THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKSTATE & NATION TRAVEL
National parks, historic sites and practical visitor updates, directly from the National Park Service.
NPS sources checked 10/3/2026, 3:08:52 PM Eastern
Presidents Place will be painting the doors leading to and from the Presidents Place parking garage this Saturday, October 3. Please exercise caution when using or walking near the garage doors, as there will be wet paint. Avoid touching the doors and watch your clothing and bags.
Official NPS sourceDue to construction, the Slater Mill is closed to the public until further notice. The indoor Visitor Center is closed, and all tours are cancelled. There are currently no restrooms available onsite. Park grounds remain open for visitors. A temporary contact station with basic visitor services will be set up outdoors. Rangers will provide informal interpretation of the site.
Official NPS sourceThe Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces) is closed due to a major landscape treatment project. During construction, the entire site will be inaccessible. The Visitor Center and Peace field remain open and accessible.
Official NPS sourceGroups of 11 or more people should contact the Visitor Center at ADAM_Visitor_Center@nps.gov or 617-770-1175 at least two weeks in advance to arrange their visit.
Official NPS sourceBags larger than 9"x11"x5" are not permitted in the historic homes. The park does not have storage lockers for these items. Bags may not be left unattended and cannot be left with park staff. Anyone carrying a bag larger than 9"x11"x5" will not be admitted into the historic homes.
Official NPS sourceVisit https://www.nps.gov/adam/planyourvisit/2026-tour-season.htm for details on the 2026 tour season, including operating hours and tour offerings. The Visitor Center is open 9am-5pm Wednesdays-Sundays. The historic homes are open Wednesdays-Sundays. Entrance fees required for entry into historic homes. Guided tour reservations are available first-come, first-served on the day of the tour at the Visitor Center. Reservations not required for self-guided tours.
Official NPS sourceWe continue to experience issues with our phone lines, please contact us via our email address: boha_information@nps.gov
Official NPS sourceDue to ongoing construction, the parking lot is closed. Ample street parking can be found along Dudley Street, including the Brookline Reservoir. For accessible parking, please visit our "Contact Us" page for more information.
Official NPS sourceThere is ongoing construction due to roofing project. Please practice caution on the grounds and do not enter marked areas.
Official NPS sourceMany closures remain on the Trail following Hurricane Helene's devastation. This will remain true for the foreseeable future. Visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) website for an up-to-date list of closures. OBSERVE ALL CLOSURES. Stay safe!
Official NPS sourceHuman-habituated bears have been frequently spotted in the McAfee Knob Area. Allowing bears access to human food or garbage causes it to lose its fear of humans. Follow all food storage regulations, use provided food lockers and never feed a bear.
Official NPS source
Join us August 29th from 10am to 3pm at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site for "Forging Freedom"- a full day of excitement, history and hands-on experiences! Kids can become Junior Rangers, enjoy free ice cream and explore interactive exhibits. Families can experience re-enactments, see military vehicles up close and even watch a Black Hawk helicopter land on the Armory Green!
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a Request for Proposals to lease and rehabilitate three historic properties within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS).
Official NPS source
Join the National Park Service (NPS) at Adams National Historical Park for Independence 250, a full week of free special programming and events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the roles of both John and Abigail Adams in the founding of the nation. Events will take place June 26 through July 5.
Official NPS sourceFrom June 11-17, the National Parks of Boston and community partners will host a series of events commemorating the 251st Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
Official NPS sourceNEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The National Park Service has selected Laurel Racine as superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts. Racine assumed her new role on Feb.9, 2026.
Official NPS source
Join the National Park Service (NPS) at Adams National Historical Park on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, for a premier 250th anniversary event commemorating the American Revolution experiences of Abigail Adams and the legacy of her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter to John Adams.
Official NPS sourceThe National Parks of Boston will commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Evacuation Day with a series of events marking the historic departure of British forces from Boston in 1776 and the first major victory of the American Revolutionary War. The event runs March 5 through March 17.
Official NPS source
The 15th annual spring Eastern wild turkey hunt will begin at Cape Cod National Seashore on April 27, 2026.
Official NPS source
Springfield Armory National Historic Site will host a free, family-friendly commemoration on Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12:00–3:00 p.m., marking the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s daring “Noble Train of Artillery.” The event honors the 300-mile winter expedition that brought captured artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, an achievement that helped secure one of the Continental Army’s earliest strategic victories.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service invites interested members of the public to attend an open house to learn more about the upcoming Cable Road Multi-Use Path project in Eastham.
Official NPS source
Friday, December 12, from 1:00 to 8:00 PM, Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and the Friends of the Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters invite the community to a festive, free Holiday Open House.
