A guide to the history of the Massachusetts region for visitors, locals and armchair tourists alike.

The South Shore is an intriguing mix of antiquity and modernity. The region's first settlement, Plymouth, is a top tourist destination, as more than one million visitors flock to it annually. Quincy showcases the region's Revolutionary War past, but even more of its fascinating sites are hidden behind an urban façade. Along windswept beaches and cranberry bogs, the varied terrain is unique and captivating. From the birthplace of Abigail Adams in Weymouth to the historical houses of Hingham and the Old Scituate Light, author Zachary Lamothe uncovers the stories behind some of the most notable people and landmarks in New England.