It’s a big year for the United States, with 2026 marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
That’s an awesome legacy. But there are some spots in Massachusetts that go even further back in terms of history.
Not all of them served as a restaurant or inn before 1776, but in those cases, the buildings themselves do. Some of them date back to the 1600s.
Here’s a roundup of notable Massachusetts destinations with histories dating back further than America itself.
How old is it? It’s served as an inn since 1716.
This Massachusetts landmark is one of the oldest establishments in the country and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.
The inn touts that it started with “humble beginnings as a simple, two-room family home hosting travelers along the Old Boston Post Road in 1716.”
Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow famously stayed there in 1862, using it as the setting of his collection of poems, “Tales of a Wayside Inn.”
Now, it’s one of the most scenic destinations in Massachusetts, serving as an inn, restaurant and event space.
Union Oyster House, Boston
How old is it? It’s been a restaurant since 1826, but the building is much older.
The Oyster House traces its history back to 1742, when the building was home to a “dress goods business.” The restaurant notes that there are no official records of when the building was constructed.
A designated National Historic Landmark, Union Oyster House touts itself as the “oldest restaurant in America.” Some reports state that the property may date back as far as 1716.
As the name suggests, the restaurant serves a seafood-heavy menu, with an emphasis on oysters.
How old is it? It was first built as a mill in 1761. It became a tea room in 1921 and a restaurant in 1946.
The Old Mill first opened as, well, a mill in 1761. However, the restaurant says the mill went out of business and “fell into disrepair in the late 1800s.”
It later served as a summertime tea house from 1921 to 1942. In 1946, Ralph and Ruth Foster purchased the property and turned it into a year-round restaurant. The Old Mill remains in the Foster family, now in its third generation of ownership.
These days, the Old Mill is famous for its rustic architecture, waterfall, pondside setting and of course its pecan rolls.
How old is it? Hart House dates back to about 1640 or 1680, depending on who you ask.
It touts itself as being built by Thomas Hart in 1640, “only twenty years after the arrival of the Pilgrims.”
However, a 2007 study traced the earliest construction back to around 1680. Historic Ipswich suggests that it was, in fact, built by Hart’s son, Samuel Hart.
Regardless, the building is one of the oldest American constructions that is still standing today. Some of the original rooms were even dismantled and moved to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Winterthur Museum in Delaware.
The Hart House remained a private residence until recently. In 2003, owners Jim Lesko and Kim Costello purchased the property to turn it into a restaurant.
Barker’s Farm, North Andover
How old is it? The farm dates back to 1642
While Barker’s Farm isn’t a restaurant or inn, this historic farm stand is still in operation.
Barker’s Farm touts itself as the “oldest continuously operated family farm” in the United States. It was originally founded by Richard Barker in 1642. Years later, many of Barker’s children were accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials.
These days, Barker’s Farm operates a farm stand and offers apple picking and flower picking during its open season.
How old is it? The structure was built in 1716 and fully opened as a hotel in 1889.
In its early years, the inn served as a storehouse for arms and provisions during the Revolutionary War. In the 1800s, it began to transition into a general store, boarding house and small hotel. Henry David Thoreau stayed at the property from 1835 to 1837 while he went to school at Harvard.
The Colonial Inn marks 1889 as the year it began to fully operate as a hotel.
These days, the inn has multiple wings and two restaurants, offering a variety of hospitality options for lodging and events.
How old is it? The inn claims it dates back to 1696.
The Old Yarmouth Inn doesn’t have the lofty historic landmark accolades as some of its 17th century counterparts in Massachusetts.
But it does have a long legacy of spooky ghost stories and claims that it is haunted.
While it’s still dubbed an inn, the establishment no longer offers overnight lodging. Instead, it serves as a restaurant and event space.
How old is it? It’s served as an inn since 1771.
The historic space in Sturbridge has come a long way since Ebenezer Crafts first opened in 1771.
These days, the Publick House is known for its tap room, tavern, bake shoppe and as a picturesque setting for weddings and other events.
