army. This was the army that fought for America's freedom during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1776, while General Thomas lived in the house, something very important happened. Cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York were moved by Henry Knox. They traveled through Roxbury on their way to Cambridge, Massachusetts. These cannons were then used to build up defenses at Fortification of Dorchester Heights. This action helped force the British army to leave Boston on March 17, 1776.
Remembering the Knox Trail
In 2009, a special marker was placed at the park. It remembers Roxbury as a stop on the Knox Trail. This trail shows the path Henry Knox took with the cannons. The marker also highlights General Thomas's role in ending the Siege of Boston. This marker was the 57th one placed to remember the amazing journey known as the Knox Expedition. It was the first new marker added since the trail was first marked in 1927.
Bringing the House Back to Life
The Dillaway-Thomas House was first fixed up in the 1930s. After two fires in the 1970s, a former Roxbury resident who was a state representative worked hard to get money to restore the house. The goal was to save it as a heritage park.
The restoration work was done very carefully. Some parts of the house were left exposed. This allows visitors to see the different layers of work done over the years. It's like a physical timeline of the house's history! The finished house opened to the public in 1992. Inside, you can find exhibits that show the history of Roxbury from its earliest days to the present.
