52 Wicked Cool Facts About Massachusetts You Probably Didn’t Know

From historic landmarks to picturesque landscapes, Massachusetts is a state filled with captivating stories and remarkable attractions. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, there’s always something new to learn and explore. Continuing our Content Bash 50 Nifty States series, we’ve curated over 50 fun and interesting facts about Massachusetts that will take you on a journey through its rich history, vibrant culture, natural wonders, and notable achievements. Get ready to delve into the fascinating Commonwealth of Massachusetts and uncover intriguing tidbits that will deepen your appreciation for this diverse and captivating state.

What is Massachusetts known for?

1. Boston! Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts, located on the east coast of the United States. Known for its historic landmarks, prestigious universities, and thriving sports teams, Boston is a major cultural and economic hub for the region. Visitors to the city can explore iconic sites such as the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, as well as world-renowned museums like the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With a bustling waterfront, vibrant culinary scene, and diverse neighborhoods, Boston offers a little something for everyone.

2. Regional Cuisine! Massachusetts is famous for its distinctive and delicious regional cuisine, such as clam chowder, lobster rolls, and baked beans and also Dunkin’ Donuts and Boston Creme Pie.

3. Early American Historical Sites! Massachusetts played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and is home to many sites that American history buffs will marvel at, like the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the USS Constitution Museum, Plymouth Rock at Pilgrim Memorial State Park, and the Paul Revere House.

4. Boston sports! The people in New England are perhaps the most loyal sports fans in the nation. The Boston Red Sox of the MLB, Boston Celtics of the NBA, Boston Bruins of the NHL, and New England Patriots of the NFL have all won multiple championships with some of the best athletes in the history of their respective sports. Fenway Park is where the Red Sox play, and the stadium has been in use for more than 100 years since 1912. The left field wall known as the Green Monster is almost as iconic as the stadium itself.

Official Massachusetts state symbols

5. The state of Massachusetts has never had a state poet laureate — but they do have a number of city and county poets laureate, which is actually way cooler because it’s better to celebrate a bunch of poets instead of just one. Briana Serradas (Attleboro), Steven Ratiner (Arlington), Porsha Olayiwola (Boston), Magdalena Gómez (Springfield), Juan Matos (Worcester), and Philip Hasouris (Brockton) undoubtedly represent some of the best poets of their generation and you should buy all of their books.

6. The state tree of Massachusetts is the American Elm. Made official in 1941, George Washington supposedly took command of the Continental Army underneath such a tree in 1775.

7. Cranberry juice happens to be the state beverage of Massachusetts, designated in in 1970.

8. The Black-Capped Chickadee is the Massachusetts state bird. Designated as such in 1941, it also happens to be the state bird of Maine. Here is a picture of the lil guy!

9. Just like Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and also Washington state, the square dance is the official dance of Massachusetts. California, New Jersey, and South Carolina also have the square dance as the official folk dance, which means 48% of all the states have square dancing as a state symbol.

10. Boston Terriers are a breed of small dogs that were first bred in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1800s. That’s why they were designated the official state dog of Massachusetts in 1979. Here is a very handsome example of a Boston Terriers that we are able to use free with Creative Commons Attribution.

11. In 1918, Massachusetts designated the mayflower as the official flower. Probably because it shares the name of the ship that carried the pilgrims!

12. The ladybug is the official Massachusetts state insect, just like Delaware, New Hampshire, Ohio, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

13. The Massachusetts state reptile is the modest, harmless, and humble garter snake. Designated as such by the commonwealth in 2007, the garter snake can be found pretty much anywhere in the lower 48 United States.

14. Massachusetts has a state children’s book and it is the iconic Make Way for Ducklings, the 1941 book with words and art by Robert McCloskey. In 2003, a bunch of 3rd-graders pushed to get this classic about a family of ducks who live at the Boston Public Garden. Everyone should have a copy of this book on their shelf and can buy your own right now!

