Camp Kiwanee Historic District, Historic district in Hanson, Massachusetts.
Camp Kiwanee Historic District is a 68-acre property in Hanson with multiple structures including the Needles Lodge, which features Shingle Style and Tudor Revival architectural details. The site contains buildings from different periods, ranging from the original estate to facilities added when it became a summer camp.
Albert Cameron Burrage constructed the original summer estate called The Needles between 1899 and 1905. The property later became home to a Camp Fire Girls facility starting in 1922 that served girls from across New England.
The site served as a gathering place where girls from across New England formed friendships and shared experiences during their summer stays. Buildings and outdoor spaces still carry traces of the connections and community life that unfolded here.
The Town of Hanson operates the property as a campground and event venue available for community activities. Visitors should check ahead about current uses and access policies, as the grounds are primarily used for scheduled activities.
The property clearly shows two distinct architectural phases: the graceful buildings of the original private estate contrast sharply with the more functional structures added during the camping era. This contrast reveals how the grounds transformed from a private retreat into a communal gathering place.
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