Wayside Inn Historic District

The Wayside Inn Historic District is a collection of colonial-era buildings centered on the main inn from 1716, with a functional grist mill still operating nearby. The property spans roughly 100 acres of wooded grounds that include walking paths, outbuildings, and several other structures from the same period.

The inn was built in 1716 and served travelers on the Boston Post Road for generations, remaining under single-family ownership until 1861. Its long role as a gathering point for people passing through shaped its development and gave it historical importance.

The inn takes its name from its role as a stopping place for travelers using the old mail route. Visitors can still experience this function today through the way the grounds are arranged and how people move through them.

The site offers food service, overnight lodging, and event spaces for visitors planning to spend time here. Well-marked trails lead through the grounds, making it easy to explore different areas at your own pace without needing special equipment.

A schoolhouse connected to the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" poem was relocated to the grounds by Henry Ford in 1923 and remains there today. This unexpected addition links the estate to a piece of American folklore that many visitors find surprising.