Massachusetts Remembers American Roots

Thursday, March 1, 2001

Massachusetts Remembers American Roots (NAPSA)—With patriotism soaring in America, many people is a are looking for ways to explore the country’s roots. Few places make U.S. history come alive as vividly as the state of Massachusetts. In Plymouth, families can climb aboard the Mayflower II, a fullscale reproduction of the ship that crossed the Atlantic in 1620, and then visit Plimoth Plantation, a liv- ing history museum thatre-creates the village where the Pilgrims and native Americans held America’s first Thanksgiving. Trained interpreters in both Pilgrim and Wampanoag garb tend to gardens and fires as they share stories about life in the early 17* century. In Boston, visitors can relive the drama of the American Revolution by walking the famed Freedom Trail. The red brick trail leads to 16 historic sites, includ- ing Paul Revere’s house, Old North Church (where lanterns in the belfry signaled “one if by land, twoif by sea”), the USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned ship and Faneuil Hall, wherecolonists plotted the road to independence. At Minute Man National Historical Park in nearby Lexington and Concord, the Revolutionary War comes alive each Patriot’s Day in April with a reenactment of the famous sunrise battle at Lexington Green with its “shot heard round the world.” Yearround, visitors can explore more than 900 acres of historical landmarks along the Battle Road. Literary enthusiasts can wander through the homes of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott, which are also nearby. The American Industrial Revolution unfolds at the Lowell National Historic Park in Lowell with its brick mill buildings and rhythmic clatter of looms. Ex- hibits, guided tours of the old cotton mills and “mill girl” boardinghouses, barge trips through the canal and lock system and rides on an early 1900s trolley help visitors appreciate the rapid technological and social changes of the era. For those who want to experience what life was like in a rural New England settlement of the 1830s, Old Sturbridge Village is the place to go. The outdoor museum has more than 40 exhibits including gardens, mills, a working farm, country store, blacksmith shop, pottery and tin shop. Dozens of costumed staff members demonstrate the daily life, work and community celebrations of the village. For more information on these historical sites or to order your free Massachusetts Getaway Guide, call 800-447-MASSext. 300 or log on to www.massvacation.com.

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