3 Lesser-Known Ways to Experience History South of Boston

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Between Plymouth Rock, Battleship Cove and New Bedford’s Whaling Museum, the south of Boston region has quite a reputation when it comes to historic attractions.
And why not, after all? Those three sites are some of the best around, and they’re only the beginning.
Indeed, along with that trio, there are quite a few other nearby places where history aficionados can immerse themselves.
Here are three more activities and locations that often go a bit under the radar but are absolutely worth a visit.

Burial Hill, where several pilgrims are buried, was founded in the 1600s

Dead of Night Ghost Tours in Plymouth, MA
After hundreds of years, the pilgrims certainly aren’t around any more… or are they?! Dead of Night Ghost Tours explore Burial Hill, Plymouth’s oldest cemetery, with four different guided walks.

Spooky things are afoot in Plymouth

Steely-nerved visitors can pick from the scavenger hunt, daytime history tour, sunset cemetery tour or the famed twilight lantern ghost tour. Tickets run $13 for adults and $10 for children (12 and under). Buying in advance is strongly recommended because the daily tours often sell out, so call 508-866-5111 to reserve ahead of time.
Marine Museum in Fall River, MA
The Marine Museum at Fall River is just a quick walk from Battleship Cove, its more celebrate nautical neighbor. While it makes the most sense to combine visiting the two, the Marine Museum is well worth a trip in its own right.

Marine memorabilia on display in Fall River

Along with housing a 28-foot recreation of the RMS Titanic, the museum hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the year, ranging from clambakes to warship model exhibitions. Tickets run $8 for adults, with discounts for seniors, children and families available, and driving directions are listed here.
New Bedford Whaling Park in New Bedford, MA
Right next to the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which contains 750,000+ items from the whaling era, is the New Bedford Whaling Park, where visitors can get an excellent introduction to the city.
The best way to start is by watching The City that Lit the World, the park’s free orientation film.

Looking out over the waterfront from the New Bedford Whaling Park

Afterwards, there are exhibits and interactive kiosks, plus local maps and brochures, which both come in handy when embarking on more exploration.
On pleasant days, the park is also a great place for relaxing outdoors. Guided tours leave from the park, too, and those take place daily for much of the summer.
Interested in learning more about Massachusetts history? You can do exactly that here. And for more travel inspiration while you’re in the area, just click here.
Do you have a favorite historic location in Massachusetts? Let us know below in the comments!

TOPICS: Dead of Night Ghost Tours, Marine Museum in Fall River, New Bedford Whaling Park