Located across from the United First Parish Church and backing up to the rail corridor, this…read morecemetery is named for Reverend John Hancock (1702-1844), father of Founding Father John Hancock. The cemetery began around 1640 and was the resting place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives, Abigail Adams and Louisa Adams (respectively), before they were moved to the crypt in the United First Parish Church. Filled with history here, you can easily spend an hour trying to read the headstones and cemetery art. It is nicely shaded and smooth for walking in most places. Note that gravestone rubbings are absolutely prohibited. Other than Arlington National Cemetery https://www.yelp.com/biz/arlington-national-cemetery-arlington?hrid=AslXgcnaNno_sZxKqLGTzg, the only cemetery I've been to that had more Presidents was Hollywood Cemetery https://www.yelp.com/biz/hollywood-cemetery-richmond?hrid=DmRX1aBYFy6Qyfy3JB06Sg in Richmond Virginia that had three. Hollywood is the final resting place of James Monroe (5th POTUS) and John Tyler (10th PUTUS), plus Jefferson Davis (President of the CSA). [Review 15219 overall, 721 of 2021, number 1082 in Massachusetts.]

If you are a history buff you will love this cemetary! It's beautiful in the spring and summer…read moremonths when the trees are in bloom. In the fall it kind of gives you that "sleepy hollow" effect. I did a photo shoot at this cemetary and enjoyed the beauty of this place. Hancock Cemetery is a historic cemetery on Hancock Street in Quincy Square, it's across the street from United First Parish Church. FUN FACTs: 1. Hancock Cemetary is named after Reverend John Hancock (1702-1744), father of Founding Father John Hancock. Pretty rad huh? 2. This cemetary was the resting place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives, Abigail Adams and Louisa Adams, before they were moved to the crypt in the United First Parish Church. 3. Some of the graves date back to the mid 1600's! Damn... that's a long time ago, can you imagine what America was like then? Diffinitely worth checking out if you are in the city of Quincy.

On September 27, 2025 10-4pm will be HERITAGE DAY at DOROTHY QUINCY HOMESTEAD!…read moreCome visit and enjoy the Historic Grounds and Home and take in all the City of Quincy's History has to offer while Quincy continues to Celebrate its 400 BIRTHDAY! Tours and more for the Public. It will have over 30 Historic Tours Activities and Programs at Quincy's Historic Sites plus a US Navy Heavy Cruiser..... all FREE TO US! Not only it will be Free but Complimentary Buses will be available throughout the day in THE CITY OF PRESIDENTS! I will be sure to attend and hope all my friends can join me on this once in a life time day in celebration of QUINCY 400! At this location THIS NATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK had a significant role in American History, Five generations of Quincy's leading families call this location home. This location is Open from May to September! I'm proud to Be able to appreciate the history Quincy has to offer the World and educate all of us! EASY TO LOCATE: HANCOCK STREET and BUTLER STREET near Furnace Brook Parkway and right down the street from MBTA QUINCY Center Station! Short walk from Quincy Center! A great walking tour if you so choose! See all the what Quincy has to Offer ! ** Hope to see you there and come by and say "Hi" if you see me walking around!

Located next to the old Central Middle School, the Dorothy Quincy homestead talks about the life of…read moreJohn Hancock's wife. The tour guide is very knowledgeable and the first floor has undergone extensive renovations. There is a bathroom for customer use and a gift shop on the first floor.

What makes me sad is we have historical landmarks, monuments, and major historical sites, but they…read moreare just... 'there.' They are not important. This monument is on a side street next to a canal, and the area is covered with litter. Of course this is a granite square pillar, with a bronze plate to commemorate a stand-off between British regulars and continental militia. Colonel Leslie eventually stood down and marched back to Marblehead. This stand-off occured 2 months before "The shot heard round the world" at the Old North Bridge of Concord, which was the start of the Revolution. In the grand scheme this was a minor event, but this was part of the broiling tensions between England and her colonies. There was a restaurant named after this site, even that has closed and other than a sign on front, the memory fades and is only recounted by those who know, ones who care to remember. This and other historically significant details are overshadowed by the Salem Witch Trials, which is what the city capitalizes on for tourism.

This six foot tall marker stands near a small traffic circle not far from the Minute Man National…read morePark on the road that leads to the Concord Battlefield Visitors Center. It is a relief statue of a Colonial in full colonial uniform with tricorner hat and boots standing with his musket. The marker reads, "Major John Buttrock from this his farm led the Provincial Minute Men and Militia down to win the bridge held by the British Forces. April 19, 1775. George Edward Messer by his will provided this memorial erected by the town." Online, there is more information. "John Buttrick was second in command of the Concord Militia when they encountered the British forces on April 19, 1775 during the battle at the North Bridge. John Buttrick was one of the first to arrive at Concord Green. He was then chosen by Col. Barrett to be his ground commander, which put him in the forefront of the battle at the North Bridge. At the North Bridge, several warning shots were fired by the British Regulars followed by a volley which killed Captain Isaac Davis and Militiaman Abner Hosmer. Whereupon, John Buttrick is credited with shouting the historic command "Fire fellow soldiers, for God's sake, fire!"" [Review 15241 overall, 743 of 2021, number 1101 in Massachusetts.]

