Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Duxbury, MA

Duxbury is an upscale community located on the South Shore, which gained prominence towards the end of the Age of Sail in the early 19th century.

The town features an impressive public beach park, stretching across a long crescent of sand that extends into Cape Cod Bay for six miles.

Behind the beach, the sheltered waters of Duxbury Bay were ideal for shipbuilding, and during the late 18th century, local shipyards evolved from constructing schooners to three-masted ships.

These vessels brought considerable wealth to local merchants, which can still be seen today in the Old Shipbuilder’s Historic District along Washington Street.

The majority of residences in this district exhibit Federal architectural styling and were constructed during a period of rapid building activity. This was prompted by a brief crisis following the Embargo Act of 1807, during which skilled woodworkers transitioned from shipbuilding to home construction.

1. Duxbury Beach Park

Spanning six miles and curving into Cape Cod Bay, Duxbury Beach is recognized as one of the most picturesque and accessible beaches in Massachusetts.

This beach extends partly into Marshfield and Plymouth, and is connected from Powder Point in Duxbury by a wooden bridge, initially constructed in 1892 and renovated in the same architectural style during the 1980s.

For those with a parking sticker, this bridge provides the most convenient access to the lifeguarded beach park, while day visitors can reach it via Marshfield to the north.

Well-maintained and characterized by warm summer waters, the beach is particularly stunning at low tide, revealing a large expanse of sand and shallow water, with fewer rocks present.

When it comes to dining options, consider Blakeman’s Restaurant, specializing in traditional New England seafood dishes, including fish & chips, clam strips, scallops, and lobster rolls.

2. Alden House Historic Site

Situated atop a knoll overlooking the Bluefish River is the site where Mayflower cooper John Alden (c. 1598-1687) and his wife Priscilla (c. 1602-c. 1685), also a passenger on the Mayflower, established their home, raised their ten children, and became esteemed members of the Plymouth Colony.

The couple gained renown through Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s fictional poem, *The Courtship of Miles Standish* (1858).

The Alden family still owns this land, which includes the foundations of John and Priscilla’s home (c. 1630), along with a standing structure likely built by Alden’s grandson during the late 18th century.

The grounds, featuring heirloom gardens, are open year-round, with guided tours of the remaining house conducted on Saturday afternoons from June through October.

3. Myles Standish Monument State Reservation

Located near the site of his residence on the Nook in Duxbury, there exists a state park and tower dedicated to Myles Standish (c. 1584-1656), the military leader of the Plymouth colony.

This location boasts a spectacular vantage point, crowned by Captain’s Hill, which rises steeply to an elevation of 200 feet above sea level.

The monument, a 116-foot granite tower adorned with a 14-foot statue of Standish, was constructed in the late 1890s, coinciding with the period when Duxbury began to attract tourism.

Visitors can ascend the 125 steps to the top of the tower on weekends, commencing Memorial Day weekend, to experience breathtaking views of the South Shore.

The scenic panorama includes the Blue Hills, Duxbury Beach, Plymouth Harbor, and numerous spires and lighthouses. Even if the tower is not open during your visit, the view from the hilltop is still worth the hike.

4. Old Shipbuilder’s Historic District

To appreciate Duxbury’s rich maritime history, one may simply drive along Washington Street, occasionally exploring the side streets.

This thoroughfare extends from Hall’s Corner to Powder Point Avenue, running parallel to the shore and lined with approximately 200 historic homes, predominantly constructed in the Federal style between 1780 and 1840.

The prosperity of this era stemmed from maritime trade, allowing affluent shipbuilders and shipowners to erect elegant wooden houses that reflected their wealth.

A notable example is the Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. House, located at 479 Washington St., which is currently owned by the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society (more information below).

Other noteworthy houses include the Charles Drew, Jr. House at 685 Washington St. (1826), the Samuel Delano, Jr. House (1780) at 36 Plumfield Lane, and the Benjamin Bosworth House (1794) at 310 Washington St.

5. Island Creek Oysters

The frigid and saline waters of Duxbury Bay provide an ideal environment for cultivating exceptional oysters.

Interestingly, this fact remained underappreciated until the 1990s, when Skip Bennett, the son of a local lobsterman, began to harvest oysters alongside friends and family.

