Ipswich, Massachusetts was founded in 1634 in an area the Native Americans called “Agawam,” and is America’s best-preserved Puritan town. The historic neighborhoods of Meeting House Green, High Street, the East End, and the South Green are well-preserved streetscapes of 17th to 19th-century residences, with more “First Period” houses still standing than any other town in the country. Opposition by the people of Ipswich to a tax imposed in 1687 is commemorated in the seal of the town of Ipswich, with the motto, “The Birthplace of American Independence 1687.”
Walking tours of historic Ipswich - The historic neighborhoods of Ipswich offer well-preserved streetscapes of 17th to 19th homes. Guided walking tours of historic Ipswich are led by Gordon Harris, the Town historian.
Trails and Outdoor recreation in Ipswich - More than 50% of land in Ipswich is protected by the town, state and non-profit organizations, offering extensive trails.
Attractions - With the North Shore's best beach, dozens of outdoor attractions and the best-preserved Puritan town in America, there's so much to do in Ipswich, MA!
17th Century houses in Ipswich, Massachusetts - Ipswich is believed to have 59 houses with elements of "First Period" English construction, of which approximately 3 dozen date to the 17th Century. View also 18th and 19th Century Ipswich houses.
Lyceum Thursdays - This summer will feature our new Ipswich Lyceum series at the Take-out Terrace in the EBSCO parking lot between Zumi's and the Riverwalk Mural. The Lyceum will feature a series of speakers every Thursday evening at 8:00 pm throughout the months of July and August, 2022. Programs will be on a wide range of topics, and will be about half an hour with time for discussion. 
Thursday, July 7: The History of the dams and bridges on the Ipswich River - Come learn about the fascinating history of the downtown bridges and dams on I the Ipswich River, a presentation by Scott Jewell, technology and engineering teacher for the Ipswich Middle School.
How to Fix Our Endangered Ipswich River, Thursday June 30 - Join Wayne Castonguay of the Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) for the first of our summer Lyceum series on Thursday evening June 30 for a presentation and discussion about the Ipswich River, which has been listed as being among America's most endangered rivers, citing the grave threat that excessive water withdrawals pose to ecosystem health and regional water security. Lyceum Thursdays - This summer will feature our new Ipswich Lyceum series at the Take-out Terrace in the EBSCO parking lot between Zumi's and the Riverwalk Mural. The Lyceum will feature a series of speakers every Thursday evening at 8:00 pm throughout the months of July and August, 2022. Programs will be on a wide range of topics, and will be about half an hour with time for discussion. 
A photographic journey and a stroll along the Ipswich River - Join us for a slideshow of historic photos followed by a walk along the Ipswich River.
Hall-Haskell House Gallery 2022 art schedule - The Hall-Haskell House Gallery shares 36 S. Main St. with the Ipswich Visitor Center.
The Story Behind the Story of Wigwam Hill - As a researcher on Indigenous history here, I was captivated by this account, both for its romance and its tragedy. Who were these people? Where did they come from and where did they go? Why was all that happening and what did it mean? And what did it have to do with Masconomet's Agawam Village, known archaeologically as once having occupied that same Wigwam Hill site on Castle Neck? Following are the answers I discovered.
The U.S. Supreme Court and its relation to the Salem witch trials - The United States Supreme Court is expected to make a decision about women's rights based on a ruling by a judge who lived 400 years ago, and who based his opinion on Medieval precedents.
Thomas Dennis, legendary Ipswich joiner - Thomas Dennis (1638–1706), came to Ipswich from Devonshire, England. His home at 7 County Street still stands, and is where he practiced his trade as a joiner and master carver. The furniture of Thomas Dennis took on the status of historic treasure, and over time more pieces were attributed to him than he could have produced in his lifetime.
Nathaniel Ward: “The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America” - The Rev. Nathaniel Ward emigrated to Massachusetts in 1634 and served for two years as the minister in Ipswich. His "Body of Liberties" established a code of fundamental principles of government for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Ward's book "The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America" was published in England in 1647.
The hanging of John Williams and William Schooler, July 1637 - In 1637, two men convicted on separate counts of murder were executed in Boston on the same gallows. John Williams was convicted of killing John Hoddy near Great Pond in Wenham on the road to Ipswich. William Schooler was tried in Ipswich and found guilty of killing Mary Scholy on the path to Piscataqua.
Ipswich in the Civil War - By Harold Bowen: The monument was first erected by the town in 1871 as a memorial to those who died in the Civil War. It had an iron fence all around it and inside the enclosure was a stack of cannon balls in each corner where a flag was inserted.
The Revolutionary letters of Joseph and Sarah Hodgkins - Throughout the Revolutionary War, Joseph Hodgkins sent letters home from the battlefronts to his wife, Sarah, detailing the desperate troop conditions and longing for home. The physical letters are preserved and are offered here online, transcribed with grammatical corrections for readability
Categories: History
Historic Ipswich 
Bravo, yes, to all the information, so beautifully presented, about those of us with ancestors who lived for many years in the beautiful town. Many thanks!
History the way it should be. Great job!
I greatly appreciate this website. I live far away and visiting this site allows me a virtual visit.