17th Century Saturdays on the North Shore

Essex county is home to an extraordinary collection of homes, buildings and artifacts from America's First Period (1625-1725) of European settlement. Explore these architectural treasures and discover what is was like to live in Essex County during America's first century.

Various properties are open to the public on the first Saturday of each month, June - October, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

The North of Boston region has more historic houses and structures built during America’s “First Period” of architecture (1625-1725) than any other region in the U.S. Easily recognized by such features as a steeply-pitched roof line, prominent central chimney and asymmetrical casement windows, First Period homes were built by early settlers who made their way north to expand the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Nearly 200 examples of these architecturally significant treasures, many of which are still privately owned, exist in Essex County.

17th Century Saturdays will highlight 29 of these buildings.

Amesbury
Macy-Colby House, c. 1654
257 Main Street
978-388-1500
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Beverly
The Balch House, c. 1636
448 Cabot Street
978-922-1186
beverlyhistory.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

The Hale Farm, c. 1694
39 Hale Street
978-922-1186
beverlyhistory.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Danvers
Judge Samuel Holten House, c. 1670
171 Holten Street
generalisraelputnamchapter.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Gloucester
Cape Ann Museum - The White-Ellery House, c. 1710
245 Washington Street
978-283-0455
capeannmuseum.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Haverhill
John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace, c. 1688
305 Whittier Road
978-373-3979
johngreenleafwhittier.com
June, July, August, Sept

Ipswich
Paine House at Greenwood Farm, c. 1694
Jeffrey's Neck Road
978-356-4351
thetrustees.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Whipple House, c. 1677
1 South Village Green
978-356-2811
ipswichmuseum.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Marblehead
17th Century Walking Tour 1629-1720
Beacon Street at Norman Street
781-631-1762
marbleheadtours.com
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
June, July, Sept, Oct

Newbury
Coffin House, c. 1678
14 High Road
978-462-2634
historicnewengland.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Dole-Little House, c. 1715
289 High Road
978-462-2634
historicnewengland.org
June, Oct

Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, c. 1690
5 Little's Lane
978-462-2634
historicnewengland.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Swett-Ilsley House, c. 1670
4 High Road
978-462-2634
historicnewengland.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Newburyport
Old South Church, c. 1756
29 Federal Street
978-465-9666
oldsouthnbpt.org
June

North Andover
North Andover Historical Society - Parson Barnard House, c. 1715
179 Osgood Street
978-686-4035
northandoverhistoricalsociety.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Peabody
Nathaniel Felton Jr. House, c. 1700
43 Felton Street
978-977-0514
peabodyhistorical.org
tours at 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - August & September

Salem
Gedney House, c. 1692
21 High Street
978-744-0440
historicnewengland.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

The House of Seven Gables, c. 1668
115 Derby Street
978-744-0991
7gables.org
June, July, August, Sept

Narbonne House, c. 1675
71 Essex Street
978-740-1652
nps.gov/sama
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street/East India Square
978-745-9500
pem.org
A Point in Time - June, 1 p.m. only
John Ward House, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., tours at 11:30 a.m.

Salem in 1630 (Pioneer Village)
Forest River Park
salempreservation.org
July, August, Sept

The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House)
310 Essex Street
978-744-8815
corwinhouse.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Saugus
Boardman House, c. 1692
17 Howard Street
978-768-3632
historicnewengland.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Saugus Iron Works, c. 1646
244 Central Street
781-233-0050
nps.gov/sair
June, July, August, Sept, Oct

Wenham
Claflin-Richards House (Wenham Museum), c. 1660
132 Main Street
978-468-2377 ext. 105
wenhammuseum.org
June, July, August, Sept, Oct