15 Best Things to Do in Swampscott (MA)

This northern coastal community dates back 400 years and has had a fishing fleet ever since.

One of Swampscott's first residents was Deborah Moody (1586-1659), a nonconformist who later became the only woman to found a village in colonial America.

In the early 1800s, Swampscott was where Ebenezer Thorndike invented the lobster pot, while the city developed the flat-bottomed Swampscott line for fishing for lobster.

Later, Swampscott became a sought-after resort, the origin of the Olmsted Historic District.

The neighborhood was developed by Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted with City Hall once the home of inventor Elihu Thompson.

1. Olmsted Subdivision Historic District

With Monument Street at the base, this meander of curving residential streets was planned by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) in the late 19th century.

The land was purchased by the Swampscot Land Trust in 1887, previously owned by Enoch Reddington Mudge (1812-1881), and consists of a piece of the Humphrey estate, dating from the 1630s.

At the turn of the 20th century, the area featured grand homes in a variety of styles, including Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial, Bungalow, and American Foursquare.

With the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1883) on Midge Square at the lower end, Monument Avenue slopes down to the oceanfront, and both Town Hall Lawn and Linscott Park have far-reaching views of Nahant Bay.

2. Elihu Thomson House (Swampscott Town Hall)

Swampscott City Hall is no ordinary municipal building. This colonial mansion was built in 1889 for inventor Elihu Thompson (1853-1937), who is credited with many innovations in electrical engineering.

He was one of the founders of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, which later merged with Thomas Edison's General Electric Company to become General Electric.

After Thompson's death, his house was bequeathed to Swampscott by his heirs, and has housed the city offices since 1944. The spacious lawn is the scene of many events, including summer beachside parties and Swamptobarfest in September.

3. Fisherman’s Beach

Perhaps the most beautiful sight in Swampscott is this crescent-shaped beach, backed by a group of houses on a wooded slope.

There are small boats in the bay, many of which are still used for commercial fishing, and in the bay there is a wooden dock from the fish house, which has a stunning view from the end.

No parking sticker is required at Fisherman's Beach, as there is a lifeguard on weekends from late June to mid-August.

The name comes from the many fishing huts that used to crowd the beach here (more below). In the park next to Fisherman's Beach you'll find an English cannon cast in 1798, captured during the War of 1812 and purchased by Swampscott fishermen in 1835 as a fog signal.

4. Swampscott Fish House

In the late 19th century, when Swampscott emerged as a resort town, there were hundreds of fishermen's shacks on the beach.

In order to clean up the shoreline, the city incorporated these structures into a municipally owned fish house.

Still standing along Fisherman's Beach, the Swampscott Fish House is the oldest operating fish house in the United States and the only city-owned one.

The building is in the shingle style, with Colonial-style details and a mansard roof. About 20 commercial fishermen still reside in the harbor at the time of writing, while the Fish House has also been home to the Swampscott Yacht Club since 1933.

5. John Humphreys House

In the 1890s, when the Olmsted area was established, the historic house was moved from Elmwood Road to 99 Paradise Road.

The exact age of John Humphreys House is disputed. It dates from the 1630s when Deborah Moody purchased it from John Humphrey (c. 1597–1651), first deputy governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company, after his return to England.

Another analysis places the construction date around 1700. Either way, it is a well-preserved example of early period architecture, and is the oldest surviving house in the city.

6. Humphrey Street

The road, named after John Humphrey, runs northeast through Swampscott to Marblehead.

To the south, between King Beach and Fisherman Beach, there is a small but pleasant downtown area lined with locally owned businesses.

There are at least a dozen restaurants within a five-minute walk, whether you're looking for New England-style seafood (Mission on the Bay), New American cuisine (G Bar & Kitchen), or breakfast food (Lincoln's Landing). , or pizza Get. Ready to follow. Artisan pizza), or frozen dessert (creme brûlée, O-Yo frozen yogurt).

There are also small shops and gift shops, all within walking distance of two beaches.

7. Swampscott Farmers’ Market

From mid-June through October, the front lawn of Swampscott Town Hall is home to a good farmers market.

This event differs from many in its focus on locally grown and produced foods, with only a few (4 at most) arts and crafts vendors each week.

The idea behind this is to support agriculture in the area, and for shoppers that means a fantastic array of seasonal fruits and vegetables, from strawberries to pumpkins.

To go with this selection you'll find fresh-roasted coffee, maple syrup, eggs, honey, homemade sauces, baked goods, and an array of prepared foods, from crepes to chili specialties.

