Welcome to Massachusetts

Salem Witch Trials

Thanksgiving and Plymouth

Destination Massachusetts

Unity in the Community

Mass NAROPI

Some interesting facts about our home…

Massachusetts was the 6th state in the USA; it became a state on February 6, 1788.
State Abbreviation - MA
State Capital - Boston
Largest City - Boston
Area - 10,555 square miles [Massachusetts is the 44th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 6,349,097 (as of 2000) [Massachusetts is the 13th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - Massachusettsans
Major Industries - textiles, electronics, publishing, education, tourism, fishing

Our State Flag
Massachusetts' official flag was adopted in 1971
(before 1971, the Massachusetts flag had a design on both sides of the flag; the design on the back was omitted).
Massachusetts' flag depicts a Native American carrying a bow and arrow on a blue shield (all on a white background). A white star on the shield represents Massachusetts, one of the original 13 states. The state motto (in Latin and written in yellow on a blue ribbon) reads "ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE QUIETEM," meaning "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."

Above the shield is a arm wielding a sword (demonstrating the state motto).

John Adams (1735 - 1826) America's first vice-president and 2nd president. He also helped write a draft of the Declaration of Independance before it was rewritten by Thomas Jefferson; Great founding father. Born in Braintree, Norfolk, MA (248)
John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848) The 6th President of the United States and son of John Adams. He was also a diplomat and politician. Born in Braintree, MA (249)
Samuel Adams (1722 - 1803) Revolutionist that organized the Boston Tea Party, referred to as the "Father of the American Revolution". Born in Boston, MA (250)
Susan B. Anthony (1820 - 1906) American Civil Rights leader and prominent figure in the Women's Rights Movement in the 19th century. Born in Adams, MA (251)
Johnny Appleseed (1774 - 1845) Born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Born in Leominster, MA (1315)
John Ashton (1948 - ) Is an American actor born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theatre. Born in Springfield, MA (901)
Clara Barton (1821 - 1912) Founded the American Red Cross, with headquarters located in a home in Glen Echo. Born in North Oxford, MA (234)
Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990) First American conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and famous for composing the music to West Side Story. Born in Lawrence, MA (253)
George Bush (1924 - ) The 43rd vice-president and the 41st president fo the United States; He is currently the oldest living U.S. president. Born in Milton, MA (254)
Susan Butcher (1954 - 2006) Was an American dog musher, noteworthy as the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986, the second four-time winner in 1990, and the first to win four out of five sequential years. She is commemorated in Alaska by the Susan Butcher Day. Born in Boston, MA(19)
Bette Davis (1908 - 1989) Actress that earned ten Academy Award nominations and won twice, famous for The Little Foxes and All About Eve. Born in Lowell, MA (255)
Cecil Blount DeMille (1881 - 1959) Was a legendary American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies. Among some of his most well-known films are The Ten Commandments (1956), Cleopatra (1934), and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Born in Ashfield, MA (1096)
Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886) Famous poet of American literature during the 19th century. Born in Amherst, MA (261)
James Drummond Dole (1877 - 1958) Also known as the "Pineapple King'", was a United States industrialist who developed the pineapple industry in Hawaii and established the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. Hawaiian Pineapple Company, or HAPCO, was later reorganized to become the Dole Food Company, which now does business in over 90 countries. Born in Jamaica Plain, MA (1433)
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) Inventor, statesman, and publisher that helped write the Declaration of Independence. He also played a major role in the history of Physics with his theories and discoveries about electricity. Born in Boston, MA (256)
Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904 - 1991) Author who created the Dr. Seuss books; Some of his books include How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Cat in the Hat, and Green Eggs and Ham. Born in Springfield, MA (258)
John Hancock (2000 - 1793) Merchant, statesman, first signer of the Declaration of Independence, and first governor of the state of Massachusetts. Born in Quincy, MA (262)
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864) Well-known author who was considered significant with his stories of America's colonial history. He is most famous for writing his novel The Scarlet Letter. Born in Salem, MA (257)
Anson Jones (1798 - 1858) Was a doctor, businessman, congressman, the fourth and last President of Republic of Texas, sometimes called the "Architect of Annexation." Born in Barrington, MA (1201)
John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) The 35th President of the United States until he was assassinated in 1963. Born in Brookline, MA (259)
Horace Mann (1796 - 1859) The father of public education; helped to establish the nation's first board of education and was a leading figure in promoting nonreligious public education. Born in Franklin, MA(260)
Rocky Marciano (1923 - 1969) He was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano. During his career, Marciano held the heavyweight boxing title for four years in the 1950s, and he is the only boxing champion to ever retire undefeated. Born in Brockton, MA (842)
Christa McAuliffe (1948 - 1986) Teacher that died in the space shuttle Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986; taught in Concord. Born in Framingham, MA (363)
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) Famous author and poet. Some of his well-known works include "The Raven", "The Bells", "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Born in Boston, MA (239)
Paul Revere (1734 - 1818) Silversmith and patriot who became a well-known messenger in the battles of Lexington and Concord. Born in Boston, MA (264)
Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) Essayist, naturalist, and philosopher; Best known for his works "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience". Born in Concord, MA (263)
Francis E. Warren (1844 - 1929) U.S. Politician of the Republican Pary who was the first Wyoming state governor. Born in Hinsdale, MA (664)

