MassachusettsHISTORY EXPLORERS GRADES 3–8
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Quick glossary
evidence
Information from a source that helps us test a claim.
source
A document, object, image, or account we can examine.
inference
An explanation based on clues; it still needs checking.
migration
Moving from one place to another to live.
immigrant
A person who moves to another country to live.
estimate
An approximate amount, based on available information.
oral history
A recorded interview about someone’s memories and experiences.
community
People connected by a place, relationships, or shared activities.
ancestry
Family origins across generations.
primary source
Evidence created by someone who experienced a time or event.

The map room

Locate. Compare. Question.

Switch between real geographic maps, investigate six Vineyard towns, and compare a historical map with present-day places.

3.T1 · 3.T2 · 3.T3 · 3.T6

Massachusetts: places in our history

Massachusetts: places in our historyAtlantic OceanMASSACHUSETTS123456N050 km*
Legend: blue = water; light land = geographic context; gold = Massachusetts; numbered circles = places described below. North is up. *Scale is approximate at the map’s middle latitude. Distances are straight-line distances, not road or ferry routes.
Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 cartographic data. Modern boundaries are not Native homeland borders.

Boston

State House, Faneuil Hall, and the Big Dig connect government, commerce, and archaeology.

Investigate this story →
Boston and its harbor around 1775

Boston before today’s shoreline

Look for the narrow connection between Boston and the mainland. Find islands and military works. Why might a military map emphasize these features?

Library of Congress record ↗

Try the map-skills investigation →
Explore the six lessons →Image credits & sources →
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