Colonization and Settlement

Join Park Rangers for a ranger led hike at Quarai every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am . Hikes are open to the public and no reservation is required. Bring plenty of water and snacks and wear comfortable shoes and proper clothing. For more details on upcoming events please consult the park calendar: https://www.nps.gov/sapu/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Become a Senior Ranger at the main Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center located at Fort Caroline. This is a free program that encourages adults to tour the site and learn more about the resources. After completing the application you will earn your own Senior Ranger badge.

HEY PETS!!! Do you want to proudly wear the Ninety Six National Historic Site BARK Ranger tag? Your human to help you get one, and you can both have fun while earning it. What does the human need to do for you? 1) Learn and follow the rules B is for bag your poop A is for always keep you on a leash (6' or shorter, please) R is to help you respect wildlife K is to know where you can go 2) Pick up a BARK Ranger page at the visitor center, bulletin board, or here and do the activities. 3) Once you have finished knock on the Visitor Center door to show the ranger that you have completed your booklet, and receive your official BARK Ranger dog tag and certificate!

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home located along the Battle Road in Minute Man National Historical Park. The tavern sits on a beautifully restored section of the battlefield and is the heart of our Living History operations at Minute Man. The grounds around Hartwell remain open sunrise to sunset. Living History at Hartwell Tavern: If you visit during the operational season, you will have an opportunity to explore the interior of Hartwell Tavern and talk with interpreters dressed in eighteenth century attire. Learn about the experiences of the Hartwell Family on April 19, 1775 or talk about popular drinks consumed in the 18th tavern room! During the summer and fall National Park Service staff will also conduct musket firing demonstrations outside the tavern. Park at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, walk dirt path 1/4 mile north to Tavern.

Did you know that dogs are welcome to visit Fort Stanwix National Monument with their special people? Learn the rules of B.A.R.K., participate in two activities below, and take the oath to become a Bark Ranger! You can also visit the ranger station inside the historic fort for a special B.A.R.K. Ranger stamp and collar tag! Activities : FIND A POOP BAG STATION - Sometimes your friend may wish to leave a present behind at the park. There are poop poles provided at two locations along the park trail, and several trash cans. Find one, just in case you must dispose of one of these gifts. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PUP ON LEASH - It is always important to keep your dog on a leash while exploring. Take a picture of your dog on their best behavior at the park! #FortStanwix #BARKRangers SAY HELLO TO ANOTHER VISITOR - Whether in your living room, in a local park, or on the lakeshore, find a spot to share a snack with your pet. Remember to keep them on a leash, dispose of any poop bags if needed, and always check hot pavement with the back of your hand before letting your pet walk across a street or parking lot on a hot day. If you can't hold your hand there, it's too hot! VISIT A BONUS PARK - Explore a park that shares Fort Stanwix’s history. Gansevoort Park, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of the American Revolution, and the Oneida Carry Monument, are all in walking distance. Be prepared to share a picture of your pupper in your picked park! B = Bag your poop! • Help keep the park clean by bagging your and placing it in a trash receptacle. • Dog waste is not natural fertilizer. It pollutes waterways and can spread disease. A = Always wear a leash! • Keep your dog and others safe by using a handheld leash no more than 6ft in length. • Even if your dog is friendly, not every person, animal, or other dog will react well to them. R = Respect wildlife! • Dogs can scare and chase birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting spots. • Even small animals wildlife can be unpredictable and dangerous to pets. Give them space. K = Know where you can go! • With the exception of service animals, no pets are permitted in park visitor centers. However, pups can go through most areas of the historic Fort that their humans can. B A R K Ranger Pledge: (Fill in your pet's name and your name in the spaces. Raise your right hand and your pet's paw and read the pledge out loud.) I, _______________________, a well-behaved dog, and my human, ____________________, promise to respect the rules of B.A.R.K. and to help show others how to care for our National Parks. Congratulations, B A R K Ranger!

The Wayside is open on Sunday and Wednesday, 1:00 - 5:00 pm. July 5 - September 5, 2026 Guided tours at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00pm Witness to over 300 years of history! From revolutionary patriots to famous authors, the Wayside has played host to many influential thinkers in American History. Learn more about the Wayside: Home of Authors by clicking here!

