Old Burial Hill - Orne Street at Pond Street.
Early gravestones and view Marblehead from on high. www.OldBurialHill.com No rubbings allowed without permit.
Old North Church - 41 Washington Street.
Founded 1635, original meeting house was on Old Burial Hill. Current edifice built 1824. (A second building 1695-1824 was on today’s Franklin St.)
Fort Sewall - End of Front Street; short walk.
Originally defensive earthworks against attack by sea. Improved in 1742 into larger fortifications. Barracks to house the garrison and underground quarters added 1800’s and still to be seen. In 1814, under the protection of the Fort’s guns, the Frigate Constitution, fleeing from two British men o’war ships, sought shelter in the harbor. Today, this quiet relaxing park offers a magnificent view of the harbor.
Crocker Park - Off Front Street.
This public park offers a panoramic view of Marblehead Harbor. The park also has summer concerts, benches and restrooms.
Chandler Hovey Park - On Marblehead Neck, home of Marblehead Light. A great place for watching sailboat races and enjoying picnics.
Devereux Beach - Off Ocean Avenue. Town’s most popular beach,even before European settlement in 1629. Site of largest Indian encampment in town. Today, staffed by lifeguards in summer.
Castle Rock - Off Ocean Avenue on Marblehead Neck. Showcases beautiful rocky shore.
King Hooper Mansion - 8 Hooper Street.
c. 1728; front after 1745. Free. Tues.-Saturday, 11-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. Home of the Marblehead Arts Association. Historic house, monthly art exhibits, classes, concerts, lectures and gift shop with members’ work for sale. www.marbleheadarts.org
J.O.J. Frost folk art gallery - 170 Washington Street.
Free. Tues.-Sat. 10-4, closed most weekends Nov. - May.
Home of the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society. View delightful folk art created in the 1920s by local artist John Orne Johnson Frost (1852-1928). www.marbleheadmuseum.org
Col. Jeremiah Lee Mansion - 161 Washington Street.
Built 1766-1768. Open June 1 to Oct. 31. Tues - Sat. 10 am - 4 pm.
This mansion is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in America. It features opulent interiors with elaborate woodwork, magnificent original 1760’s hand-painted wallpaper and period furnishings. www.marbleheadmuseum.org/leemansion
Old Town House - Market Square; intersection of Washington, Mugford & State Streets.
circa 1727. Predates Boston’s Faneuil Hall and is known as Marblehead’s “Cradle of Liberty”
Abbot Hall - Washington Square, at top of hill.
Built 1876. Seat of Marblehead’s town government. Home of one of the country’s most famous paintings, THE SPIRIT OF ‘76 by Archibald Willard. Many artifacts of the town’s history are on display, including the original deed to Marblehead, dated 1684 and signed by descendants of Chief Nanepashemet. The deed is actually signed by his squaw (the squaw sachem), acting as sachem in his absence.
Marblehead History & Tours
Tours by appointment or by chance. 781-631-1762
MarbleheadTours@aol.com