Summary
On the North Shore, this exceptionally preserved town boasts more surviving First Period houses than any other community in the United States.
There are approximately 60 houses in Ipswich that were constructed prior to 1725, with several operating as historic house museums and dining establishments.
More recently established is the Crane Estate, a remarkable coastal property where an industrialist created his opulent country residence in the early 20th century.
The estate’s house and gardens at Castle Hill can be toured, and the beach along with its reservation offers breathtaking views.
1. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
In the early 20th century, Chicago industrialist Richard Teller Crane, Jr. constructed a lavish country estate on a waterfront drumlin, framed by the sea and salt marsh.
Deeded by Crane and his wife to the Trustees of Reservations, this expansive area of over 2,000 acres features grounds landscaped by the esteemed Olmsted Brothers, along with a magnificent beachfront, dunes, and extensive stands of pitch pines.
Atop Castle Hill sits a 59-room Jacobean-style mansion, which offers a clear view of Ipswich Bay along the picturesque Grande Allée.
An informative guided tour of the Great House allows visitors to appreciate the opulence of the Italian Garden and Rose Garden.
During the summer, the gardens serve as an elegant venue for an evening concert series held on Thursdays.
2. Crane Beach
Located on the shore of the Crane Estate is one of the premier beaches in the Northeast. Crane Beach spans four miles and is bordered by majestic dunes and a maritime pitch pine forest.
As the tide recedes, extensive sandbars emerge, creating lagoon-like pools of warm water during the summer months.
The scenery is also astonishing; on the northern side of Ipswich Bay, the sandy shores of Plum Island are visible. Crane Beach serves as a nesting site for the piping plover, a shorebird that was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century.
Their nesting areas are indicated by marked fences and regions containing organic washed-up debris known as The Wrack.
3. Downtown Ipswich
One of the optimal ways to experience Ipswich is to explore on foot, strolling through the historic center and along the banks of the Ipswich River, where a pathway leads past the town hall.
This leisurely walk may take some time, as four historic districts converge at the heart of the town. These areas—Meetinghouse Green, South Green, High Street, and the East End—are rich with residential, public, and commercial architecture spanning the 1600s to the 1800s.
The layout of these neighborhoods has remained largely unchanged for centuries, and examining historical photographs at the Ipswich Museum may reveal just how little the buildings have modified.
An ideal starting point for a tour is Meetinghouse Green, where Town Hill served as Ipswich’s earliest core in the 1630s.
4. Ipswich Museum
Situated just off the town’s South Green, the Ipswich Museum oversees three historic houses that are open for tours during the summer season. This organization originated in 1890 as the Ipswich Historical Society.
The museum’s collection, displayed in its two principal houses (Heard House and Whipple House), includes the largest single collection of works by the Ipswich-born landscape painter Arthur Wesley Dow (1857-1922).
Northern Main Street features the Heard House, constructed in the Federal style at the dawn of the 19th century.
This grand 2½-story mansion contains 35 rooms and 18 fireplaces, adorned with period furniture, decorative arts, and costumes.
To the south stands the Whipple House, dating back to 1677 and once home to one of the wealthiest individuals in the town. It later became one of the first historic house museums in the nation when it was restored and opened to the public in the 1890s.
Nearby, the Alexander Knight House represents a rare instance of a modest dwelling from the mid-17th century.
5. Clam Box of Ipswich
The most iconic restaurant in Ipswich, Clam Box, is a New England seafood shack that has served as a local landmark since 1935.
Generations of patrons have savored fresh local seafood at the Clam Box of Ipswich, and the establishment’s fame has been amplified by features on the Food Network and in Yankee Magazine.
The architectural design of the building is noteworthy, resembling an inverted trapezoid that evokes an opened to-go container, conceived by its founder, Richard J. Greenleaf Jr.
His brother, an Ipswich-based shellfish dealer, provided him with early access to the freshest clams. Nearly 90 years later, lines still form for the fried clams, encased in a signature crispy batter. Other menu offerings include onion rings, lobster rolls, fried haddock, and fried scallops.
6. Wolf Hollow
On weekends in Ipswich, visitors can observe a pack of gray wolves in a semi-wild environment at a sanctuary operated by the North American Wolf Foundation.
Founded in the late 1980s, Wolf Hollow began with a pack of five pups donated by conservation facilities across the nation and is dedicated to long-term initiatives aimed at preserving the gray wolf and its natural habitat.
During a pre-arranged visit, attendees can witness the dynamics of a wolf pack, gain insights into wolf biology, learn about the history of human-wolf interactions, and understand the challenges currently facing conservation efforts.
7. Hall-Haskell House
Adjacent to the Ipswich Museum on Middle Green, a commendable starting point for your walking tour of the center is this charming Federal-style house, built in 1820.
Commonly referred to as the Little Red House, the Hall-Haskell House was once owned by a former mariner, who resided on the upper floor while he and his wife operated a general store below.