While Saratoga National Historical Park preserves the sites associated with the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, we’re also known to be a very popular spot for cycling; no matter your level of expertise. The grounds of Saratoga National Historical Park are open daily, year-round, from sunrise to sunset; cyclists are able to ride the tour road at any time, weather and conditions permitting. Check on updates to our operating hours to see when the Tour Road is open. Bikes must remain on paved surfaces and follow all New York State bicycle laws. Off-road use is not permitted. Bike Rentals Find out about bike rentals at Saratoga National Historical Park from BikeSaratoga. What to Expect BRING WATER! There is no water available along the tour road and fountains are turned off during the winter months. The tour road is a 9.5-mile, paved, one way road with a 25 mph speed limit and a multi-use lane on the right hand side. A bicycle is considered a vehicle and must follow the posted speed limit and one way flow of traffic. At the end of the tour road, cyclists will need to turn right and ride 1.5 miles back to the visitor center (if this is where you started). In total, the "battlefield loop" is about 11 miles and contains steep inclines and downhills. You will probably use every gear your bike has! Need a shorter ride? A service road is available just after the 5-mile mark; it is indicated by a brown and white sign next to the bike lane. NOTE: this service road is gravel and there is a steep hill; for your safety, please walk. If you decide to turn around and head back to the parking lot going against the flow of traffic, walk your bikes on the right side of the road or in the grass. Pedestrians have right of way in pedestrian/bike lane. There are 10 parking areas along the 11-mile loop for you take a break and explore the historical grounds this park preserves. This isn’t a race, so take your time and enjoy your surroundings. Watch out for wildlife on the road. Deer can be tame and just stand on the road as you approach. Whether you've ridden the battlefield before or not, be sure to check out our additional tips below for a fun (and safe) ride at Saratoga NHP!

Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested. Please Note: There will be no Walkabout on July 2. June 4: From Forge to Fortune in Northbridge Location: 50 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, MA How did the Revolutionary generation in Northridge set the stage for the future of American industry? Learn how a small forge along the Mumford River gave rise to a textile giant and a blueprint for American innovation. Tour will begin near the historic forge building, located within the Open Sky complex. June 11: Seeds of Success in Slatersville Location: 101 Green St, North Smithfield, RI Why was this location, along the Branch River, chosen for a mill village? How did financiers, workers, ministers, and farmers make this a thriving industrial community? This walk will take us through the well-preserved core of the country’s first planned mill village. Tour begins at Heritage Hall—parking is available in a small adjacent lot and by the Town Hall. June 18: "Owning Our History" with Peter Laarman Location: One Benevolent Street, Providence, RI Gather at the First Unitarian Church to explore the historic church and neighborhood and learn how slavery built dynastic wealth in Rhode Island. This tour will begin at the First Unitarian Church (corner of Benevolent and Benefit streets). June 25: Stepping Out to Skull Rock Lock Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Meet the rangers at Uxbridge High School. July 9: The Transportation Revolution in the Valley Location: Plummer's Landing Parking Area, Northbridge, MA Explore Plummer’s Landing and learn about the enterprising people of the Blackstone Valley who built the infrastructure for a transportation revolution. Meet at the Plummer’s Landing parking area (bit.ly/plummerslanding). Expect to walk about two miles on rugged terrain with moderate inclines. Led with a ranger from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Look for a small lot located off Church Street Extension in Northbridge. July 16: Heritage and Landscape in Hopedale Location: 2 Peace St, Hopedale, MA What defines a commune or a company town? How have the residents of Hopedale built lives in each of these types of communities? Take an evening stroll through Hopedale, a town with centuries of history. Look for a ranger by the statue of Adin Ballou - on-street parking is available. July 23: Prosperity in Providence - A Tour of Lippitt House Location: 199 Hope St, Providence, RI Step into Providence’s Golden Age during a guided tour of Lippitt House Museum. A National Historic Landmark, Lippitt House has one of the best-preserved Victorian-era interiors in America. Following the Lippitt family’s example of public service, today the Museum is a place where art, history, and community converge. Presented with Preserve Rhode Island. Seek on-street parking and meet in front of Lippitt House. July 30: The Rockdale Mill - A Historic Tribute to Centuries of Manufacturing Location: 10 Sutton St, Northbridge, MA In the 19th century, the Whitins of Northbridge, Massachusetts built a formidable family enterprise. In the 1860s, matriarch Betsey Whitin divided the then multi-faceted business between her sons. Paul Whitin Jr. took control of the Rockdale and Riverdale Mills. Join us as we take a closer look at the legacy that is the Rockdale Mill. Special note: this tour will meet at the corner of Rte. 122 and Central Turnpike (Curtain Factory Outlet is on lower level). Gather at the entrance to Mill at 5 Points – parking is available. August 6: Navigating the Blackstone Canal, Past and Present Location: Collyer Street Gate, North Burial Ground, Providence, RI Enjoy a guided walk through North Burial Ground with Annalisa Heppner. Learn about the flow of the Blackstone Canal through a trench running through North Burial Ground. Visit the gravesites of industrialists whose fortunes depended on the canal, and other local residents. Look for the gate to enter North Burial Ground on Collyer Street. August 13: Holocaust Education and Memorial Walk Location: 282 N. Main St., Providence, RI Walk to Memorial Park with Dr. Laura Auketayeva, Director of Education and Programs at Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. This tour will include a guided exploration of the Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial in Providence, RI. Meet at Roger Williams National Memorial. Limited, off-street parking is available in the Roger Williams National Memorial lot. August 20: Revolutions in Ashton Location: 51 Front St., Cumberland, RI In 1820, a small mill village was constructed in present-day Lincoln, Rhode Island. Over the next forty years, Ashton expanded into a large community that experienced revolutions in transportation and industry. Join a ranger for a guided walk through this well-preserved Rhode Island system mill village and learn about the many changes experienced by this community and the people who lived and worked there. Please use parking provided for the Blackstone River Bikeway. August 27: Commemorations and Community in Pawtucket Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI In August 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette traveled through Pawtucket. Lafayette’s very popular tour through the United States was an early commemoration of the country’s War for Independence. This walk will explore Revolutionary history in Pawtucket and discuss Lafayette’s extensive tour. Meet at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark in Pawtucket. Parking is available in a lot next to the historic Slater Mill.

