Massachusetts Tourist Attractions: Famous People & Their Places

Contemporary Massachusetts has its share of famous people connected to it – Aerosmith, Big Papi, Ben Affleck. But, as one of America’s original colonies, Massachusetts has been collecting famous people across four centuries. Quite a few dead famous people from Massachusetts are now connected to historical spots and tourist attractions. Here follows a nowhere-near-complete list of famous dead people from Massachusetts and the associated places you may want to visit.

Plymouth: The Pilgrims’ Progress means Squanto Doesn’t Get Squat

They may not have been the first Europeans to hit the “new” World, but the Pilgrims, who settled in Massachusetts in 1620, are the most famous. Each thanksgiving, they’re front and center as we teach another generation of children our beloved American Thanksgiving story with the pilgrims and Squanto, the corn-savvy Native American, and his tribe all joining hands around a great meal.

Today, the Pilgrims are further immortalized by Pilmouth Plantation, a live-action museum where you actors carry-on daily Pilgrim life. (www.plimoth.org.) A favorite trick: trying to get them to break character. They’re so hardcore…). Plymouth Rock also actually exists on the lovely seacoast of the town by the same name. There’s also a wax museum. As for Squanto, the name of his chief, Massasoit, now graces one of southern Massachusetts’ best-known community colleges located in Brockton, MA. (www.massasoit.edu)

Salem: Son of a Witch!