Historic Sites

Massachusetts’ national parks run the gamut from wide-open spaces, such as the Cape Cod National Seashore, to urban parks that preserve the state’s – and the nation’s – rich historic past, such as the Freedom Trail – Boston National Historical Park.

Some, like the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, offer both windows into the past and recreational activities.

The Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord is where “the shot heard ’round the world” was fired. Springfield Armory National Historic Site houses a world-renowned firearms collection. The Lowell National Historical Park and the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor testify to the rise and fall of Massachusetts’ textile industry. The historic buildings and wharves of the Salem Maritime National Historical Site tell the stories of the sailors, Revolutionary War Privateers, and merchants who brought goods and riches to America.