Marblehead, Massachusetts gave America its navy, its privateers, and some of its most decisive Revolutionary moments. Just 18 miles from Boston and 10 minutes from Salem — and waiting to be discovered.
In 1775, Marblehead was the sixth-largest community in all of British North America — a maritime powerhouse whose fishermen became privateers, naval officers, and heroes of the Revolution. It was Marblehead men who rowed Washington across the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776.
Today, nearly 300 pre-Revolutionary homes still stand on Marblehead's narrow, winding streets — the largest surviving concentration of 18th-century homes anywhere in the United States. Walking through Old Town isn't a museum experience. It's the real thing.
Marblehead is just 18 miles north of Boston — a quick drive, a scenic train ride, or a harbor ferry away. No excuses not to make the trip.
The summer of 2026 brings two of the largest events in Boston's history — and millions of visitors who are already 18 miles from one of the most extraordinary towns in America.
An estimated 4 million visitors will come to Boston Harbor to watch 70 tall ships from around the world — led by the USS Constitution in the Parade of Sail.
What most won't know: the American Navy was born in Marblehead, 18 miles away. The schooner Hannah, commissioned in Marblehead's harbor in 1775, was its first vessel. Come see where it all started.
Boston hosts multiple FIFA World Cup matches in the summer of 2026, bringing hundreds of thousands of international visitors who have never experienced colonial American history.
Marblehead isn't a museum. It's a living, breathing 18th-century town on one of New England's most beautiful harbors. For visitors from around the world, it's unlike anything they've ever seen.
Plan ahead: With 4+ million visitors expected in Boston this summer, tours and accommodations in the region will book early. Marblehead is the perfect half-day or full-day addition to any Boston trip — and By Lantern Tours is already taking reservations for the 2026 season.
By Lantern Tours offers three distinct walks through Old Town Marblehead — each one led by a founder who lives here, knows every building's backstory, and has spent years learning this town's history from the ground up. Not a performance. Not a script recited from memory. A conversation with someone who actually knows.
Also on REV250Marblehead.com: Explore the full guide to Marblehead's 250th anniversary experience — partners, landmarks, dining, and lodging at REV250Marblehead.com.
By Lantern Tours offers private tours exclusively for your group — family reunions, corporate outings, milestone celebrations, or any occasion that deserves a truly personal experience.
Your own guide. Your own pace. Your own story. Marblehead's 350 years of history, told just for you.
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America turns 250 in 2026 — and there is no more authentic place in the country to mark that milestone than the town that helped make independence possible. Events, tours, and commemorations throughout the year will make Marblehead one of New England's top destinations for the entire REV250 season.
Visitors are already planning their trips. Tours are booking up. Now is the time to come.
Book your tour with By Lantern Tours — story-driven walking tours of historic Old Town, led by a local insider who knows these streets, these stories, and this town.
