People who swim in the winter at Walden Pond are a hardy bunch
Even in February, walkers at Walden Pond often see swimmers determined to do their own thing. It was in the 40s, sunny & the water was “very cold.”
Massachusetts is frequently listed as one of the top 10 states for tourism. Being a pivotal part of our nation’s founding and history, along with a rich cultural centers, this is not exactly news.
But destinations like Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, the New England Aquarium or Harvard Natural History Museum are on everyone’s list. These attractions will be on the front page of any tourist pamphlet or guidebook – and rightly so. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wealth of other lesser known, unusual or weird things to check out in the Bay State that can be just as interesting.
Here’s a list of 11 things to see and do in Massachusetts that you may not have heard of, from passing curiosities to hidden daytrip destinations.
Places to spend an afternoon in Massachusetts
Places where you can go to spend an afternoon:
- Dr. Suess Museum, Springfield – Theodor Geisel, or better known by his pen name, Dr. Suess, was born in Springfield in 1904. In the summer of 2017, the city of Springfield opened a museum dedicated to the famed children’s author and his quirky, colorful books. The museum discusses the writer’s connection to the city, especially during his childhood years along with of course, interactive exhibits for kids based around his various stories and characters. Nearby is the Dr. Suess sculpture garden, featuring his most famous characters and the author himself.
- Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester – A prolific inventor and personal friend of Thomas Edison, John Hayes Hammond Jr. was the quintessential wealthy eccentric. Some folks collect stamps, others collect…buildings? Hammond was known for picking any bits of buildings he liked while on his travels, which he would then put on display in his courtyard. The collection includes an ancient church archway of carved lava from Mt. Vesusvius. Oh, and someone’s house. With his love all things medieval, he built himself a literal castle in Gloucester – complete with drawbridge and secret passageways. Now a museum, visitors can explore his home, and the antiques and architecture he gathered from around the world.
- Whydah Pirate Museum, West Yarmouth – Named for the pirate ship of Captain Samuel Bellamy, this Cape Cod museum is home to the only authenticated pirate treasure on exhibit in the world. The loot, as well as about 200 other pirate artifacts, were collected in 1984 from the sunken wreck of the Whydah off the coast of Wellfleet, having been capsized in 1717 by one of Cape Cod’s famous nor’easters. This is currently the largest collection of pirate-related artifacts ever found on a single shipwreck.
Where you can go in MA for hidden history
For a state so steeped in history, it’s not surprising some things fell through the cracks. Here are few spots to stop by dedicated to historical factoids for the history buff and trivia lover in your traveling group.
4. Dinosaur footprints of Holyoke, Holyoke – This spot takes historic landmarks one step further into the realm of the prehistoric, dating back to the early Mesozoic era. Back then, the climate of this area was hot and semi-arid (think Arizona) rather than temperate like it is today. The valley here offered an important source of water to the animals, as well as ideal conditions to leave behind fossilized footprints. Now, it’s a seasonally open space, from April 1 to Nov. 30, free to the public, where you can literally follow in the footsteps of dinosaurs.
5. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord – Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the resting place of a number of Massachusetts’ most famous residents, such as Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathanial Hawthorne, many of whom can be found in the section of the cemetery known as Author’s Ridge. But there are more recent historical figures entombed here who often get overlooked – Anne Rainsford French, the first woman ever to get a driver’s license in the United States. French received a license to operate four wheeled gas or steam powered vehicles when she was 21 years old on March 22, 1900. Anyone interested in the history of women’s rights or even automobiles should pay their respects. Her headstone is located near the intersection of Vesper Circle and Division Avenue, next to a small bush.
6. Telephone marker, Boston – A rather unassuming historical marker near the corner of Cambridge and Sudbury Street, on the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Federal Building, honors an event that had massive ramifications not only for national history, but human history. Especially if you’re reading this story on your smart phone. On June 2, 1875, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson were managed to transmit sound over wires for the first time in history. This initial experiment in Boston set the stage for the modern telephone. And everything else it has become.
Slightly creepy spots to visit in MA
If you feel your sightseeing tour isn’t complete without a dash of the macabre, there’s more than Salem out there.
7. S.K. Pierce Mansion, Gardner – Built by a wealthy furniture factory owner, this Victorian mansion has seen more than its fair share of death and tragedy, which many think has seeped into the very foundations of the building, with various reports of ghostly voices and other paranormal activity. As recently as 2011, a couple fled the house, having moved in two years prior, reporting frightening paranormal experiences. As of 2015, it’s been restored to its original state and is open for guided tours. Visitors and guests (because yes, of course people will pay to spend the night in a haunted house) have reported voices, screams, moving furniture, slamming doors, foul odors, strange shadows, sudden temperature changes, and more.
8. Dungeon Rock, Lynn – Hidden pirate treasure, ghosts, seances? Sounds like the trifecta of spookiness. Dungeon Rock itself is a rock formation in Lynn Woods reservation, where in 1852, a man excavated a cave looking for pirate treasure supposedly guided by the ghost of the treasure’s original owner. The area got its name from the story of pirate Thomas Veale, who hid in a cave with his loot, until he was killed in an earthquake that filled in the cave. Originally known as Pirate’s Dungeon, it was eventually shortened to Dungeon Rock. Enter Hiram Marble, who upon hearing the story, moved there and began searching for the treasure. He held seances to receive digging directions from the ghost of Veale himself. He never found any treasure, ghostly guidance or no, but it’s still worth checking out.
Odd spots in MA that you should visit
Random, strange things – good for an Instagram or Tik-Tok post – or postcard.
9. Webster Lake, Webster – A fairly unremarkable, if pretty, lake, Webster Lake’s official name is Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. The lake has the honor of being the longest single-word place name in the country, and third in the world. Originally bearing the slightly shorter name of Chaubunagungamaugg, or “fishing place at the boundary” in the language of the indigenous people, it was a prime fishing spot. When settlers arrived, the name was expanded to its current version, which additionally described its status as a neutral fishing spot for both the settlers and the native people. If you’re wondering if anyone has tried to change the name in the intervening years – yes, in the 1950s. The town shut that down hard. Just about all standard lakeside recreation is available here, and if nothing else, you’ll make your conversation about the day at the lake slightly more interesting.
10. Museum of Bad Art, Boston – You’ve heard of New York’s MOMA, but what about Boston’s MOBA? The Museum of Bad Art is clearly predicated on the concept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – even if said beholders are quite rare. The collection of, shall we say, unique paintings, began in 1994 when the founder took a painting out of a trash heap. Currently can be found at the Dorchester Brewing Company.
11. Head of the Egopantis, Shirley – Apparently, Massachusetts has – or had – its own cryptid. The egopantis was large creature that supposedly terrorized the settlers of the area, before being shot and killed by a local soldier. Now, its head is on display at the Bull Run Restaurant. Whether or not you believe you’re looking at the head of a mythical creature, the Bull Run is certainly worth a visit. The tavern was originally built in 1740 and allegedly got its name from an argument and brawl that broke out among the patrons shortly after hearing news about the First Battle of Bull Run in Virginia during the American Civil War.
