Teach Your Kids a Bit of North of Boston History 

Spark your kids’ imaginations as they travel back in time and step into history at these fun, immersive spots.

The  Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site reconstructs Hammersmith, a 17th-century smelting operation on the banks of the Saugus River. Take a tour of the ironworks house and industrial site to see forges, mills, a reconstructed blast furnace, and active waterwheels—still mesmerizing marvels.

Lawrence’s history as an immigrant mosaic and industrial powerhouse shows in every brick of its antique mill buildings and planned grid of streets. Lawrence Heritage State Park brings the city’s storied past to life with interactive exhibits in the visitors center (a restored 1840s boarding house) and walks along the Merrimack River esplanade overlooking the water that powered the city’s textile mills.

Antique firetrucks, firefighting tools, and equipment are just a few of the treasures waiting for families at the  Haverhill Firefighting Museum. You and your offspring can learn how hydrants work and even dress up in uniforms and helmets in the hands-on Hero Headquarters.

From Yin Yu Tang, a centuries-old, astonishingly preserved house moved from China and reassembled in Salem, to the Ropes Mansion (and its free garden), which appeared in the movie Hocus Pocus, to the witchy-looking 1665 Samuel Pickman House, the  Peabody Essex Museum’s collection of historic houses is an architectural journey through ages and eras.

Sail the seven seas and hear true tales of the infamous pirate “Black Sam” Bellamy and his crew at  Real Pirates Salem. On display are genuine coins, cannons, and weapons from the Whydah, the only authenticated pirate shipwreck ever discovered.

Photos: Real Pirates Salem by NBCVB; Ropes Mansion Garden by Brittany DiCologero

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This blog is an excerpt from our digital guide “250 Ways to Explore, Discover, and Celebrate North of Boston”. To view the full guide, click here.