List of areas in the National Park System in Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
This list of areas in the National Park System in Massachusetts describes the regions and properties of the state of Massachusetts
in which the United States
National Park Service
(NPS) has an interest. Some of the sites are owned an operated by the NPS, while others, especially those covering significant geographic areas or involving multiple properties, may be only owned or operated in part by the NPS. In some cases, the NPS acts strictly in an advisory or coordinating capacity, and does not provide any services in the form of rangers, visitor centers, or maintenance that it normally provides for the properties it owns or operates.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in which the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS) has an interest. Some of the sites are owned an operated by the NPS, while others, especially those covering significant geographic areas or involving multiple properties, may be only owned or operated in part by the NPS. In some cases, the NPS acts strictly in an advisory or coordinating capacity, and does not provide any services in the form of rangers, visitor centers, or maintenance that it normally provides for the properties it owns or operates.
Name | Type | Location | Description | Date established | Notes |
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Adams | National Historic Park | Quincy Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council... |
Most properties owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Appalachian Trail | National Scenic Trail National Scenic Trail National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails... |
Berkshire County Berkshire County, Massachusetts Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield... |
Managed by NPS and other organizations. | ||
Blackstone River Valley Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Corridor dedicated to the history of the early American Industrial Revolution, including mill towns stretching across 24 cities and towns near the river's course in Worcester County, Massachusetts and... |
National Heritage Corridor | Worcester County Worcester County, Massachusetts -Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density... |
Extends into Providence County, Rhode Island Providence County, Rhode Island -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile... . Visitor Center operated by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; NPS operates in advisory capacity. |
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Boston African American Boston African American National Historic Site The Boston African American National Historic Site, in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts's Beacon Hill neighborhood, interprets 15 pre-Civil War structures relating to the history of Boston's 19th century African-American community, including the Museum of Afro-American History's African Meeting... |
National Historic Site | Boston | NPS acts in advisory role, and provides rangers. | ||
Boston Harbor Islands Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area situated among the islands of Boston Harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The area is made up of a collection of islands, together with a former island and a peninsula, many of which are open for public recreation and some... |
National Recreation Area National Recreation Area National Recreation Area is a designation for a protected area in the United States, often centered on large reservoirs and emphasizing water-based recreation for a large number of people. The first National Recreation Area was the Boulder Dam Recreation Area... |
Boston and other nearby communities | Most properties are state or private; NPS acts in advisory and coordinating role. | ||
Boston Boston National Historical Park The Boston National Historical Park is an association of sites that showcase Boston's role in the American Revolution. It was designated a national park on October 1, 1974... |
National Historic Park | Boston | Some properties owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Cape Cod Cape Cod National Seashore The Cape Cod National Seashore , created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, encompasses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion... |
National Seashore | Barnstable County Barnstable County, Massachusetts Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Essex | National Heritage Area National heritage area National heritage area is a region defined by a government as notable for cultural, historic, natural or recreation reasons. Compared to a national park, a national heritage area is not subject to the same level of zoning and regulations on land use. They are typically managed at a local... |
Essex County Essex County, Massachusetts -National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:... |
Some properties owned and operated by NPS. | ||
National Historic Site | Brookline Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | |||
Longfellow Longfellow National Historic Site The Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, also known as the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House and, until December 2010, Longfellow National Historic Site, is a historic site located at 105 Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For almost fifty years, it was the... |
National Historic Site | Cambridge Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Lowell Lowell National Historical Park Lowell National Historical Park is a National Historical Park of the United States located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Established in 1978 a few years after Lowell Heritage State Park, it is operated by the National Park Service and comprises a group of different sites in and around the city of... |
National Historic Park | Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Minute Man Minute Man National Historical Park Not to be confused with Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.Minute Man National Historical Park commemorates the opening battle in the American Revolutionary War. It also includes The Wayside, home in turn to three noted American authors... |
National Historic Park | Concord Concord, Massachusetts Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:... , Lincoln Lincoln, Massachusetts Lincoln is a town in the historic area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,362 at the 2010 census, including residents of Hanscom Air Force Base that live within town limits... , and Lexington Lexington, Massachusetts Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
New Bedford Whaling New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is maintained by the National Park Service. The park commemorates the heritage of the world's preeminent whaling port during the nineteenth century.Established in 1996, the... |
National Historic Park | New Bedford New Bedford, Massachusetts New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts... |
Most properties are not owned or operated by NPS. | ||
National Historic Site | Brookline Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | |||
Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor is located in northeastern Connecticut and portions of Massachusetts. It is an area known for its rural character with rolling hills, farmland and classic New England scenery. This area was designated because it is one of the... |
National Heritage Corridor | Worcester Worcester County, Massachusetts -Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density... and Hampden Hampden County, Massachusetts -Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile... Counties |
Extends into eastern Connecticut Connecticut Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately... . NPS acts in advisory role. |
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Salem Maritime Salem Maritime National Historic Site The Salem Maritime National Historic Site consists of 12 historic structures and about 9 acres of land along the waterfront in Salem, Massachusetts, plus a Visitor Center in downtown Salem... |
National Historic Site | Salem Salem, Massachusetts Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Saugus Iron Works Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site is a National Historic Site located about 10 miles northeast of Downtown Boston in Saugus, Massachusetts. It is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, 1646 – 1668... |
National Historic Site | Saugus Saugus, Massachusetts Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"... |
Property owned and operated by NPS. | ||
Springfield Armory | National Historic Site | Springfield Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern... |
Joint state-NPS administration. | ||
Westfield Creek | Wild and Scenic River | Berkshires The Berkshires The Berkshires , is a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut.Also referred to as the Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Mountains, and Berkshire Plateau, the region enjoys a vibrant tourism industry based on music, arts, and recreation.-Definition:The term... |
NPS acts in advisory role. |