Picture life before the modern amenities of today's hotels in a setting where Henry Longfellow himself was inspired to write some of the great works of American literature. Bring Longfellow's 1862 "Tales of a Wayside Inn" to life by visiting the sacred ground upon which he wrote said tales.
To visit the Wayside Inn is to step into the pages of history with its narrow hallways, giant fireplaces and several rooms on display, furnished exactly as in Longfellow's time. Not only that, but you're likely to run across a group dressed in authentic historical costumes or hear drum and fife groups as you stroll the grounds.
Longfellow's Wayside Inn
An enchanting place to lay your head and dream of a simpler life. Explore the well-preserved ambiance from the grand front door to the artwork, exhibits, and antiques, (many original to the Inn itself), to the costumed guests and employees.
Year-round beauty is to be found whether you come in the Spring for the gorgeous blooms, the Summer for the lush greenery, the Autumn explosion of color, or for Winter's serenity and Rockwell-like beauty. Stroll the grounds to take in the restored water wheel at The Grist Mill, The Martha Mary Chapel and the canopy of maple and oak tree branches and postcard perfect views of The Wayside Inn.
Don't be surprised to cross paths with a couple of Red Coats, men in three-corner hats or a drum and fife group playing away as the sun sets. For special events, yes, but many of these costumed characters simply love history and gather on the grounds or at the Inn to bring history to life and capture the imagination of visitors. To ensure a historical experience with re-enactments, be sure to plan travel surrounding the many annual events scheduled from season to season.
Howe Tavern at the Wayside Inn
Looking for an unusual way to drink in some history? Stop in to The Howe Tavern for America's first mixed-drink, the Coow Woow...not for the faint-hearted! Sit at one of the little tables in this tiny room with a giant fireplace and enjoy as history buffs talk tales and history of the Inn.
Be sure to stop in at the restaurant on the lower floor of the Inn and enjoy the many smaller gathering rooms or the larger banquet room and a historical dining experience. The walls are adorned with interesting artwork, articles and portraits giving an additional layer of information and ambiance to the Inn's already fascinating atmosphere.
To get the full experience and history behind the Wayside Inn, plan travel around a season or event of interest. From the rumored haunting to Henry Ford's role in the Inn's history to the charm of staying where Longfellow himself wrote and resided for a time, there is enough history to fill yet another novel. Whether to educate kids with history right out of their textbooks or to bring the imagination to life with a historical destination, Longfellow's Wayside Inn stands out in American history right in the heart of New England.
Melissa Fouch - MELISSA FOUCH MACHOWSKI OVERVIEW Boston-based writer and web designer Melissa Fouch Machowski is a staff writer for ...
