No matter what time of year you plan to travel to New England, you are in for a treat! The charming towns and beautiful buildings and public spaces will make you want to extend your trip.
Of course, New England has an incredible wealth of history that is worth exploring during your visit. Learn more about the first pilgrims aboard the Mayflower and about the Native Americans that they interacted with. See where the Boston Tea Party took place and experience what day to day life was like in New England. Here are eight fantastic historical sites in New England that are worth a visit during your next trip:
Historical Sites in New England Worth Traveling For
1. Freedom Trail - Boston, Massachusetts
Beginning at the Boston Common, this 2.5-mile walking trail will take you to 16 individual historic sites in the city! Take a tour from a guide in full colonial costume, and see where the American Revolution was planned and then fought. Just a few of the historic places you’ll see are the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old State House, and the Bunker Hill Monument.
2. Institute for American Indian Studies - Washington, Connecticut
See a traditional indoor longhouse and hundreds of Native American artifacts at the Institute for American Indian Studies. There is even a replica of a 17th-century Algonkian village and a simulated archaeological site so you can learn more about how Native Americans lived before, during, and after European colonization, as well as how archaeologists discovered this information.
3. Plimoth Plantation - Plymouth, Massachusetts
Find out what it was like to live in the 17th century when you visit Plimoth Plantation. Step aboard the Mayflower II, a tall ship reproduction of the Mayflower that brought the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620, and learn more about the Wampanoag, the first people of the area.
4. Benefit Street - Providence, Rhode Island
Witness the long tradition of New England architecture along Benefit Street, which is located on the East side of Providence. See Victorian, Greek Revival, Colonial and Federal-style houses that have been restored and well-preserved. You can take a self-guided tour along the street or participate in a walking tour during the summer.
5. John Paul Jones House - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Known as the father of American’s navy during the Revolution, John Paul Jones lived on Middle Street in Portsmouth, and his home has been beautifully preserved for visitors to see. Unlike many other prominent figures in early American history, John Paul Jones was a tenant in this house - he didn’t own the whole thing!
6. Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington, Vermont
This monument was built just over 100 years after the Battle of Bennington occurred in the Revolutionary War. In 1777, a battle erupted between Revolutionary American and British troops in order to gain access to a greatly-needed supply of food that the Revolutionaries held. The monument is a stone obelisk and visitors can take an elevator to an observation area on the top to see spectacular views.
7. Old Fort Western - Augusta, Maine
In 1754, Old Fort Western was built on the waterfront of the Kennebec River to serve as a supply point for James Howard’s Company from Boston. This fort represents the conflict between different colonial cultures that existed in New England during that time, and Benedict Arnold used the fort to stage his attack on Quebec in the American Revolution. When you visit, bring a picnic and sit by the river to really enjoy being the presence of this historic area!
8. Stonington Borough, Stonington, Connecticut
This charming seaside village in Connecticut has several well-preserved Colonial-era houses and churches. Walk along the main street and visit the restaurants and shops while learning more about life in a seaside colony, and visit the house of Captain Nathaniel Palmer, the man who discovered Antarctica in 1820.
There are many more historic sites from the Revolutionary War throughout New England, as well as historic houses and estates. Wherever you go on your next trip to New England, you will be steeped in early American history!
This article was written by Cathy Trainor.