Massachusetts History Unleashed
The real stories of the Bay State — from whaling ports to mill cities, from Plymouth Rock to the Cape Cod lights. Told through the photographs that witnessed it.
Regions of the Commonwealth
Four centuries of history, told region by region. Each place shaped Massachusetts — and Massachusetts shaped America.
New Bedford
The city that lit the world. At its peak, New Bedford's whaling fleet outnumbered every other American port combined.
Fall River
Over 100 textile mills along the Quequechan River. At its height, Fall River produced more cloth than any city in America.
Cape Cod
From Bartholomew Gosnold's landing to the lifesaving stations, the Cape has guarded Massachusetts shores for four centuries.
Plymouth
Where the Mayflower landed and a colony survived against the odds — the real 1620 story, beyond the rock.
Salem
The village where fear took hold in 1692 — and the town that turned its darkest chapter into a lesson for the world.
Halloween Special
A spooky South Coast story for the little ones — free for Halloween. Visit our store.
Four Centuries in Moments
A timeline of the events that made Massachusetts — from first contact to the industrial age.
The Mayflower Lands
English settlers establish Plymouth Colony, the first permanent European settlement in New England.
New Bedford Turns to Whaling
Joseph Rotch arrives from Nantucket, setting New Bedford on its course to become the whaling capital of the world.
Fall River's First Mill
The Fall River Manufactory opens, beginning the city's transformation into America's textile powerhouse.
Charles W. Morgan Launched
The whaling ship Charles W. Morgan slides into the Acushnet River — the last surviving American whaleship.
Lewis Hine Documents the Mills
Photographer Lewis Hine captures child laborers in Fall River's mills, fueling national reform movements.