John and Priscilla Alden Family Sites, 17th century colonial house in Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States
The John and Priscilla Alden Family Sites consist of two structures representing different periods of occupation and settlement. An archaeological area marks where the original house once stood with visible granite foundations, while a later residence from around 1700 serves as the main museum space.
The land was granted to the family in 1627, making it one of the earliest permanent European settlements in the region. The property remained in continuous family hands across generations, reflecting how colonial settlement expanded and developed in southern Massachusetts.
The home reflects how early colonial families organized their domestic spaces, with period furnishings and household items arranged as they would have been centuries ago. Visitors can observe the practical choices people made in their daily routines and how they furnished their living spaces.
Guided tours are offered from May through October, allowing visitors to explore both the house interior and the outdoor archaeological area. Wearing comfortable shoes is helpful since the grounds include uneven terrain where the original foundation remains visible.
The property has remained in the hands of family descendants for over four centuries, creating a rare unbroken connection to the Mayflower era. This long continuity means the site carries memory through actual family stewardship rather than institutional preservation alone.
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