Roxbury Heritage State Park

IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape

The Dillaway -Thomas House on the park grounds

The Roxbury Heritage State Park is a state park conceived as a history museum in the oldest part of Boston's Roxbury district in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. The approximately 2 acres ( 1 ha) large park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR ) and is part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston.

Description

Historical Background

The site is located in the north of the district at the John Eliot Square, where there was the city center after the city's founding in 1630. Anchor point of the park is the Dillaway -Thomas House, considered, built in 1750 as the oldest standing building in Roxbury. Built in Georgian architecture building was originally built as a rectory for Oliver Peabody, who was in 1750 pastor of the First Church of Roxbury in the year. It was used in 1775 during the siege of Boston as a headquarters for General John Thomas and the Continental Army.

In 1776, cannons were transported from Fort Ticonderoga in New York by Henry Fox to Cambridge, whence they were genetics moved to Roxbury for attachment of Dorchester Heights. There they were used to force the British troops on March 17, 1776 for the evacuation of Boston. In the park, a memorial stone was placed in 2009, is reminiscent of the role of General Thomas in ending the siege of Boston. The memorial stone bearing the number 57 of a series of stones that remember when Henry Knox Trail to Noble train of artillery, and was also the first and so far only one has been added since 1927.

Restoration

A first restoration was carried out in the 1930s by a preservationist, however in an effort to embellish the story a bit, some inaccurate or erroneous corrections undertook. After two fires in the 1970s presented in 1984 a former resident of Roxbury successfully the request to restore the house with public funds again and disclosed as a reserve. The building was then completely restored, with some places were left untouched, for its development over two centuries in the context of a physical timeline. The work was completed in 1992. Inside is a museum with exhibits was established that reflect both the older and younger history of Roxbury and its people and cultures.

Others

To reserve also includes a 4,000 square meter landscaped park around the building, from which is good to see from the Boston skyline.