15. The Massachusetts state heroine is Deborah Sampson, whom we are including to learn more about who she is. Deborah Sampson was the only woman to earn a full military pension for her participation in the Revolutionary arm after she joined the forces by disguising herself as a man for more than two (2) years.

16. The Massachusetts state flag features a white field with a blue shield in the center, which depicts an image of a Native American with a bow and arrow, along with a white star and a blue ribbon with the state motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, which means “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” This makes up the Massachusetts coat of arms, and that pretty much makes up their flag. Here is a gif of it!

Early history of Massachusetts state facts

17. Before the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620 — who were the first English colonizers in what is now Massachusetts — the area was home to various Native American tribes like the Massachusett, Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Narragansett. Unfortunately, 90% of them had already been wiped out by other European colonizers who brought smallpox with them.

18. The very first Thanksgiving feast was held in 1921, the beginnings of a problematic history and the way it has perpetuated harmful myths and stereotypes about Native Americans — like the idea that they willingly shared their land and resources with the Pilgrims. Additionally, the commercialization of the holiday and the way it often reinforces harmful stereotypes about Indigenous people is also pretty problematic.

19. The Boston Latin School was founded in 1635, the first public high school in the United States.

20. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft that began in 1692. The trials resulted in the execution of 20 people and continue to be a symbol of the dangers of religious extremism, fear, and persecution.

21. The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred in 1773, in which American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company into the Atlantic Ocean, and ignited the American Revolution.

22. One of the thirteen (13) original colonies, Massachusetts became the 6th state of the Union on February 6, 1788.

23. Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage on May 17, 2004. Better late than never but hell yeah.

Massachusetts topography & geography

24. Guess what the capital of Massachusetts is? If you guessed anything other than Boston, you are wrong! Boston also happens to be the biggest city in Massachusetts.

25. Massachusetts is the 44th-biggest state out of all the 50 states, with about 10,565 total square miles of rolling hills, dense forests, fertile valleys, rocky coastlines, and numerous lakes and rivers.

26. Mount Greylock in the Berkshire Mountains is the highest elevation point in the state of Massachusetts at 3,489 feet above sea level.

27. The lowest point in Massachusetts is none other than the vast Atlantic Ocean — which is exactly sea level!

28. Massachusetts is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, New York to the west, and Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south.

29. There are 14 counties in Massachusetts. You should visit all of them and report back and tell us how it was.

30. Massachusetts has a long coastline that stretches over 192 miles, and includes popular beaches and attractions such as Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island.

Places to visit in Massachusetts

31. The Boston Common park in downtown Boston — established in 1634(!) — is the oldest public park in the United States and is an absolute masterpiece of 50 gorgeous acres of public space. It is a historic and beautiful green space in the heart of Boston with many recreational activities and cultural events, and the perfect way to spend a perfect afternoon.

32. The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts — located in the beautiful mountainous region of the Berkshires — features a world-class collection of European and American art that includes works by heavyweights like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Gaugin, Claude Monet, and Winslow Homer.

33. Normally, we wouldn’t suggest the local public library as a place to visit but the Boston Public Library is an absolute marvel. The Boston Public Library (BPL) was founded in 1848 as the first free municipal library in the United States, and it is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance Revival architecture that features a grand entrance staircase, marble columns, and ornate decorative details. The sibling Johnson Building opened in 1972, and is a more modernist structure with a distinctive glass exterior.

34. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts is dedicated to the life and work of the iconic American illustrator. The museum has the world’s largest collection of Rockwell’s original art — which many observers of American popular culture will instantly recognize — as well as exhibits on the history of illustration.

35. The Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts is a historic home that played a prominent role in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Today, it is a museum that is open to the public, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into life in Salem during the 17th century and the role that the house and its owner played in the witch trials. With exhibits on the history of witchcraft and artifacts from the time period, the Witch House is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the dark history of the Salem Witch Trials.

36. The Stone Zoo is a surprisingly robust experience for a 26-acre habitat. Located in Stoneham Massachusetts and founded in 1905, the zoo features 80 different animal species like snow leopards, jaguars, meerkats, and black bears, with interactive child-friendly exhibits like the petting zoo, playground, and carousel.

