Summary
Located on the South Shore, Scituate is a picturesque coastal town featuring a charming village center adjacent to a natural harbor.
A significant portion of Scituate’s exceptional dining and retail experiences can be found around the harbor, which also serves as a hub for fishing charters and a venue for various community events during the warmer months.
The Scituate Historical Society preserves a collection of historic houses and structures throughout the town, providing an excellent opportunity to visit during Scituate Heritage Days in August when many of these sites are open to the public.
The town is home to five public beaches and lies on the northern edge of a substantial and ecologically rich wetland at the estuary of the North and South rivers.
1. Scituate Lighthouse
Located at Cedar Point on the northern edge of Scituate Harbor, this lighthouse is the eleventh built in the United States.
Constructed in 1810, the Old Scituate Light gained prominence during the War of 1812, particularly in 1814 when Rebecca and Abigail Bates, known as The Lighthouse Army of Two, successfully deterred a British attack by creating the illusion of a local militia through musical performance.
The lighthouse remained operational until the mid-19th century, when Minot’s Ledge Light was established one mile offshore. Scituate acquired the lighthouse in 1917, and it is accessible during the Scituate Historical Society’s open house events.
Even outside these times, a visit offers the chance to enjoy the exceptional harbor views, witnessing some of the most stunning sunrises and sunsets.
2. Scituate Harbor
Recognized as a Cultural District, Scituate’s award-winning town center is a quaint seaside village filled with restaurants, shops, maritime businesses, and other local amenities situated behind charming historic storefronts.
The waterfront is accessible, allowing visitors to enjoy views of the harbor, First Cliff, and the various yachts and sailboats moored in the protected waters.
The Harborwalk extends for over half a mile and includes the Morrill Bandstand, a venue for outdoor summer events, including the Harbor Bandstand concert series that takes place on Thursday evenings until late October.
The First Friday event is a town-wide occasion, featuring local artists and artisans showcasing their work in businesses around Scituate Harbor.
These events are just two examples of the myriad of activities taking place over more than six months, from St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Halloween in the Harbor.
3. Lawson Tower
Resembling a fairytale castle turret, the 153-foot Lawson Tower was constructed in 1902 to conceal a steel water tank.
Thomas W. Lawson, a wealthy investor, was the driving force behind the tower’s creation, aiming to enhance the aesthetic appeal of his nearby Dreamworld farm.
Lawson also contributed to the installation of a set of bells in one of the upper chambers, still played by a carillonneur on special occasions.
Lawson Tower remains a significant landmark for Scituate, and visitors can climb the 123-step stairway on select open house days hosted by the Scituate Historical Society for breathtaking views of the South Shore and Boston skyline.
4. Seafood
One of the delights of residing near the coast in Massachusetts is the opportunity to indulge in exceptional seafood sourced directly from the ocean.
Scituate excels in providing traditional New England cuisine, featuring dishes such as lobster rolls, baked haddock, swordfish, clam chowder, lobster stew, clam strips, crab cakes, and fried scallops.
Notably situated on Scituate Harbor, Mill Wharf (23 Mill Wharf Plaza) offers all these beloved dishes and more on its menu.
Other noteworthy establishments include Satsuit Tavern (39 Jericho Rd), Oro (227 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy), Barker Tavern (21 Barker Rd), and Roht Marine (2205 Main St), located just across the North River in Marshfield.
5. Driftway Park
Characterized by its remarkable natural beauty, Driftway Park conserves approximately 330 acres of salt marsh at the mouth of the Herring River.
Spring and fall provide excellent opportunities to observe migratory birds, while Lookout Hill offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape. The lower stretches of the Herring River also serve as a favored paddling destination during summer.
The park’s history hints at its past as an industrial site; it was a sand and gravel quarry from 1914 until 1963, supplying materials for monumental projects like Boston Logan International Airport. A remnant from this era is the decaying wharf where sand barges were loaded, destined for Boston.
6. Kathleen Laidlaw Center (Schoolhouse)
The headquarters of the Scituate Historical Society is housed in this elegant schoolhouse, which was completed in 1893 and originally served as Scituate’s high school.
Originally located next to the old Town Hall, the building was relocated to its current site at 43 Cudworth Rd in 1919, shortly after the construction of a new school facility.
Purchased from the town in the 1980s, the schoolhouse now features exhibit spaces, a library, map archives, a genealogical research center, offices, and a meeting room.
The structure underwent extensive restoration in 2020, aided by images from the society’s archives. Visitors are welcome on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
7. Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum
The Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum offers an insightful exploration of Scituate’s longstanding connection to the sea, located in one of the historic houses maintained by the Scituate Historical Society.
This First Period Capt. Benjamin James house, built around 1700, features exhibits addressing topics ranging from lifesaving and the historic shipbuilding industry on the North River to fishing and the Irish-led sea mossing industry, which thrived from the mid-19th century through the late 20th century.
Visitors can learn about the vessels that became stranded or wrecked on Scituate’s shores and the harsh Portland Gale of 1898, a devastating storm that forever transformed the town’s coastline. The museum is open on Sunday afternoons.
