The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”
The historic neighborhoods of Meeting House Green, High Street, the East End, and the South Green offer well-preserved streetscapes of 17th to 20th century homes. Walking tours of historic Ipswich are led by Town Historian Gordon Harris, who tells the stories of the town’s historic houses and the people who lived in them.
Dates and Times: Guided tours in 2021 are scheduled by individual or group request, and are then added to the calendar. Advance registrations are recommended, but regular tours are open to walk-ins. Group size for each tour will be limited to about a dozen people.
Charge: $10 per person. No charge for small children. Please pay by cash or check at the beginning of the tour. Tips are appreciated.
Reserve or request a tour by sending an email to: historicipswich@gmail.com or text Gordon Harris (978) 979-6598. Please leave your email address and the date you are requesting. (Tours will follow mandated COVID-19 protocols.)
Historic Ipswich walking tour from the Ipswich Visitor Center
Description: This full version of the Historic Ipswich tour starts at the Ipswich Visitor Center and follows the River to Water, Summer, County East, Meeting House Green, North Main and South Main Streets., with a total distance of 1.4 miles. This tour takes about 1.5 – 2 hrs. and is for participants who can walk at a steady pace. (Slower walkers will enjoy the shorter version that starts at Meeting House Green).
Location: The Ipswich Visitor Center at 36 South Main St. View location.
Meeting House Green & the East End
Description: This 3/4 mile tour begins at Meeting House Green and visits the East End Historic District, including North Main, East, Summer, Water, and County Streets. Extended tours and options include the South Green, High St., and the Old North Burying Ground, taking up to 1 1/2 hrs, depending on the pace of the group.
Location: This tour starts in the garden at the intersection in front of the Ipswich Public Library on Meeting House Green. View at Google Maps.
Custom Ancestry Tours
The minimum charge for special group tours or custom tours is $100 for the group. To arrange a custom group tour, email Ipswich town historian Gordon Harris at historicipswich@gmail.com. Please include and persons, houses or locations you are interested in seeing.
- View a comprehensive 4-mile Historic Ipswich tour online or follow on your cell phone
- Download a comprehensive 4-mile tour of historic Ipswich as a PDF document
Some scenes from the tour:
I went on a tour with Mr. Harris this July. As one whose family is derived from Ipswich but who had never visited, it was a true privelege to hear Mr. Harris speak with passion and erudition on the history of a town that is now very dear to me. Those with even the faintest interest in history should avail themselves of the opportunity to hear a real authority on Ipswich by scheduling a tour.
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Thank you Gordon, for the great tour of Ipswich on Aug. 4th. With Daniel Hovey, the immigrant, being my 9th great-grandfather, and us being the only ones on the tour that day, you were able to spend a little more time on various Hovey homes around town. And yes, I think we did find the original site of Daniel’s house on Tansey Lane. It is a long trip from Arizona, but we will be back, very soon, hw hope. Thank you again for making the history come alive. It was a great day for both of us.
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We had a delightful, informative, entertaining walking tour of Ipswich. Gordon had the history, humor and time to do it justice. Great take!
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Mr. Harris was kind enough to arrange a private tour for me and my father. We walked for hours through Ipswich — we were given the option to drive but declined — as Mr. Harris gave us an enthralling orientation to Ipswich history. He took us to numerous sites of note to the Fellows family and expounded some of the reasons for their importance. I encourage anyone interested in Ipswich to schedule a tour with Mr. Harris; it is a real treat to hear someone discourse avidly and expertly on a subject about which he is passionate, especially if the fate of one’s family is tied into that subject.
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Regarding the Walking Tours – highly recommended! If you want to learn why they built the way they did, Gordon knows his stuff. These people were practical, orderly and committed. They had town rules for building and for respecting the land. To top it off, seeing a home that was built by, or belonged to, your own ancestor is really exciting. I love this town, and I’m so thankful it has been preserved. Thanks to Ipswich and all those who have worked, and continue to work, for this amazing history.
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As a descendent of early pioneer Isaac Cummings, it was a special moment to be standing on land he owned as his life in Ipswich was described. Gordon made history come alive for a tour bus of descendents. Thank you Gordon.
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My mom’s family has been in Ipswich and Rowley since the Great Migration and we lived there back in the early 70s. I need to head up that way and take this tour.
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Fantastic !
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Great job, Gordon! Thanks for all your work on this.
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This is one of the best walking tours I’ve been on. Gordon’s knowledge of the history of Ipswich allowed us to understand the daily life of Ipswich resdents from the time the town was established through the Revolutionary War and beyond. We learned things the history books omit. It is worth your time to take this tour!
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If you have a chance, take Gordon’s tour! Even as an Ipswich resident, I learned so much about our town and our history. Take the tour, you will be glad you did!
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