By the 1980s, the structure was at risk of collapse when it was acquired by the town and restored over several years into the 1990s.
Currently, the Hall-Haskell House serves as a visitor center in the summer, offering historical information, brochures, guidance on the various offerings of Ipswich, and displays of local artwork.
8. Willowdale State Forest
A significant portion of western Ipswich consists of open public land, ideal for outdoor recreation. The Willowdale State Forest spans multiple towns and encompasses the scenic 100-acre Hood Pond, a destination for fishing and canoeing.
This area can be found west of Route 1, while the eastern side presents a vast wooded area interlaced with fire roads and singletrack trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing during the winter.
This is also the segment of the Bay Circuit Trail that crosses Ipswich on its 230-mile journey from neighboring Newburyport to Duxbury.
9. Appleton Farms
Managed by the Trustees of Reservations, the history of Appleton Farms can be traced back to a land grant awarded to Samuel Appleton in 1638, making it one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the state.
The property was passed down through nine generations of the Appleton family until it was entrusted to the Trustees by Francis R. Appleton, Jr. and his wife, Joan Mary Egleston, in the 20th century.
From the Old House, visitors can explore a six-mile trail network that leads through lush pastures grazed by dairy cows.
Additional highlights include a network of centuries-old stone walls, a serene picnic area, and a small farm store selling eggs, meat, and fresh produce from this and other Trustees farms.
10. Ipswich Ale Brewery
Established prior to the craft beer movement, Ipswich Ale Brewery has been producing quality ales and lagers since 1991, building an esteemed reputation throughout New England.
In 2016, the brewery opened its on-site restaurant and taproom, the Ipswich Ale Brewer’s Table, featuring a diverse menu that ranges from traditional pub fare to New American cuisine, alongside 15 tap lines.
For those unfamiliar with the Ipswich Ale Brewery’s offerings, notable options include the Original Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout, India Pale Ale, Celia Saison, and the Route 101 West Coast Style IPA.
Ordering a flight allows you to sample a variety, and popular food pairings include the patty melt and poutine.
11. Marini Farm Stand
This third-generation farm located in the interior of Ipswich is celebrated for its exceptional fresh produce, alongside various other attractions.
From spring, visitors can check out the greenhouses for perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetable plants, and hanging plants.
The farm stand opens in early summer, offering a continuously changing selection of fruits and vegetables, delectable baked goods, and specialty items.
During the fall, the farm hosts a corn maze, providing family-friendly entertainment that draws visitors from across New England. Later, seasonal festivities commence, allowing shoppers to purchase balsam and fraser firs, along with charming handmade gifts and decorations.
12. Sandy Point State Reservation
While it may require a lengthy drive, the beach-lined southern tip of Plum Island lies within the jurisdiction of Ipswich.
This 11-mile barrier island is named for the beach plum shrubs that inhabit its dunes. The island serves as a critical nesting site for piping plovers and is situated on migratory routes for numerous bird species.
At the Sandy Point State Reservation, visitors can observe these shorebirds, along with various seabirds such as least terns.
The scenery is another compelling reason to visit; the views at sunset are truly enchanting, offering a fresh perspective across Ipswich Bay.
During low tide, you will be astonished by how far you can wander, revealing an extensive system of tidal pools to explore.
13. Russell Orchards
Established in 1920, this family-owned farm invites guests to pick their own fruits during the summer and fall seasons.
Russell Orchards cultivates strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, jostaberries, and apples, with the pick-your-own season typically extending from June to mid-October, concluding with the last of the apples.
Beyond fruit picking, the farm features a winery with a tasting room located in the main barn, and a bakery offering apple cider donuts, fruit tarts, and pies made from orchard-fresh fruit.
The farm store also stocks seasonal produce, freshly pressed cider, eggs, honey, ice cream, and an array of gourmet products sourced from local farms and artisans.
14. 1640 Hart House
One of Ipswich’s collection of 17th-century houses is accessible to the public as a tavern offering New American cuisine. Located at 51 Linebrook Road, Hart House is slightly younger than the name implies, yet not by much.
A recent dendrochronological survey has dated the oldest sections of this structure to the late 1670s, and the menu features stories about the Hart family and the subsequent owners over the last 350 years.
Menu options include a rosemary and garlic rack of lamb, bouillabaisse, sesame-crusted tuna, pumpkin sage ravioli, New England pot roast, fish & chips, and the Hart House burger.
15. 1634 Meadery
This craft operation specializes in producing traditional honey wine in small batches, and there is much to admire about it.
1634 Meadery supports the local economy by sourcing honey, fruit, and other ingredients from nearby farms and businesses.
The tasting room features a selection of over a dozen meads, varying from dry to sweet. Some notable examples at the time of this writing included Serendipity (ginger pear), Blueberry Dream, Craneberry (cranberry), and Orange Elation (orange blossom honey).
Engaging with the friendly staff will provide valuable insights regarding the production process and ingredients, while tours are available upon request.