The market includes activities for all ages throughout the season, from dancing to kite flying.

8. Beach Bluff Park

On the Swampscott/Marblehead town line is a waterfront park that was once an empty beach area.

Beach Bluff Park has been developed by the Clifton Improvement Association (CIA) since the early 1990s. Local grasses are grown over the sea wall traversed by a walkway.

The seats have a pristine view, especially if you go early in the day to watch the sunrise.

The henge-like circle of the sun is a charming piece of public art, which aligns with the equinoxes and the winter and summer suns. Below, Prescott Beach is a small stretch of sandy beach that requires a parking sticker for residents.

9. Harold A. King Town Forest

In the northwest corner of Swampscott, you'll encounter one of the city's few large tracts of forest.

The Harold A. King Town Forest sits on approximately 50 rugged acres, on a terminal moraine filled with boulders that fell here at the far end of a glacier at the end of the last ice age. The forest is located on a steep slope that descends to the wetlands.

The land was slated to be developed in the early 1970s, before being acquired as eminent domain by the city because of its natural historical significance as a moraine, and as a scenic area for passive recreation.

From the parking lot at the end of Nichols Street, the main loop winds through the woods for about a mile.

10. Swampscott Lilac Garden

If you're in town around May, be sure to visit the north end of Monument Avenue where this gorgeous park opens.

Planted with approximately 130 lilac bushes and two trees, the Swampscott Lilac Garden is backed by the refined architecture of the Historic Olmsted Subdivision, and features a small gazebo and bench so you can stop for a moment.

There are many types of lilacs, which bloom early and late, in various shades of purple and pink. Some are highly scented and others have no scent at all.

11. King’s Beach

The western part of Swampscott Beaches goes to Lynn. Kings Beach isn't a big place for swimming or lounging on the sand, it shines because it's part of Lynn Shore Drive.

Here you are at the north end of a wonderful square, with a wide aisle and benches every few feet. The views of Nahant Bay are pleasant, especially if you come early in the day.

If you want, there's nothing to stop you from walking from King's Beach to the south end of Nahanti Beach, several miles away, without dealing with road traffic.

12. Marblehead – Salem Rail Trail

East of Swampscott, you can take a rail trail to the historic centers of two of Massachusetts' most popular towns.

The Marblehead – Salem Rail Trail has two branches, 4.5 miles long: one northeast of Swampscott to Marblehead Center, and the other from Marblehead Center to Salem.

Previously on the Boston and Maine Railroad, some trails were extended to the Eastern Railroad in the 1830s, while the Swampscott Branch was established in 1873 to provide a direct line between Marblehead and Boston.

You can begin your adventure on Bradley Street in Swampscott, and travel through leafy residential neighborhoods to downtown Marblehead.

13. Mary Baker Eddy Historic House

Another figure with historical ties to Swampscott is Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910), who founded the Scientist Church of Christ in 1879.

Swampscott has special significance in her story, as she was living here when she fell on an icy pier in Lynn in 1866.

According to contemporary accounts, this left her in a critical state, and shaped her outlook to such an extent that she later referred to her home in Swampscott (23 Paradise Road) as the birthplace of Christian Science.

The house is owned by the Longyear Museum, and the upstairs rooms have been restored in the style of the 19th century when I lived here. You can visit Thursday through Sunday, May through October, and the rest of the year by appointment.

14. Castle Creek Adventure Land

With so many attractions in one location, this family entertainment center is located right on the city line, in Salem.

The big attraction at Castle Creek Adventure land is the karting track, which has single and double-seat electric karts, and one ride takes you up to eight laps.

There's also an 18-hole mini golf course, complete with waterfalls, bridges, caves, fountains and a fairytale castle, plus lighting, so you can play after sunset.

Meanwhile, serious golfers can work on their swing on the fully-lit, 40-stall driving range, which has several covered tees and a fireplace that is open year-round.

Finally, Castle Creek has an ice cream stand offering over 50 different flavors of award-winning Richardson ice cream made in Middleton, Massachusetts.

15. Swampscott Arts and Craft Festival

On the second weekend in September, Linscott Park hosts an elaborate craft festival that has been part of the calendar for more than a decade. About 80 selected artisans sell their wares each year.

The variety of skills on offer is extraordinary, from ceramics to woodworking, oil painting, paper crafts, basketry, metal sculpture, quilting, photography, watercolour, leatherwork, and much more than we have here.

Live music is part of the fun of this free festival, and there's always great food on hand.