Boston Site of the Boston Massacre A simple circle of cobblestones mark the site where five American colonists were killed by British soldiers in 1770. The brutality of this incident helped spark the anti-British rage that ultimately led to the American Revolution.
Site of the Cocoanut Grove Fire Heather sends me the following description from Boston-Online.Com: "The Cocoanut Grove Fire - Piedmont Street, Bay Village. On Nov. 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove was crowded with revelers. Fire broke out. But except for a revolving door at the front, the exits were locked. And that door quickly jammed. Some 492 people died - many piled up by the door - in the worst fire disaster in U.S. history. The fire led to dramatic changes in fire codes (and to this day, Massachusetts fire departments are among the toughest in the country in enforcing them). Many of the survivors had their lives saved by a revolutionary new drug - penicillin."
Site of the Great Molasses Flood
Heather sends me the following description of the site of the Great Molasses Flood from Boston-Online.Com: "Great Molasses Flood: Commercial Street and Cobb's Hill Terrace, North End. If you had to choose how to die, drowning in molasses would probably not rank high on your list. On Jan. 15, 1919, 21 people, a dozen horses and at least one cat had no choice. A 58-foot-high, 90-foot-wide cast-iron tank holding 2.2 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a tsunami of the viscous liquid down Commercial at 35 m.p.h., destroying houses, commercial buildings and a part of the elevated railroad. Today, no monument marks the disaster (the closest you'll get is a small sailors' memorial in the playground off Commercial showing a ship going under). But climb up the terrace (which looks like a stone medieval rampart), look out over Commercial Street toward the harbor and imagine a three-story wall of molasses flowing past."
Cape Cod Edward Gorey House
Visit the house where the Master of the Macabre worked his genius. Original artwork is on display too!
Fall River

Although the house where Lizzie... er, somebody... took an axe and gave her parents 81 whacks has changed hands recently, it is still, thankfully, a bed and breakfast. I can't wait to visit!
Gloucester

"John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle between the years 1926 and 1929 to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. In addition, the building housed the Hammond Research Corporation, from which Dr. Hammond produced over 400 patents and the ideas for over 800 inventions. Second only to Thomas Alva Edison in number of patents, John Hammond was one of America's premier inventors. His most important work was the development of remote control via radio waves, which earned him the title, 'The Father of Remote Control.'" The Mourner has the following to say: "Gothic castle on the ocean created by a real Mad Scientist, has a skull of one of Columbus's crew on display, a roman tomb and torture devices." Sounds like fun to me!
Salem

The Mourner recommends this museum: "I had the opportunity to go to the Pirate Museum in Salem, MA (yes, the Witch Trials Salem, the place is full of tourist type stuff like that, including a Witch Dungeon similar to the one used centuries ago). Anyway, they had many other pirate flags and histories, mostly centered around New England. And of all the historical sites I saw there, it was the goriest. I loved it. "

The primary morbid draw of this museum is a silver-plated skull that is purported to be Blackbeard's. (Thanks to The Mourner for the suggestion.)

Salem Witch Dungeon "The mood is set from the moment you enter the Witch Dungeon Museum. You are there - in Salem Village in 1692, and you are guaranteed a unique educational experience with a chill or two. You'll experience the acclaimed performace of a Witch trial adapted from the 1692 historical transcripts. Professional actresses in repertory reenact the electrifying scene."
Salem Witch Museum "The Salem Witch Museum brings you back to Salem 1692. Visitors are given a dramatic history lesson using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration - an overview of the Witch Trials of 1692."
Witch History Museum "The untold stories of 1692 told through an historically accurate live presentation followed by a guided tour downstairs where you will walk thru the forest, meet Tituba in Rev. Parris’s kitchen, visit Old Salem Village and view 15 life size scenes depicting these stories. These and many other stories of Which Times are revealed at the Witch History Museum." (Thanks to The Mourner for the suggestion.)
Witch House "The Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692." (Thanks to The Mourner for the suggestion.)




Wicked Words...