The arrival of the earliest pioneers near
Salem in 1630 was the shaping of
Massachusetts as a state. Puritans arriving from an
England threatened with civil war came to set up a new colony, intended to be an example to the world of a perfect human society with rigid Protestant discipline and a devout way of life. This was the beginning of
New England and today it is made up of six states including Massachusetts.
Boston has been the hub of the state since colonial times. The state capital is full of history that can be traced back through walking attractions like the
Freedom Trail and the
Black Heritage Trail.
Boston also boasts a wealth of culture thanks to the prestigious presence of
Harvard University and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
Cambridge. To the east lie the beaches of the
Cape Cod Peninsula as well as the islands of
Martha's Vineyard and
Nantucket that together form the region's most popular holiday destination, with historic towns and plenty of walking and cycling opportunities. Inland Massachusetts is much quieter with settlements having formed around the fertile river valleys and in the Berkshire Hills to the west. Development of
the Berkshires began with the construction of the railway from
New York and Boston and it became a favorite summer retreat for wealthy city folk as well as attracting artists and writers. The region is now most famous for its vibrant summer music, dance and theater festivals, particularly the
Boston Symphony Orchestra that has its home in the huge Tanglewood Estate in Lenox.
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