For American history buffs, Massachusetts is an ideal place to visit. You can explore sites that connect to the country’s earliest days. There are also natural preserves and parks with connections to historical events. If you’re near Springfield, check out this list of four historic sites in the area.
1. Hike, Fish, and Learn the History of Wells State Park
Only a 40-minute drive east on I-90 from Springfield, Wells State Park consists of 1,400 acres. Visitors who want to learn local history should plan to attend an interpretive program such as a guided walk or an evening campfire. One trail in the park leads you to Carpenter Rocks with their beautiful cliffs. The natural landmark was named to memorialize John Carpenter, a local man who built and ran a sawmill in the area. Hiking on the 10 miles of paths is a good way to enjoy your time at this park.
2. Experience the 1830s at Old Sturbridge Village
After visiting Wells State Park, hop in your Scion and drive five miles to visit Old Sturbridge Village. Spread across 200 acres is a museum and rural town recreated to capture the look and feel of the 1830s. Roam around the countryside area, mills section, and central village. Among the more than 40 buildings included in the village are restored structures that came from all over New England.
Daily activities provide a glimpse into life in early America. Watch demonstrations of muskets, the carding mill, milking, and broom making. A non-profit organization runs this attraction, which is dedicated to keeping a slice of American history alive.
3. See Where Early Settlers Lived at Mount Holyoke Range State Park
Covering 3,000 acres and rising more than 1,000 feet in elevation, Mount Holyoke Range State Park near Amherst is majestic. Take I-91 north from Springfield to head toward this park. Geologists believe the mountains formed millions of years ago when lava rose from the valley and was upended after it had cooled. The earliest settlers set up pastures on what is now parkland. Experience the same terrain, forests, and wildlife as the settlers by walking on the more than 30 miles of trails. You’ll see ponds, creeks, wetlands, and hardwood forests as you explore this park.
4. Visit Early American Sites in Boston
It’s worth driving an hour and a half to Boston on I-90 if you love history. Stop in the Old North Church, the site where Paul Revere famously arranged for the signal lanterns that warned the colonists that the British were arriving by sea in April, 1775.
If you want to retrace history, walk the 2.5-mile path from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. The starting point, Boston Common, is the oldest public park in America, having been established in 1634. The park features a manmade pond where you can ride the swan boats, a fixture since 1877. The Freedom Trail takes you to Bunker Hill, the site of the Revolutionary War’s first major battle. Though the British won this skirmish, it demonstrated the colonists’ ability to defend themselves.
When you’re ready to experience history, take a drive to any of these historical sites near Springfield, Massachusetts.
Image via Flickr by Doug Kerr under use of CC BY-SA 2.0
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