Today, Island Creek Oysters stands among a select few shellfish hatcheries in the Northeast, in addition to serving as a distributor that partners with approximately 100 farms, manages an online retail business, operates restaurants in the Boston area, and engages in international development through an NGO.

During the summer, visitors can explore the epicenter of oyster farming by taking a tour of the farm aboard the Nathaniel Winsor, a 27-foot Carolina Skiff. This tour covers the intricacies of oyster farming, showcasing what sets Island Creek Oysters apart.

This experience includes beverages, numerous firsthand anecdotes, and delectable oysters, along with shucking tips to master this essential skill.

6. Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. House

The headquarters of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society is a grand Federal-style home constructed for the affluent shipping merchant Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. and his spouse Hannah Loring Winsor.

Winsor was part of the third generation in a prominent shipbuilding family, whose father was instrumental in the large-scale production of schooners following the American Revolution.

Nathaniel Winsor, Jr.’s son would later establish one of the first clippership lines connecting Boston and San Francisco. The society acquired the house in 1997, and it is open to the public at no cost, Monday through Friday.

Visitors can appreciate the house’s stately proportions and detailed ornamentation, featuring pilasters at the corners and a lavish entrance complete with an elliptical fanlight and sidelights.

Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. was noted for his craftsmanship in carving figureheads, and he is believed to have contributed to the interior woodwork. The building serves as a venue for the society’s year-round educational programs, special events, and meetings.

7. Myles Standish Burial Ground (Old Burial Ground)

Duxbury hosts what is believed to be the oldest continuously maintained cemetery in the United States. Established around 1638, the Myles Standish Burial Ground occupies a triangular parcel of approximately 1.5 acres and serves as the final resting place for several Mayflower pilgrims, including Myles Standish.

His likely remains were uncovered in the early 1890s, and a grand fort-like monument was constructed on the site, featuring cannons (cast in Boston in 1853) positioned at each corner.

The oldest gravestone in the cemetery belongs to Jonathan Alden (d. 1697), the youngest offspring of Mayflower pilgrims John Alden and Priscilla Mullins Alden.

The second oldest gravestone commemorates Ichabod Wiswall (1637-1700), recognized for his role in facilitating the merger of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Bay Colonies during the 1690s after petitioning in London for a new royal charter for the Plymouth Colony.

8. North Hill Marsh (Eastern Greenbelt)

Encompassing over 1,000 acres, the interior of Duxbury comprises a diverse wetland area, interspersed with properties owned by public and private organizations, such as the Duxbury Conservation Commission and Mass Audubon.

These various parcels are interconnected by an expansive trail network traversing ever-evolving landscapes.

Some of these paths are of considerable historical significance, particularly on the eastern side of the marsh, which incorporates a section of the Green Harbor Trail linking Plymouth and Marshfield that dates back to 1623.

Adjacent to the southern shore of North Hill Marsh Pond lies Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuary, where visitors may observe rare box and spotted turtles near the water, along with various waterfowl including hooded mergansers, herons, buffleheads, and black and ring-necked ducks.

Mass Audubon has also established nesting boxes throughout the marsh to support approximately 100 nesting pairs of tree swallows.

9. Bradford House

Additionally maintained by the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society is a Federal-style wooden house established in 1807 by Captain Gershom Bradford.

The residence has a notable history, as Bradford’s wife, Sarah Hickling Bradford, oversaw the early construction phases while her husband was held captive by the French.

Remarkably, the Bradford House was owned and operated by a lineage of women during the 19th century.

Their daughters carved out distinguished paths, contributing to the Abolitionist movement, serving as Civil War nurses, or excelling as artists and amateur botanists.

Public tours are available from June to fall, offering insights into the Bradford family’s legacy through heirlooms, correspondence, logbooks, photographs, and a wealth of other records pertaining to one of Duxbury’s most chronicled families.

10. French Memories

French Memories has been a treasured culinary institution in Duxbury for over three decades, offering an authentic French patisserie experience with a range of items including baguettes, croissants, tarts, éclairs, macarons, mousses, choux pastries, and other elegant confections.