"Built a fort out of sheets I finally found you…read moreMy missing puzzle piece I'm complete" (Katy Perry) Overlooking Marblehead Harbor, this coastal fort dates way back to 1644, and was one of the oldest English sites of seaside defenses in North America. It came under American control during the Revolution, was rebuilt in the early 1800's when a battery of big guns were added to defend the harbor from enemy attacks. It served an important defensive role in the War of 1812, transitioned into a town park in 1892, and even returned to military duty during the Spanish American War in 1898. Today, it's a public park and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. The park offers you stunning views of the harbor and the hundreds of boats crossing the waters. The Fort Sewall grounds are loaded with historical sights - maps and markers and plaques and remnants of the old fort including underground prison cells are everywhere. Some of those big guns that defended the harbor from enemy attack are still there, others are gone but there are ghostly markers on the stone walkway showing where they once proudly stood. It's a glorious place to walk around, enjoy the scenery and imagine those big guns blasting away to defend the harbor two centuries ago.

Nice little historic park. You will need to find parking down the street with a short walk up a…read moresmall hill. The park is well maintained with a path that wraps around the fort. Beautiful views and the fort has been maintained with replica living quarters.

ARCHIVAL CENTER Town Hall, Lower Level…read more71 Mount Vernon Street Winchester, MA 01887 781-721-7146 archives@winchester.us Office Hours: First Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m. Second Thursday, 1-3 p.m. Third Thursday, 3-5 p.m. MISSION: The Archival Center collects and preserves materials that document all aspects of Winchester history and the lives of its residents; assists research into Winchester history by facilitating public access to the information contained within the collection; provides historical information to other municipal departments and town officials; and collaborates with the Public Library, Town Clerk, Historical Society, and Historical Commission in promoting community awareness and participation in documenting local history. COLLECTIONS: The collections include primary and secondary documents (manuscripts, typescripts, print materials, photographs, maps, research reports, artworks, misc. newspapers, published histories, oral histories) on such subjects as town government, schools, waterways, public events, biography and family history, architecture, military service, churches, clubs and organizations, industry and business, and more. The Archival Center also has records of the Winchester Historical Commission. DONATIONS: Gifts of materials relating to local history are gladly received, as are electronic copies of scanned photos or documents. Loans of materials for the Center to make copies are also welcome. ACCESS: All visitors must be supervised by one of the part-time volunteers who staff the Archival Center. Patrons who cannot visit the Archival Center during its open hours may request individual appointments by phone or e-mail. Such appointments are made by individual volunteers at their discretion. No original materials are allowed out on loan. However, patrons may usually order copies RESEARCH ASSISTANCE: Mail requests for research assistance are welcome but will be evaluated for possible costs and time constraints. Volunteers will answer mail, phone, and e-mail requests for research assistance that require no more than twenty minutes. Fees for copies may apply. Allow two weeks for a reply. For in-depth research, patrons will be referred to a local researcher with whom independent arrangements may be made. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Would you have old photos of my house? The Center has files on homes built before 1917, all of which have at least one photo from the 1970s. There may be other photos as well. Please provide an address and we can check. For copying photos, please see the forms and fees page(s) I'm looking for architectural plans of my house. Do you keep them? We have only a few. We do accept them into the collection. I'm doing genealogy. Do you have vital records or other family information? The Town Clerk's office keeps all vital records, which date from 1850 when the town was incorporated. The Archival Center has some family files and a variety of resources for researching family history. The Winchester Public Library has local newspapers on microfilm that are partially indexed and some published genealogies in its Local History Room which may also be consulted. My house or a house I'm interested in buying is considered historic. Are there restrictions on it? All questions regarding historic homes or districts should be directed to the Winchester Historical Commission. FEE SCHEDULE Photocopies .20 Scanned image (non-profit) $5.00 Scanned image (commercial, for-profit) $50.00 Sending scanned image by e-mail or burning to CD supplied by patron no charge Color or B&W print on photographic paper 8.5x11 4x6 or 5x7 $5.00 $2.00 CD supplied by the Archives $3.00 Photographic print from a negative 5x7 8x10 $5.00 $10.00 Photographic print from an original [if service is available] 5x7 8x10 $10.00 $15.00 Postage and handling $3.00 Fees are waived for - Winchester municipal departments and schools - one-time use in local newspapers (except materials costs) - Winchester Historical Society non-profit uses (except materials costs) Fees (except materials costs) may be waived for - one-time, non-profit or education use, as approved. - patrons with their own photographic equipment, if used on site and if approved for non-profit purposes In return for waiving fees, a copy of the publication must be lodged with the Archives. Whether a fee is required or not, the applicant must complete and sign a reproduction agreement form before copies are made, unless the image is a public record.

Despite where Yelp wants to put the marker, this one is located just east of US-1 on Walnut Street…read moreon the left. The marker is quite rusted and corroded but is still readable. The marker reads, "Adam Hawkes, the first white settler in Saugus, built on this site about 1630. President John Adams was his great-grandson." It was erected in 1930 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission. Hawkes departed England in 1630 aboard the John Winthrop-commanded Winthrop Fleet. Hawkes initially made Charlestown in the Massachusetts Bay Colony his home after arriving in America. He was a husbandman in Charlestown and held the positions of Cow Commissioner and Surveyor. Hawkes traveled to the Lynn (now Saugus) wilderness in 1635 after getting married and selling his Charlestown home to farm. The Hawkes family were the region's first recorded settlers. Hawkes died on March 13 1672 here in Saugus. [Review 18606 overall - 1187 in Massachusetts - 2128 of 2022.]

Nice little stop along the Freedom Trail to honor those who've lost their lives. The hanging dog…read moretags is quite a site to see. Small but worth the few minutes to look through everything.

I always find myself getting choked up every time I pass by the memorial garden. It's right behind…read morethe old north church, so definitely go and look at it if you're in the area.