During our last year of grad school, two of my friends and I used our weekends to our advantage. We explored Boston and the surrounding towns and states as often as possible. One nice day in winter we headed North to Saugus, to the National Historic Saugus Iron Works Site. The day we visited no workers were present, although the site was still open to walk around outside. With no workers are present, they have free pamphlets available to help guide you.

Visiting

When workers are present in May through October, they offer free guided tours of both the industrial site, and the home. The house has a limit of 8 people per tour. The 9 acre park includes forges, mills, and waterwheels used by traditional blacksmiths. Visit the museum, hike the trail, stop at the introductory movie, explore with an audio tour, visit the herb garden, or become a junior ranger for kids. We visited in winter, and areas of the site were roped off. I don’t know if these are always up during the winter months, or if it was because of renovations they had posted about conducting that winter specifically.

History

Started in the 1640’s, the practice from Europe was integral to the colonies forming and maintaining their settlement. The history of the location and mill runs through multiple groups of people: the Pawtucket people, Puritans, Scottish indentured servants, and the iron workers. In more recent years, archaeologists and preservationists have worked to learn more about the history and to preserve the items and buildings of the site. The Saugus Iron Works provides the perfect half day trip from Boston to learn some of Massachusett’s history.

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