Massachusetts, U.S. state in New England, United States.
Description
Massachusetts spans from the forested Berkshire Mountains in the west to the coastal plains and sandy beaches of Cape Cod in the east, covering 10,554 square miles (27,336 square kilometers). The geography includes river valleys, rolling hills, and a heavily indented Atlantic coastline with numerous bays and offshore islands.
History
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, establishing one of the earliest European colonies in New England. The territory became the sixth state to join the Union in 1788 following independence, and developed into a center of textile manufacturing and shipbuilding during the 19th century before transitioning to its current knowledge economy.
Culture
The state hosts over 120 colleges and universities, including several institutions that have shaped global research and innovation for centuries. This academic concentration has created a society where education remains deeply embedded in regional identity, continuing to drive economic development and cultural exchange across communities.
Practical
Boston Logan International Airport provides direct connections to destinations worldwide, while Amtrak trains link the region with New York and other cities. Late summer and early fall are considered ideal visiting periods when fall foliage transforms the interior into displays of red and gold, and milder weather supports outdoor activities.
Did you know?
The official state cookie is the chocolate chip cookie, invented in 1930 at the Toll House Inn in Whitman when Ruth Wakefield mixed chopped chocolate into cookie dough. The original recipe remains in use today and has become one of the most recognized baked goods worldwide.
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Massachusetts offers a range of locations beyond Boston and Cape Cod that receive fewer visitors. In the western part of the state, stone tower lookouts rise above forested hills, while waterfalls are located within state forests. Historic buildings from the 19th century stand in smaller...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77.4 km
USS Constitution
80.3 km
Fenway Park
77 km
Gillette Stadium
71 km
Plymouth Rock
122.4 km
TD Garden
79.8 km
Boston Marathon
79.6 km
The Breakers
118.1 km
USS Nautilus
110.5 km
Freedom Trail
80.3 km
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
76.9 km
Faneuil Hall
80.3 km
USS Massachusetts
103.8 km
Walden Pond
57.1 km
Clark University
22.3 km
Porcellian Club
75.2 km
John Hancock Tower
78.8 km
Mohegan Sun
98.8 km
Boston Common
79.6 km
Naval War College
113.1 km
Six Flags New England
61.3 km
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
77.3 km
Lizzie Borden House
104.8 km
Marble House
118.5 km
Mount Monadnock
54.1 km
Old North Church
80.4 km
Danvers State Hospital
89.7 km
Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury
158.6 km
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