Official NPS source
The Washington-Rochambeau Trail introduces the All-American Road Trip; an America 250 initiative encouraging travelers to experience New Jersey’s Revolutionary War sites and follow the historic 1781 Franco-American march to Yorktown. The campaign launches alongside new national interest from Ken Burns’ The American Revolution.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service’s Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route NHT launches the All-American Road Trip, a major America 250 initiative inviting visitors to explore the historic 1781 march of American and French forces to Yorktown. Coinciding with renewed interest from Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, the campaign highlights living history events, educational programs, partnerships, and travel opportunities across the 680-mile trail, beginning in Newport and connecting communities from Rhode Island to Virginia.
Official NPS source
The University of Wyoming’s Firearms Research Center (FRC), in collaboration with Springfield Armory National Historic Site, will host its 2025 Fall Conference, “Sparking the Revolution: Flintlocks, Gunpowder, and Policy in America’s War for Independence,” on November 20–21, 2025. The conference is free, open to the public, and available in person or virtually, with select sessions eligible for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.
Official NPS source
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present "Washington in American Memory." Through talks by preeminent historians and authors, the series will explore the evolution of the public memory of George Washington.
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that 3.8 million visitors to park name in 2024 spent $598 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $754 million.
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that 51,496 visitors to Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in 2024 spent $3,624,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported the local area.
Official NPS source
Cape Cod National Seashore’s Atlantic Research and Learning Center will host the 14th annual “Science in the Seashore Symposium” on Thursday, September 25 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
Official NPS sourceVisitor Center The park’s Visitor Center is your starting point for exploring the stories, people, and history of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Hours: May 1 through November 30 Wednesday - Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM December 1 through April 30 Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM The Visitor Center is closed to public visitation on: New Year’s Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day *The park may occasionally offer special programs, events, or activities outside regular Visitor Center operating hours. Check the park calendar and Visitor Center drop-down option under the Basic Information page when planning your visit. Visitor Center Garden Open daily from dawn to dusk. Temporary Closures and Operational Changes Severe weather, construction activities, public health concerns, emergencies, or security situations may require temporary changes to park operations, facility hours, or access to portions of the park to protect visitors, staff, and park resources. Temporary operational changes are shared through park alerts on the website, social media, phone greetings, and notices posted at key park locations. Please note that operating hours for National Park Service facilities may differ from partner organizations, businesses, and other locations within park boundaries.
Official NPS sourceStep into history and discover the story of New Bedford, the world’s whaling capital. Explore how this bustling seaport connected New Bedford to a global maritime economy, where whalemen traveled around the globe and helped shape a city known for industry, commerce, and innovation.
Official NPS sourceDid you know whales are some of the most extraordinary animals on Earth? From their immense size and remarkable adaptations to their communication and migration patterns, whales continue to inspire curiosity and scientific discovery. Explore the extraordinary world of whales on a walking tour at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Discover how whales shaped New Bedford’s history, influenced global industries, and connected this port city to people and places around the world.
Official NPS sourceStep into the world of the whaling industry and discover how whale products supported everyday life during the 1800s. Explore how blubber, baleen, and bone became valuable resources used in homes, manufacturing, and industry, connecting New Bedford to a growing global economy.
Official NPS sourceJoin us for an Underground Railroad Walking Tour exploring New Bedford’s connection to the Underground Railroad and the individuals who sought new opportunities and freedom in the city. The Underground Railroad was an informal network of people, communities, and transportation routes that assisted individuals escaping slavery. During the 1800s, New Bedford became an important destination because of its maritime economy, employment opportunities connected to the whaling industry, and support networks that included free Black residents, formerly enslaved people, abolitionists, maritime connections, and established community networks. On this tour, discover stories of people who built new lives in New Bedford, contributed to the city’s industries and neighborhoods, and shaped the history of the region. Learn how New Bedford’s role as an international port city connected people, commerce, and ideas during a period of major change in American history. Walk through historic streets. Explore significant places. Discover stories that remain part of New Bedford’s history today.
Official NPS sourceExplore New Bedford through the experiences of Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville, who both walked the streets of this historic port city in 1841. After escaping slavery, Frederick Douglass settled in New Bedford, where he found employment, community, and opportunities that influenced his future work as an abolitionist, writer, and public speaker. Herman Melville also found inspiration in New Bedford’s maritime culture and whaling industry. His experiences contributed to the setting and themes later reflected in Moby-Dick , where he described New Bedford as a city shaped by maritime commerce and global connections. Their experiences reflect how New Bedford’s industries, waterfront, and community shaped lives while connecting this port city to the wider world. Follow in their footsteps and learn how New Bedford shaped two influential figures whose writings and experiences continue to connect New Bedford to the world today.
Official NPS sourceExplore the experiences of women on whaleships and discover how they contributed to life aboard nineteenth-century whaling voyages. Through journals, firsthand accounts, and historical records, learn how women managed shipboard responsibilities, assisted with navigation, served in medical roles, and connected with communities building relationships with other whaling families around the world.