The shop’s co-owner, Philippe Odier, was raised in Paris and comes from a legacy of pastry chefs. French Memories has evolved into a sought-after destination for individuals across the South Shore, providing not only sweet delicacies but also a comprehensive menu featuring baguette sandwiches, paninis, croissant sandwiches, wraps, and quiches.

Many savory selections incorporate imported French ingredients, including cheeses such as bleu d’Auvergne and brie, alongside cornichons and pâtés.

11. Art Complex Museum

In a striking structure located near the Alden House, the Art Complex Museum serves as a regional art center, having been established in the early 1970s and set within a sprawling 13-acre landscape.

Founded by Carl A. Weyerhaeuser (1901-1996) and his wife Edith Greenleaf Weyerhaeuser (1912-2000), this museum boasts an extensive collection of approximately 8,000 pieces, notably featuring Shaker furniture and artifacts, contemporary art, American paintings, European prints, Asian Art, and works on paper.

Patrons may visit for engaging contemporary art exhibitions as well as curated showcases from the museum’s impressive collection, with the grounds adorned by various sculptures.

The Art Complex Museum is an active cultural space, hosting an array of events year-round, including concerts, lectures, educational programs, demonstrations, and tea ceremonies conducted at a tea house imported from Kyoto in 1975.

12. Farfar’s Danish Ice Cream Shop

Another essential, family-operated establishment to consider in Duxbury is an ice cream shop that has been in operation for more than four decades.

Known as Farfar’s, which translates to “father’s father” in Danish, it is named after patriarch Walter Simonsen, a Danish immigrant who enjoyed a fruitful career in the frozen dessert industry, having developed recipes for HP Hood.

This shop features a thoughtfully curated selection of flavors rather than the extensive offerings typical of ice cream stores. Recommended options include black raspberry, peanut butter, negative chocolate, and Danish sweet cream, which serves as an excellent base for various toppings like mixed nuts and crushed Oreos.

Visitors can design their own sundaes, and the shop also offers ice cream cakes ranging from four to eight inches in diameter.

13. King Caesar House

Ezra Weston II (1772-1842), the most prominent shipbuilder and merchant in Duxbury during the 19th century, inherited the nickname King Caesar from his father, Ezra I (d. 1822).

This remarkable Federal-style house, completed in 1809, remained within the Weston family until the 1880s when it was repurposed as a school, transitioning into the headmaster’s residence.

The property was acquired by the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society in the 1960s, which furnished the space with artifacts and memorabilia that evoke Duxbury’s shipbuilding heritage.

Remnants of King Caesar’s former wharf can also be observed in the public Bumpus Park, named after Tuft’s College president, Hermon Carey Bumpus (1862-1943), who oversaw the restoration of the house during the 1930s and 1940s.

The society organizes tours from June through the fall, showcasing highlights such as Weston’s bedroom and the Counting Rooms, which served as the operational hub of his enterprise.

14. Bay Farm Trails

Adjacent to Kingston’s Bay Farm Conservation Area, this town-owned land along the Kingston Bay shoreline represents the southern endpoint of the Bay Circuit Trail.

Acquired incrementally since the 1960s, Bay Farm has historical roots in agriculture dating back to 1627. Prior to that, it is believed to have served as a seasonal campsite for the Patuxet.

Spanning 80 acres, the area features two miles of trails across a variety of habitats, including grasslands, hardwood forests, wetlands, salt marshes, beaches, and rocky ledges with tide pools.

Notable is a majestic stand of cedars along the yellow trail, and on the Kingston side, there is a marker highlighting the 42nd Parallel, which traverses the property.

15. Bay Circuit Trail

The Bay Circuit Trail traces a route around Boston’s surrounding suburbs, extending for 230 miles to Plum Island in Newburyport.

Where feasible, the trail courses through reservations, parks, and conservation areas, while also passing numerous locations steeped in cultural and historical significance, including the Minuteman National Park.

Starting from the trailhead at Bay Farm, the trail diverges into two branches, one leading through Kingston and Pembroke, and the other heading northwest through Duxbury.

When traversing the latter, hikers will cross North Hill Marsh, along with several beautifully preserved conservation areas not detailed in this list, such as Cranberry Bog, Duxbury Bogs, and Ashdod Forest.