History

Historic Ice House Tours

Tour Cape Pond Ice and chill with the coolest guys in town!

Chill with the coolest guys in town! Enjoy a cool visit to Cape Pond Ice Company, icing Gloucester's fleet since 1848. We were featured in Sebastian Junger's account of The Perfect Storm. Tours highlight the history of the ice industry, with vintage film of natural ice harvests. See first hand 300-pound block ice being made (up to 350 tons per day), fishing vessels taking on ice and ice sculptures being carved in our historic icehouse on Gloucester's working waterfront. Part of Trails & Sails

When: 
Saturdays, September 21 & 29, 2019 11am-Noon
Location: 

Medicine in Colonial Salem - Witch House

Learn about colonial medecine at the Witch House in Salem Massachusetts as part of Trails and Sails!

Join us at the Witch House and Pioneer Village for a look at medicinal curiosities from the 17th century. At the Corwin House (a.k.a. the Witch House) we will share an exhibit featuring some of the more startling remedies our New England settlers trusted such as “snail water” and “skull moss”. The exhibit will be included in admission and free to Trails and Sails attendees each day of the festival.

When: 
Saturdays and Sundays, September 21-29, 2019 10am-4:45pm
Location: 

Privateer Trail Walking Tour

Tour the Privateer Trails in Beverly MA as part of Trails & Sails!

Join Historic Beverly on a journey through Beverly to visit the homes and businesses of some of Beverly's most famous privateers, including the legendary Hugh Hill! We will also experience some beautiful waterfront views as our guides explain how these sites would have looked and been used. Walking tours offer insight into the hidden history of Beverly and introduce you to its key events and major figures. Rain or shine; in case of severe weather, check with us that day. Part of Trails & Sails!

When: 
Saturday, September 20, 2019 2-3:30pm
Location: 

USCG Tall Ship Eagle Comes to Salem!

USCG United States Coast Gaurd Cutter Barque Eagle comes to Salem Massachusetts!

The Coast Guard Barque EAGLE is making a port call in Salem, MA this August - arriving August 9 and staying through August 11!  The ship was built in 1936 in Germany, and commissioned as Horst Wessel, one of three sail training ships operated by the pre-World War II German navy. At the close of World War II, Horst Wessel was taken as a war reparation by the United States, recommissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and sailed to New London, Connecticut. Eagle provides an unparalleled at-sea leadership and professional development experience for future officers of the U.S. Coast Guard.

When: 
Friday, August 9, 2019 Noon-7pm
Saturday, August 10, 2019 10am-2pm
Sunday, August 11, 2019 10am-7pm

Salem's Essex Street Fair

Take advantage of the Massachusetts Tax Holiday at the Essex Street Fair Salem!

The Essex Street Fair is a two-day event held in downtown Salem and is part of the Slemn Heritage Festivities! Come visit the Essex Street Fair during Salem Heritage Days to see over 40 vendors, listen to some live music, and enjoy historic Salem. Vendor sales include jewelry, handmade crafts, art, food, and much more! The Essex Street Fair will be held along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and you can shop on Saturday & Sunday, August 11 & 12, from 10am-6pm. This event brings thousands of visitors, so you do not want to miss out!

When: 
Saturday, August 10, 2019 10am-6pm
Sunday, August 11, 2019 10am-6pm
Location: 

Battle for Newbury at Spencer-Peirce

Come see a historical demonstration of militia encampment and battle demonstrations at Spencer Pierce Little Farm.

Meet Revolutionary War soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Members of the Continental Line and His Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot will enact a battle to see what might have happened if the British had tried to recapture Boston by way of the Massachusetts North Shore. See colonial crafts and trades, mingle with reenactors, tour the camps, watch musket and cannon demonstrations, and take part in kids’ activities and games. Tour the 1690 manor house, the home of two of Newburyport’s Revolutionary War heroes! Sip an Ipswich Ale Brewery cask ale, a local beer brewed in the old style.

When: 
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11am-5pm
Sunday, June 9, 2019 11am-2pm

Morning Bird Walk

Enjoy a biring excursion on the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Join birding expert and former Crane Beach Ranger, Dave Williams, on a walk through the woodlands and fields of the Crane Estate to talk about birds. If you have never been birding before, Dave will teach you how to use binoculars to watch birds and pick out characteristics that will help you identify what species you see. If you’re a seasoned pro, bring your bird list and keep an eye out for spring migrants! If you’re not into birds (yet), come for a pleasant morning stroll. There’s something for everyone on this walk!

When: 
Saturday, May 25, 2019 9-11am

Home Sweet Home Open House Day

Join the Trustees of Reservations to Explore their historic houses during their FREE open house Home Sweet Home tours!

This year at Home Sweet Home we are celebrating the architects and craftspeople who designed and built our historic properties. From grand mansions to humble colonials to mid-century modern masterpieces, the historic houses of the Trustees all have a story to tell. Come experience all the unique history and rich architecture contained within each home at this FREE event.

When: 
Saturday, May 18, 2019 10AM-4PM

Movie Night - First Man

Movie Night at Manchester Public Library features 'First Man'.

The Library will be showing, First Man, the biographical drama based on Neil Armstrong’s journey to the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. During the 1960’s Space Race, NASA test pilot Neil Armstrong faces numerous challenges in his personal and professional life as he strives to prove that he is willing to risk everything to achieve one of the greatest accomplishments in human history: the first lunar landing. This movie stars Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy and Kyle Chandler.

When: 
 Friday, March 8, 2019 5:30

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Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum

Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

Saturday, December 13

The Nutcracker Panto

Come enjoy a Nutcracker Panto performed by Theater in the Open at the Firehouse Center for the Arts!
Theater in the Open is happy to be back at the Firehouse for our production of A Nutcracker Panto, written by Edward F. Speck and adapted from the classic holiday ballet. Presented in the traditional British panto style, this holiday send-up is a family friendly romp through Clara’s adventure with...
7:00 pm

Sunday, December 14

ECGA Mutt Strut

Hike Thompson Street Reservation in Gloucester Massachusetts with your dog and the ECGA!
An adventurous outing for you and your pup! Tompson Street has a little of everything: wooded trails, bridges across the swamp, rocky outcroppings…! The dogs and humans have a blast!
1:00 am to 3:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature

Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts
Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s event celebrating the beauty of the natural world. You’ll see birds, flowers, snowflakes, and more as you view 18 spaces decorated for the holidays.
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Santa's Workshop

Santa's Workshop in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Visit Newburyport MA during the holidays
Newburyport is a favorite local town to shop - especially during the holidays. Bring the family to Newburyport to visit Santa in his traditional workshop, share your wish list, and snap a photo with Mr. Claus!
11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
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