8. Bates Lane Conservation Area
The town owns nearly 350 acres of woodland in the far western part of Scituate, which was originally farmland approximately 200 years ago.
This area gradually transitioned into pine and hardwood forest by the mid-19th century, with only the stone walls that defined the farmland remaining.
Noteworthy glacial erratic boulders, deposited around 10,000 years ago, can be seen along both the orange-blazed Maxwell Trail and the blue Carl Pipes Trail.
The orange-blazed trail leads to Teepee Rock, a prominent outcropping of Avalon granite that dates back 430 million years.
The property also includes five certified vernal pools that support diverse wildlife, including salamanders and wood frogs.
9. Peggotty Beach
This public beach, spanning half a mile, is a short yet scenic walk from Scituate Harbor, passing the expansive Kent Street Marshes along the way.
With a steep incline into the ocean, Peggotty Beach is covered with coarse, hard-packed sand set within a relatively sheltered bay.
During winter months, the beach endures significant coastal storms, illustrated by a pair of abandoned houses on stilts affected by erosion.
During peak season, visitors can obtain non-resident beach parking stickers from the Scituate Treasurer’s Office, while visitor passes are available from the Harbormaster’s Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
10. Old Stockbridge Grist Mill
Where First Herring Brook flows into Old Oaken Bucket Pond is home to one of the oldest remaining mills in the country.
The Old Stockbridge Grist Mill, dating back to around 1650, was constructed by John Stockbridge and initially accompanied by a sawmill, as the brook was dammed during the late 1630s. The Stockbridge family operated this pair of mills for over 160 years, after which the Greenbush family took over in the 1830s.
The Greenbush family maintained ownership for a century before transferring the pond to the town and donating the grist mill to the Scituate Historical Society.
A significant amount of original detail remains, including much of the grinding equipment. The mill is adjacent to a charming wooded pocket park with picnic tables overlooking the brook. The interior is accessible during frequent Society Open House days.
11. Untold Brewing
This craft brewery, established in Scituate in 2017, operates out of a historic schoolhouse built in 1852.
Founded by a local resident, Untold Brewing emphasizes community engagement, hosting a range of public events and charitable initiatives.
The available beers reflect local flavors and the seasonal changes of New England.
The brewery features a core lineup of four beers: Seatown Lager, Sunny Sea (Hazy IPA), Pale 143 (American Pale Ale), and East by Northwest (West Coast IPA), alongside an assortment of seasonal, limited-edition, and collaborative brews, including a honey IPA and a stout made with Taza chocolate.
Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, this unique venue is conveniently located just a minute or two on foot from the Greenbush MBTA station.
12. Humarock Beach
Although this beach and its oceanfront community belong to Scituate, reaching it requires traveling through Marshfield.
This geographical circumstance is due to the Portland Gale of 1898, which irrevocably altered the coastline, separating Humarock and Fourth Cliff from the remainder of the town.
Adjoined by the South River, this three-mile-long barrier beach exhibits distinct characteristics in winter when the rocky coastline presents a scenic appearance, contrasted by softer sandy beach access in summer.
The public beach area at 30 Marshfield Ave is somewhat limited, but virtually limitless walking opportunities are available along the shoreline. Parking is restricted, and a Scituate sticker is necessary for use of the main parking lot.
13. Mann Farmhouse
Situated south of the Town Common and cemeteries, this charming Cape-style home is another site managed by the Scituate Historical Society, nestled within a small public park.
The Mann Farmhouse was constructed by the descendants of Richard Mann, who settled in Scituate as early as 1636.
The Mann family is noted for its meticulous record-keeping, tracing their lineage from Richard Mann’s arrival to the death of the last resident, Percy Thomas Mann, in 1968.
They also preserved many family heirlooms, and the farmhouse is filled with artifacts representing various trades, from carpentry to beekeeping, seafaring, and teaching.
Visitors can see the remnants of a Buick abandoned in the yard by Percy in the 1920s. The grounds are open for free visits daily, while the house may be explored on select open days.
14. Old Oaken Bucket
This homestead and its well were significant attractions in Scituate during the 19th century, owing to the local-born Romantic poet Samuel Woodworth (1784-1842).
His stone well and wooden bucket inspired the well-known poem “Old Oaken Bucket” (1817), which was set to music in 1826, becoming Scituate’s town song in 1835 following a popular vote.
The oldest portion of the homestead dates back to 1675 and was subsequently incorporated into the main Cape-style structure in 1826. A Scituate Historical Society sign and an antique cast iron historical marker erected by the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission in 1930 are located at the front.
15. Scituate Heritage Days
Each year, the town commemorates its rich maritime heritage during a three-day festival on the first weekend of August.
Centered around the harbor yet encompassing various activities throughout the town, Scituate Heritage Days features live music, artisan crafts, delectable food, local wine and beer, historical appreciation, family fun, and much more.
This event provides a fantastic opportunity to explore many historical sites highlighted in this article, with open houses at attractions such as the Scituate Lighthouse, Lawson Tower, Mann Farmhouse, and Old Stockbridge Grist Mill.
Younger attendees can enjoy a variety of activities, including a petting farm, mobile gaming trailer, and themed pirate and princess events at the Morrill Bandstand.
