Dana, ghost town in Worcester County, Massachusetts
Dana is an abandoned settlement in Petersham, Massachusetts, now consisting of scattered ruins and foundations. The remnants are surrounded by forest and natural growth, showing where a community once stood.
Dana developed as a small settlement in New England but was later abandoned as economic conditions and population patterns shifted. The site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, documenting a lost chapter in American settlement history.
The site is difficult to access and lies off main roads, so plan time for exploration. Sturdy footwear and preparation for rough conditions are important, as minimal infrastructure exists.
Dana is one of the few ghost towns in Massachusetts and shows how communities in New England simply vanished. The place offers a direct look at the archaeology and stories of settlements that were forgotten by the modern world.
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