History

CraneExplorer: Navigate the Estate

Come to the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees for a scavenger hunt that doubles as an orienteering workshop.

Join this Castle Hill education program and scavenger hunt to learn compass, map reading, and orienteering skills, and use these skills to solve challenges around the Castle Hill trails and grounds. Learn about the habitats, history, and culture of the estate while collecting clues to solve our explorer’s challenge! This program involves walking 1-2 miles over grass, gravel trails, and sand with moderate elevation gain.

When: 
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10am-Noon

CraneExplorer: Cold Weather Feathers

Come explore the world of our resident winter birds here at Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

Join The Trustees of Reservations to explore the world of our resident winter birds here at Crane—beyond the Snowy Owl! Bring your binoculars (or borrow ours!) and join us in searching the water for Loons, Long-Tail ducks, Eiders, Scoters, Mergansers, and more! In the trees and sky, we might spot birds of prey, including owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles, alongside hardy songbirds and woodpeckers. A variety of shorebirds round out the viewing possibilities!

When: 
Thursday, March 24, 2024 10am-Noon

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.

Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S. enhanced defenses with coastal patrols and built a network of watch towers at ocean edges. One tower, completed in 1944, now serves as Halibut Point State Park’s newly renovated Visitor Center! We’ll provide a guided “tower tour/talk” about Halibut’s military history and the then cutting-edge technology.

When: 
Sundays, January 7-March 10, 2024 11am-Noon

February Vacation Week at CAM

Come explore the Cape Ann Museum with your family during February Vacation in Gloucester, Massachusetts!

Put on your winter coat and visit the Cape Ann Museum during February School Vacation Week! The Museum will be free for school-age children, 18 and under, and their guardians from Tuesday, February 20 – Thursday, February 22. On Friday, February 23 the Museum will have free admission for all visitors thanks to generous support from the Highland Street Foundation’s Winter Camp Initiative.

When: 
Tuesday, February 20 - Friday, February 23, 2024 10am-5pm
Location: 

Salem's So Sweet at The Gables

Come to the House of Seven Gables to celebrate Salem's So Sweet and Valentine's Day! Massachusetts

House of Seven Gables celebrates Salem's So Sweet and Valentine's Day with a day of festive events including Ice Sculpture Viewing, a scavenger hunt, Family Valentine Crafts and more! This wonderful, fun family event is co-sponsored by The House of the Seven Gables and the City of Salem’s Park, Recreation and Community Services Department. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Our Valentine event will include:

When: 
Saturday, February 10, 2024 1-3pm

CraneExplorer: Keeping a Nature Journal

Families are invited to a nature journaling workshop Castle Hill grounds in Ipswich Massachusetts

Calling all budding naturalists! Take inspiration from the beautiful landscape at Crane Estates and join us for a special session of creativity and observation. Families will create nature journals using a book-binding technique demonstrated by our coastal educators. Afterwards, participants will hike to inspiring parts of the estate where they can draw and document observations in their newly created journals. Our coastal educators will lead everyone through observational exercises and offer guidance as you make your first journal entry.

When: 
Saturday, November 11, 2023 1-3pm

Twilight Tours at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead

Not so scary twilight tours at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers Massachusetts!

Come to Rebecca Nurse Homestead for an evening learning about 17th century Puritan beliefs in the supernatural including: Spirts, Specters, and Magical Thinking. These are the only evening tours that we do of the Homestead, they will be offered only on select weekend nights this October.

When: 
Friday October 13, 2023 5:15-6:30pm
Saturdays, October 14 & 21, 2023 5:15-6:30pm

Pages

Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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

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

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Santa at the Phillips House

Join Santa for some traditional holiday fun at the Phillips House in Salem Massachusetts
Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Phillips House! Take a photo with Santa and see the elegant Chestnut Street mansion aglow with holiday cheer. Before or after meeting Santa, join us for stories with Mrs. Claus, cookies, cider, and a drop-in Christmas craft workshop, where you can make festive...
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Gingerbread Contest at Wenham Museum

Wenham Museum Gingerbread Contest is free to enter and open to all!
Everyone's invited to enter Wenham Museum’s gingerbread contest! Individuals, families, groups, teams–all are encouraged to create a Gingerbread House for this friendly community competition.
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Community Game Night at MPL

Enjoy a board game with your family and neighbors at the public library in Manchester Massachusetts.
Do you know that the library has lots of games in our new board game collection? Come on by with your game face on! Drop In. All ages welcome! Snacks provided.  
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Saturday, December 28

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

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

A Colorful Christmas at Castle Hill

A Colorful Christmas by the Sea 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 Travels with the Cranes. Each room in our 1920s mansion is decorated for the holidays drawing inspiration from Crane travels around the world, including Paris, Japan, Egypt, and New York.
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

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Family Snowy Owl Prowl

Join the Trustees of Reservations at the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts in search of the Snowy Owl!
Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Trustees Winterlights at Stevens Coolidge Place

The Trustees of Reservations Winterlights at the Stevents-Coolidge Place North Andover North Andover.
Winterlights is back! Join the Trustees for a magical outdoor experience at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, and see the gardens aglow with your favorite light installations as well as marveling at new components. Bring the whole family for a fun and safe outdoor experience. Winterlights runs...
4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Sunday, December 29

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

Tower School Tower Tots

Tower School Tower Tots: PARENT & TODDLER WORKSHOPS Marblehead Massachusetts
Our free Parent and Toddler Workshops are teacher-led, interactive, fun and open to everyone! Each workshop has its own unique theme—incorporating music, art, read-aloud stories and sensory explorations—selected to delight children aged 2–4.
9:00 am to 10:00 am
Subscribe to History