Chappaquiddick

On July 19, 1969 at 12:50 am, a car being driven by Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy takes a wrong turn on Chappaquiddick Island and accidentally plunges into the water off of Dyke Bridge. Kennedy survives, but his passenger, campaign aide Mary Jo Kopechne is trapped and drowns in the vehicle. This incident would ultimately end Ted Kennedy's bid for the U.S. Presidency.

July 4, 1826

John Adams

John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on October 19, 1735.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on April 13, 1743.

Coincidentally, both men died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams died on his farm in Quincy, Massachusetts, while Jefferson died in his Monticello, Virginia home. 

Adams' last words were 'Thomas Jefferson survives', never knowing that Jefferson had passed away a few hours earlier.                                           

Basketball

Dr. James Naismith and the peach baskets

he used as the first basketball hoops

The game of basketball was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Dr. James Naismith. As a physical education teacher, Naismith developed this indoor game as a student activity during the winter months. The first organized basketball game was played on December 21, 1891 at the YMCA in Springfield. Gaining instant popularity, the game remains virtually unchanged to this day.

Pilgrim Hall Museum

This 1910 postcard shows the Pilgrim Hall Museum, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The hall is the oldest public museum in the United States, and has been in continuous operation since its' opening in 1824. The Pilgrim Society, established in 1820, runs the museum which tells the story of the Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony.

Jonh Alden's signature from a

document in the museum collection.

Rare Concept Car

The one-of-a-kind 1957 Chrysler Diablo concept car, designed by Chrysler but built by Ghia in Italy is pictured above. Along with the Chrysler Norseman, another concept car, it was scheduled to be shipped to the United States on July 25, 1956 aboard the luxury liner Andrea Doria. Because of delays in production, the Diablo's shipment was rescheduled, and as fate would have it, the vehicle would be saved from being lost forever. On July 26th, the Andrea Doria sank off the coast of Massachusetts with the Norseman in its' cargo hold, never to be seen again.

'The British Are Coming!'

Old unused real photo postcard showing Christ Church in Boston, built in 1723. It is more famously known as The Old North Church, from where the lanterns were hung on the night of Paul Revere's historic ride.

Haverhill, Massachusetts

Here we see a photograph of downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts taken around the turn of the century. Haverhill is located in the northeastern part of Massachusetts along the Merrimack River, and is one of the oldest historic communities in the state.

The Alden House

The Alden House (1910)

Probably one of the greatest love stories ever told was that of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, both Pilgrims who crossed over on the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, MA in 1620. Somewhere around 1672, the Aldens built the home pictured above in the town of Duxbury. While it was not their original house which they constructed in Plymouth shortly after arriving on the Mayflower, it is the only one of their homes still standing. The house has remained in the Alden family and today is maintained by the Alden House Historic Site, and is a National Landmark.

Helen Keller

The above image shows Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan taken in Brewster, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in July, 1888. The then 8 year old Keller is shown holding one of her many dolls, while seemingly being attentive towards Sullivan. The photo, which was discovered 120 years after it was originally shot, is believed by experts to be the earliest picture taken of Helen Keller.

Old Ironsides

This is the oldest known picture of the USS Constitution, which was taken in 1858 while undergoing repairs at the Navy Yard in Portsmouth, NH. The 44 gun frigate was launched in 1797 in Boston, MA, and was one of six original wooden hull three masted frigates built. The ship was named by President George Washington. Based at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, the Constitution remains on the Navy's active list.

Here Lies Mother Goose

The grave of Mother Goose, pictured at left, is located in the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Mary Goose, wife of Isaac Goose, is buried here and is believed by many to be the person behind the famous fairy tale character.

Quabbin Reservoir

Part of the Chicopee River Watershed, the Quabbin Reservoir was built between 1930 and 1939. In addition to the town of Enfield Massachusetts, pictured on the left, the towns of Dana, Greenwich, and Prescott were all officially dissolved and some of their buildings and cemeteries were relocated.

In April of 1938, the area covered by these towns was flooded and became the Quabbin Reservoir, which supplies the drinking water supply to the city of Boston as well as 40 other communities.

Sargeant William Harvey Carney

William Harvey Carney is the first African American to earn the Medal of Honor. Born a slave on February 29, 1840 in Norfolk, Virginia, he and his father escaped to Massachusetts via the Underground Railroad. They later would arrange for the rest of their family to be freed.

Carney served the W54 Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Sergeant. He was awarded the medal for saving the American flag in battle on July 18, 1863 during the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina.

Samuel Morse

Samuel Morse was an American creator of a single-wire telegraph system and the Morse code. He was born on April 27, 1791 in this building on Main Street in Charlestown, Massachusetts.