Private tour in Boston Donald F
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Donald F.
4.8
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24
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Hello, I'm Donald. In the 16 years I've lived in Salem, I have shown the city to hundreds of people—personal friends, college classes, teacher enrichment programs, Historic Salem, Inc. special events. Although I had known Salem as a Boston native, a summer visitor to the North Shore, and a historian of colonial America, I turned familiarity to intimacy by walking every street in the city of Salem to observe its historic waterfront, its urban development, most interesting buildings from the 17th century to the 21st, and the special character that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. I will be happy to show you the Salem that I now know well. Let me tell you a bit about myself—born in Boston (19 miles from Salem), educated at the Boston Latin School (founded in 1635), Brown University (A. B. ) and University of Pennsylvania (Ph. D. ), college teacher, museum director, lecturer, tour planner and guide for several institutions, and longtime President of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Honorary Trustee of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, appointed member of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and Director Emeritus of Historic Deerfield, a museum of New England history and life. A.B., American Civilization, Brown University Ph.D., American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania Appointed member, Massachusetts Historical Commission Fellow, Massachusetts Historical Society Elected member, American Antiquarian Society past President, Colonial Society of Massachusetts Licensed guide, City of Salem I find that walking tours are the most effective way to see a city or town.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Donald F.
An exclusive private tour focused on the first and longest-serving governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Endecott, who arrived in Salem in 1628 and was critical to the success of the fledgling settlement as a political and military leader and a wealthy landowner. We explore the Salem that he knew, the site of his dramatic "Endecott and the Red Cross" memorialized by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the land grants that established the Endecotts as an aristocratic Massachusetts family. We visit the still productive Endecott Pear Tree planted c1632 by the governor on his Orchard Farm in nearby Danvers, view his Cat Island in Salem Sound, and enter the walled Endecott Burying Ground, where many of his descendants are interred. This is an especially meaningful tour for descendants of Governor Endecott.
Site of the First Church of Salem meetinghouse Locale of Nathaniel Hawthorne's story, "Endicott and the Red Cross" Site of Gov. John Endecott House Site of Essex County Court House Jonathan Corwin House (before 1675) View across Salem Sound to Cat Island, granted to Gov. Endecott in 1655 Endicott Street, site of Gov. Endecott's 300-acre land grant/farm Endicott burying ground Endicott pear tree, planted by Gov. Endecott c1632 Peabody Essex Museum to see Endecott sundial (c1632)
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Approximately one hour will be walking; the balance will be traveling longer distances in the guide's automobile, which can transport three passengers comfortably. Groups up to ten can make arrangements to use their own vehicles. Please contact guide for details.
93 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: In front of Salem City Hall, 93 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970.
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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