Today, two picturesque barns highlight Mormon Row. Settlers John and Thomas Alma (T.A.) Moulton build these barns on adjacent homesteads. After nearly 30 years of working the land, John replaced his log home and barn with a new carpenter-constructed, pink stucco frame house and an impressive, two-story gambrel barn north of Antelope Flats Road. South of John's homestead, T.A. took over 30 years to build his gable-with-shed style barn. Photographers from around the world stop by the Moulton barns to capture this iconic historic structure with the Teton Range in the background.

Granny's Cove is the best place on the island for tidepooling. While exploring the shoreline, you might see anemones, tide pool sculpin, mussels, shore crabs, barnacles, and a variety of seaweeds. Visitors often find sea glass too! The best time to see these marvels of nature is at low tide, so check a tide predictions chart when planning your visit. Please read the following guidelines that will keep you and the animals safe. Animal Safety Guidelines: A general guideline is to only touch animals as gently as you would touch your own eyeball. For example, anemones should not be poked or squeezed. No organism attached to a surface should be removed by force, however slight. Many animals, such as limpets, chitons, barnacles, mussels, sea stars, and urchins are attached directly to rocks (permanently or temporarily) and using force to remove them would be harmful to them. Animals that are actively swimming, moving away from people, hiding under rocks, or that resist being handled, should not be pursued or picked up. Rocks should not be moved and should be left in their original location and orientation. Organisms living under the rocks have adapted to a certain environment, and rock-turning can harm them. Nothing, especially rocks, should be thrown in any area of the park. Rocks can do great damage when they land in the water, and continue to do damage as they are tossed by wave action. The following should not be introduced into the tidepool area: Containers (such as buckets or cups); nets, scraping, probing, or prying instruments (such as spatulas, trowels, knives, screwdrivers or sticks) Keeping Yourself Safe: Watch closely for the returning tide and “sneaker waves.” Algae and seaweed make the surface rocks extremely slippery. Use caution and test rocks before committing to stepping on new surfaces. Wear sturdy shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Keep children close as rocks and waves can be unpredictable, and falling hazards may lead to severe injury. Do not bring dogs onto tidal rocks. The sharp stone, along with barnacles and mussels, can cut their paws and lead to infection. Do not leap from rock to rock. Always keep at least one foot on the ground.