Where do you even start with Massachusetts? There’s so much that has happened (and still happens) there!
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 (I’ll talk about that later), establishing Plymouth Colony, the first permanent English settlement in New England. The Puritans arrived in 1630, setting up colonies that were intensely religious communities that also valued education—Harvard College was founded in 1636!
Then there was the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxes, the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Siege of Boston, Paul Revere‘s ride—all these iconic moments happened here. Massachusetts ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788, becoming the sixth state.
Massachusetts has always been ahead of its time in some ways: The first American public school was established in Boston in 1635. The first subway in America opened in Boston in 1897. Massachusetts led the way in marriage equality, becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004.
I’ve had the joy of visiting Massachusetts a few times (though I’ve yet to teach there!) and Boston is on my to-return list. The amount of history is mind-blowing for the West Coaster and every time I learn something new about American history.
Just up the road from Boston is Salem, a tourist town for sure, but full of history and tragedy with a side of clever t-shirts and bumper stickers. My favorite places to visit were the graveyards, for sure. I love reading the headstones to see what folks say about them, checking how old they were when they passed and, honestly, just marveling at the fact that these grave markers still stand upright.
If you haven’t had the chance to get to Plymouth to see it’s famous rock, be ready for a bit of a letdown. My education had convinced me that Plymouth Rock was ROCK, much like Haystack Rock on the Oregon Coast. When teachers said they landed on Plymouth Rock, I thought it was big enough for them to sidle up to it on their tall ships.
Turns out, it’s only a few feet across and missing chunks due to souvenir seekers over the past four hundred years. I’m still glad I saw it, even if it is small, as it really is such an important character in the story of the United States and those first folks on the Mayflower.
Scattered throughout the New England area are the remnants of the textile industry. The smokestacks still stand, though many of the buildings have been converted to loft apartments. Often constructed near the rivers (for both transit and water power), they dot the landscape as you drive through.
Located near what used to be Lowell Mills (and will soon be the Lowell National Historical Park) is the New England Quilt Museum, a must-see if you’re in the area. With hundreds of quilts and rotating shows, you are sure to see something beautiful and inspiring.
Across the Boston Harbor, and around Cape Cod (an adventure in an of itself), you’ll find, Provincetown, often referred to as P-town. Bustling in the summertime, the area has fabulous restaurants, galleries and a view of the sunset over the water. We spent just a day there, but I could have stayed much longer.
Quilt Block
The quilt block I used for our Quarter Millennial Quilt is a traditional block, usually called a Priscilla block. The quarter-square center version included in the Massachusetts pattern is listed as a “Massachusetts Priscilla” in the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman. I shrunk it down to the right size for the state and then gave you a second version without the quarter-square center, in case that seemed intimidating.
Quilt Shops
Gather Here (Cambridge, MA) was on my want-to-go list for a decade before I made it out there, but it did not disappoint. They have a wide selection of apparel fabrics and pattern, embroidery supplies, quilting fabrics and notions, plus a whole classroom that is often used for community events.
Emma’s Quilt Cupboard & Sewing Center (Franklin, MA) was a quick stop for Hawke and I when we were on our LQS tour a few years ago. The shop has a wide variety of quilting cottons, patterns and notions.
Sew-Together Quilt Shop (Tewksbury, MA) is a tiny shop with a big-personality owner. She offers a lot of sew together sessions and classes with local sewists and quilters.
Meeting House Fabrics (Wales, MA) is still on my list of shops to visit. It is located in an old church, much like Bittersweet Quilts in Michigan), which means it has all sorts of old charm and beautiful windows. I hope I’ll get to visit before too long.
I can’t wait to see what you make with the Massachusetts Priscilla block! If you’ve been to or live in Massachusetts, tell me about your favorite quilt shops or places to visit in Massachusetts!
Happy sewing!
P.S. I absolutely love the architecture (houses built 350 years ago!), the food (lobstah!) and the museums (so many!), I thought I’d share a few more pics.