Fun, cool, interesting & weird Massachusetts facts

37. The very first Dunkin’ Donuts location began in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1950 by this dude William Rosenberg, after two years of calling his coffee shop Open Kettle. More locations were quickly opened in the next few years — and an iconic brand was born. Fans can still visit the original location in Quincy.

38. The very first basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts on December 21, 1891. The game was invented by James Naismith at Springfield College, and the institution is considered the birthplace of basketball.

39. The Boston subway system — also known as the “T” — is the oldest subway system in the United States, and opened its first section on September 1, 1897, and played a significant role in shaping Boston’s urban development

40. A demonym is a word used to describe the people who are from or live in a particular place. For example, someone from France is called a French person, so “French” is the demonym for people from France. Similarly, someone from Massachusetts is called a Massachusettsan or a Bay Stater, so “Massachusettsan” or “Bay Stater” is the demonym for people from Massachusetts. Another popular demonym to describe jerks from Massachusetts is “Masshole.”

41. The first subway built in the United States was the Tremont Street Subway, which opened in Boston in 1897. It was a four-track, underground railway that extended for one mile, connecting the Boston Common to the Public Garden. The subway used electric traction, with the trains powered by a third rail. The construction of the Tremont Street Subway was a significant engineering achievement at the time, and it paved the way for the development of subway systems in other major cities in the United States.

42. The Boston Marathon — first held on April 19, 1897 — is the oldest annual marathon in the United States.

43. The very first lighthouse in the United States was built in the Boston Harbor in 1716, and was located on Little Brewster Island.

44. The Duryea brothers — Charles and Frank — built what is considered the very first successful gasoline-engine vehicle built in the United States, demonstrating the one-cylinder four-horsepower car Duryea Motor Wagon on September 21, 1893.

45. Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1636 and has gifted the world almost 400 years worth of influential history-shaping figures such as war criminal Henry Kissinger and misinformation propagandist Mark Zuckerberg.

What famous people were born in Massachusetts?

46. Modern Hall of Fame baseball players born in Massachusetts include Jeff Bagwell (Boston) and Tom Glavine (Concord).

47. Famous children’s book author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904 and the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in his hometown is dedicated to the life and work of the beloved children’s author and illustrator, and features exhibits on his books, his art, and his legacy.

48. Emily Dickinson — author of such bangers like “Hope is the thing with feathers” and “Because I could not stop for Death” — was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. She is considered perhaps the most significant poet in American literature, and her work has been widely studied and celebrated for like almost 200 years.

49. John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States — as well as our very first handsome President. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. The Kennedy family has influenced pretty much every facet of American life and culture since JFK’s grandfather P.J. Kennedy began opening saloons in Boston in the 1880s.

50. Sylvia Plath was the poet and novelist most famous for The Bell Jar, and she was born in Jamaica Plain, Boston on October 27, 1932.

51. Writer, scientist, statesperson, diplomat, publisher, and inventor Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706 and spent his early years there before running away to Philadelphia at age 17, where he began his journey to prominent diplomat who would eventually make significant contributions to American history and science.

52. Several prominent actors named Matt were born in Massachusetts. They include The Legend of Bagger Vance actor Matt Damon (Cambridge), and iconic Friends friends Matthew Perry (Williamstown) and Matt LeBlanc (Newton).

Final thoughts about Massachusetts

We hope you’ve enjoyed this captivating tour of Massachusetts and its multitude of fun and interesting facts. From the revolutionary spirit of Boston to the serene beauty of Cape Cod, and from the literary legacies of Concord to the charming streets of Salem, Massachusetts offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonders. Whether you’re enticed by the birthplace of American independence, the allure of quaint coastal towns, or the intellectual prowess of its renowned universities, Massachusetts never ceases to amaze. While you’re here, check out our other listicles of fun and interesting facts about other states like Maryland, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Delaware, and Kansas!

Cover Image Credit: Image by Tim Ball from Pixabay

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