Then & Now

As America’s most historic region, New England has also been one of its most innovative. It was here that the country’s Industrial Revolution took root, and environmentalism first arose. New England gave us such gadgets as the can opener and the microwave oven, culinary inventions like fried clams and lobster rolls, and game-changers that make the world feel smaller, like the telephone and Facebook. The world of the present meets the spirit of the past in so many ways in New England. Living history museums offer modern-day visitors an unforgettable immersion into how people went about their daily lives centuries ago. Gloriously restored performance halls invite you to experience cutting-edge shows alongside beloved classics. You can even savor a literal taste of New England history as you order up regional treats like coffee milk and steamed cheeseburgers, made just as they have been for generations. Yes, history is an essential part of New England’s fabric, but it’s always entwined with modern appeal. So whether you’re watching a blacksmith demonstrate heritage techniques, wandering the historic home of an author whose words still resonate today, or simply sitting down to pancakes topped with maple syrup made by an eighthgeneration farm, you are bridging eras in ways that are both simple and profound—and perfectly of this moment.

MAINE: Originally used by Maine’s native peoples as fishing bait and fertilizer, lobsters are today a prized delicacy and a culinary highlight of many travelers’ visits to the state.