Waltham

Stroll through beautiful university campuses and learn about the Industrial Revolution in one of Middlesex County’s most charming towns.

Discover Waltham’s captivating cultural life. Located in Middlesex County, this small town is full of early American history. Learn about its role in the Industrial Revolution and explore its many museums and stately homes.

Stroll along the Riverwalk and watch the scenic Charles River. Waltham has more than 100 locations on the National Register of Historic Places. Although many are privately owned, look for them as you wander throughout town.

Explore Waltham’s watchmaking history in the American Waltham Watch Company Historic District. Between 1850 and 1957, the Waltham Watch Company produced about 35 million timepieces and precision instruments. Visit the multi-building complex today and trace watchmaking history through the years.

See the site of America’s first factory at Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation. The building was originally part of American industrialist Francis Cabot Lowell's groundbreaking textile mill. Explore the museum’s exhibits and learn about the Waltham Watch Company and the town’s role in the Industrial Revolution.

Both Bentley and Brandeis universities are located in Waltham. Walk through their tree-lined, well-manicured campuses. Browse through thousands of pieces of art in Brandeis’ Rose Art Museum, with works by famous artists including Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.

Discover Waltham’s stately homes and grounds. Visit the red-brick Federal-style Gore Place, a summer home that entertained guests including the Marquis de Lafayette and James Monroe. Tour the beautiful grounds and stylish interiors of the Lyman Estate, a rambling white stone mansion. Explore the stunning grounds of the Robert Treat Paine Estate, designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Enjoy beautiful New England weather at Hardy Pond and the adjacent Lazazzero Playground. Fish off the pier, jog along its trails or play a game of basketball.

From Waltham, drive along historic Revere Beach Parkway, which has connected the suburbs north of Boston since 1896. Downtown Boston is just 14 miles (23 miles) east. Reach the state’s capital by car in under 30 minutes or take the bus or commuter rail, which both run regularly.