Official NPS sourceStep into the world of the whaling industry and discover how whale products supported everyday life during the 1800s. Explore how blubber, baleen, and bone became valuable resources used in homes, manufacturing, and industry, connecting New Bedford to a growing global economy.
Official NPS sourceEntrance to the historic house is by guided tour only, and all tours are free of charge. General George Washington’s Cambridge headquarters was a testing ground for many of the ideals, institutions, and questions that still define our nation. This conversational tour explores Cambridge Headquarters as a hub of revolutionary activity, where generals, enslaved people, paid laborers, poets, Indigenous diplomats, politicians, and soldiers shaped history - and how later generations would shape its memory.
Official NPS sourceExplore the stories of people who arrived in New Bedford during the height of the whaling industry, each bringing their own experiences, skills, and aspirations. Discover how New Bedford’s maritime economy and growing industries connected the city to people and places around the world, shaping opportunities that drew whalemen, merchants, craftspeople, immigrant communities, and freedom seekers seeking work, opportunity, and a new beginning. Learn how whaling, trade, and industrial growth helped shape New Bedford and influenced the people who built lives here during a period of profound change.
Official NPS sourceExplore New Bedford through the experiences of Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville, who both walked the streets of this historic port city in 1841. After escaping slavery, Frederick Douglass settled in New Bedford, where he found employment, community, and opportunities that influenced his future work as an abolitionist, writer, and public speaker. Herman Melville also found inspiration in New Bedford’s maritime culture and whaling industry. His experiences contributed to the setting and themes later reflected in Moby-Dick , where he described New Bedford as a city shaped by maritime commerce and global connections. Their experiences reflect how New Bedford’s industries, waterfront, and community shaped lives while connecting this port city to the wider world. Follow in their footsteps and learn how New Bedford shaped two influential figures whose writings and experiences continue to connect New Bedford to the world today.
Official NPS sourceIn 1774 Paul Revere and his neighbors in the North End were forced to make difficult and dangerous choices. As sides were drawn, both Patriots and Loyalists labeled the other "enemies to this country." Join a National Park Service Ranger for a free 75 minute walk and decide who the real "Enemies to This Country" were in the months before the breakout of the War for Independence. Tours begin inside the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center and end at Old North Church, covering about 0.5 miles. 2026 Season (May 23 - October 11) Join a Ranger for Enemies to this Country Tour Wednesday through Sunday at 11 am. *In case of weather, Rangers will offer an indoor option in the basement of Faneuil Hall, also known as the "Find Your Park Space."
Official NPS sourceNational Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Connecticut · Georgia · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Vermont · Virginia · West VirginiaNational Scenic Trail
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic vistas and close-ups of New England’s natural and cultural landscape: traprock ridges, historic village centers, farmlands, unfragmented forests, quiet streams, steep river valleys and waterfalls.
Connecticut · MassachusettsNational Historic Trail
This 680-mile-long trail follows the paths taken by George Washington's Continental Army and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau's Expédition Particulière during their 1781 march from Newport, Rhode Island, to Yorktown, Virginia. France's support in America's struggle for independence was vital to victory at Yorktown. The trail commemorates that victory and the lasting Franco-American friendship.
Connecticut · Delaware · Maryland · Massachusetts · New Jersey · New York · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · VirginiaNational Historical Park
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned women” whose ideas and actions helped to transform thirteen disparate colonies into one united nation.
MassachusettsNational Historical Park
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked and where they lived. Learn how this revolution transformed the landscape of the Blackstone Valley and the United States. The Visitor Center at Old Slater Mill is closed for the winter season.
Massachusetts · Rhode IslandNational Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.
MassachusettsNational Recreation Area
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.
MassachusettsNational Seashore
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon today's visitors.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
JFK’s parents never expected that their second son would grow up to be president. Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family’s first home to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not only his early life, but the ideas and principles he left behind.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site preserves a remarkable Georgian house whose occupants shaped our nation. It was a site of colonial enslavement and community activism, George Washington’s first long-term headquarters of the American Revolution, and the place where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his canon of 19th-century American literature.
MassachusettsNational Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate in our shifting global economy. Explore Lowell, a living testament to the dynamic human story of the industrial revolution.
MassachusettsNational Historical Park
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the American revolutionary spirit through the writings of the Concord authors.
MassachusettsNational Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the sea." H. Melville, "Moby-Dick"
MassachusettsNational Historical Park
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and global stories.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
In the 1600's, on the banks of the Saugus River, something extraordinary happened! Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.
MassachusettsNational Historic Site
For nearly two centuries, the U.S. Armed Forces and American industry looked to Springfield Armory for innovative engineering and superior firearms. Springfield Armory National Historic Site commemorates the critical role of the nation’s first armory by preserving and interpreting the world's largest historic US military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings and landscape.
MassachusettsDestination directory sourced from NPS state listings, October 3, 2026. Official NPS directory