Ward Two in Somerville in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
A River Runs Through It. No, Really?
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One Farm, Ten Hills, 600 Ships
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 3, 2024
1. A River Runs Through It. No, Really? Marker
A River Runs Through It. No, Really?
Once, rivers were America's highway. Today, real highways often cut people off from the serene natural beauty of local rivers. to find Somerville's hidden riverside park on the Mystic River, you have to pass under Route 93. But thanks to artists, science educators, and dozens of teens involved in the Somerville Arts Council's "Teen Mural Project," it's easy to find the right underpass - and impossible to ignore the bright, glorious images of river life splashed along hundreds of feet of the highway's south wall.
One Farm, Ten Hills, 600 Ships
Ten years after the first settlers stepped onto Plymouth Rock, 44 miles south of here, British colonists settled what we now call Somerville. The most famous: John Winthrop, first Governor of Massachusetts. In 1631 he built "Ten Hills Farm" on the Mystic River. He also ordered construction of Blessing Of the Bay, the first ship built in Massachusetts for commerce. Later it was armed for protection, making Somerville a birthplace of the early U.S. Navy. It was the first of 600 ships built on the Mystic River.
Erected by City of Somerville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1631.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston and specifically in Greater Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Fabric of the City (here, next to this marker); Colors of Defiance / From a Powdered Wig to the Powder House (here, next to this marker); Spinning Wheels (a few steps from this marker); It's All Downhill from Here (a few steps from this marker); Where Did Somerville Get Its Name? (a few steps from this marker); Mommy, What Did People Do Before Cell Phones? (a few steps from this marker); Anthony (Tony) Lavelli, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); A Handful, a Pinch, and a Dash of Perfection / Peanut Butter Gets a New Best Friend (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Somerville.
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 3, 2024
2. One Farm, Ten Hills, 600 Ships Marker
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 3, 2024
3. A River Runs Through It. No, Really? Marker
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 3, 2024
4. One Farm, Ten Hills, 600 Ships Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2024, by Marc Posner of Somerville, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 26, 2024, by Marc Posner of Somerville, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