Major Rivers - Charles River, Connecticut River, Merrimack River
Major Lake - Quabbin Reservoir
Highest Point - Mt. Greylock - 3,491 feet (1,064 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 14
Bordering States - Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Bordering Body of Water - Atlantic Ocean

Origin of the Name Massachusetts - Massachusetts was named for an Algonquian Indian word that means "a big hill place."
State Nickname - Bay State
State Motto - "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" - (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
State Song - All Hail to Massachusetts

Dinosaur Fossils Found in Massachusetts - Anchisaurus, Podokesaurus, Theropod (meat-eater) footprints
State bird: Black-Capped Chickadee
State game bird: Wild Turkey
State dog: Boston Terrier
State horse: Morgan Horse
State cat: Tabby
State fish: Cod
State bug: Ladybug
State shell: New England Neptune
State marine mammal: Right Whale
State flower: Mayflower (also called the ground laurel or trailing arbutus)
State tree: American Elm
State bean: Navy Bean
State beverage: Cranberry Juice
State muffin: Corn
State cookie: Chocolate Chip
State dessert: Boston Cream Pie
State folk hero: Johnny Appleseed
State dance: Square Dance
State building rock: Granite
State gem: Rhodonite
State mineral: Babingtonite
State rock: Roxbury Puddingstone
State soil: Paxton Soil Series

Boston claims first to many of the nation’s firsts. Boston Common became the first public park in 1634. Boston Latin School became the first secondary school in 1635. Harvard, the first college, was founded in 1636. The first post office, free public school and public library were all founded in Boston. The first newspaper, lighthouse, and subway were all started in Boston. The sewing machine was also invented in Boston in 1845.
The 3rd Monday in April is a legal holiday, Patriot’s Day, in Massachusetts.
The Peabody Essex Museum has over 500 original documents of the Salem witch trials in 1692.
James Naismith invented basketball in Springfield in 1891. He taught physical education and wanted an indoor sport for his students during the winter months.
William Morgan invented volleyball in Holyoke in 1895. It was first called “Mintonette,” and later changed to volleyball.
The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.
There is displayed a giant milk bottle at the Children’s Museum in Boston that if it were real could hold 50,000 gallons of milk and 8,620 gallons of cream.
In 1838 the Boston & West Worcester Railroad was the first railroad to charge commuter fares.
Quincy is home to the first Dunkin Donuts and the first Howard Johnson’s.
James Michael Curley was the first mayor of Boston to have a car. The license plate number was “576,” the number of letters respectively in his name. Today, the mayor of Boston’s official car still has the same number on its license plate.
In the 1840s the potato famine drove many Irish to Massachusetts, and they eventually became the state's largest ethnic group.
Harvard University, the nation's oldest college, was chartered in Cambridge in 1636.
The Handel and Haydn Society, one of the nation's oldest continually performing musical groups, was formed in Boston in 1815 by Gottlieb Graupner.
Among the many attractions of Boston is the Old South Meeting House, and the Old North Church, where lanterns signaled the start of Paul Revere's ride.