Poets and writers have long been inspired by the beauty of the Nahant coastline. Join The Gibson House Museum on September 16 as we celebrate Nahant’s literary past with a special walking tour led by Ken Turino of Historic New England and Chris Mathias, past president of the Nahant Historical Society and coauthor of Nahant Revisited. The tour will stop at scenic places associated with such literary luminaries as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sylvia Plath–and, of course, summer resident Charlie Gibson. Excerpts from their work will be highlighted.
Expect a leisurely stroll lasting approximately 2½ hours. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!
Directions will be sent with confirmation. Register HERE.
Join The Gibson House Museum for a two-hour historical walking tour of Nahant led by Chris Mathias (past president, Nahant Historical Society) and Ken Turino (Historic New England).
The smallest town in Massachusetts, Nahant does not come up short in history. Located on two islands, it was originally part of Lynn (1629), separating in 1853.
On this tour you will see significant and architecturally diverse Nahant historical sites, the summer homes of the Gibsons and their Hammond relatives, and the location of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house. At frequent stops along the way, you’ll learn about Nahant’s rich history. Hear the stories of the workers, politicians, poets, scientists, artists, and Egg Rock lighthouse keepers who called Nahant home. See the sites of the grand hotels dating from when Nahant was “the” summer resort for the Boston elite, as well as an amusement park and military installations for coastal defense.
The tour loops from one end of Big Nahant to the other, with spectacular views out to the open ocean one way and Boston on the other.
Expect a leisurely stroll of 2.5 miles on paved roads, with the ups and downs of Nahant’s terrain. The tour will end with a glass of bubbly or lemonade, with time to reflect on what you have experienced on the terrace of the hosts’ home overlooking the ocean.
We promise an enjoyable and enlightening experience! Come prepared with sturdy walking shoes and an inquisitive mind.
Ken Turino and Chris Mathias are the authors of Nahant (1999); in December 2021 Chris Mathias authored Nahant Revisited.
$25 Gibson House members; $30 non-members Space is limited!
