Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historical Site

Last updated: January 20, 2023

I love that I was able to take nine days and explore New England. While that’s definitely not enough time to thoroughly visit Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, it was enough time to get just a taste to know I want to go back!

My main goal while in Massachusetts was to visit Salem and see all 15 National Park Service sites, but only had time for 13 (and I barely got those in!). Not to mention Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Oh well… I guess I’ll have to go back, darn it. 😉

Longfellow House

The Longfellow House preserves the home of Henry W. Longfellow, one of the world’s foremost 19th century poets. The house also served as headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston, July 1775 – April 1776. Lots of rich history in this house!

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Check out the rest of my Massachusetts extravaganzas by checking out my adventures by location page!