Walking tours of historic Ipswich, Massachusetts, are led by local historian Gordon Harris, who tells the stories of the town’s historic houses and people.
Ipswich, Massachusetts, is known as America’s best-preserved Puritan town, and its homeowners are the proud custodians of the town’s architectural heritage. The Town of Ipswich has at least 59 houses constructed in whole or in part between 1634 and 1725, the First Period of English colonial construction, concentrated in the East End and on High Street. The historic Meeting House Green neighborhood offers a diverse streetscape of 17th to 19th-century homes ranging from Georgian to Queen Anne Victorian. The tours take approximately two hours and can be modified for genealogical and historical interests.
Scheduled Tours
Description: This tour visits quiet neighborhoods including North Main, East, Summer, Water, County, and High Streets, with views of First Period houses, the Ipswich River, and the Old North Burying Ground. The distance is about a mile with a moderately paced walk, stopping for brief discussions at historic buildings and locations, which takes about 2 hours, although shorter tours can be requested. The tour starts at the garden across from the Ipswich Public Library, 25 N Main St. View at Google Maps.
Private Tours
To reserve a group or family tour, email historicipswich@gmail.com or text (978) 979-6598. The charge for the standard tours of Historic Ipswich is $20 per person, with a minimum group fee of $100 for a two-hour tour.
Custom Ancestry Tours
Just had a most enjoyable tour with Gordon. When I learned that my ancestry dates back to Reginald Foster I booked a tour with my history major granddaughter. At nearly every corner and stop, Gordon was greeted by fellow Ipswich Residents making the walk even more pleasurable. I grew up on the North shore, but I never realized the amazing collection of historical homes in Ipswich nor my direct connection to one of its earliest residents.“
Many people trace their roots back to Ipswich, one of the earliest towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Local historian Gordon Harris creates and leads tours for people wishing to “walk in the footsteps of their forefathers.” We visit the neighborhoods, houses, and gravestones of early settlers and their descendants.
The Old North Burying Ground at 63 High Street has some of the oldest gravestones in New England, dating back to the late 17th Century. This tour can be reserved separately or as part of a larger tour.
Custom tours have previously been provided for descendants of Thomas Abbott, Samuel Appleton, John Ayres, Henry Bachelder, John Baker, Henry Bennett, Christopher Bidlake, Joseph Bixby, Humphrey Bradstreet, John and Sarah Caldwell, John Choate, John Cogswell, Isaac Cummings, John Dane, Robert Day, William Durkee and Mary Cross, William Fellows, Joseph Fiske and Susanna Warner, Reginald Foster, Joseph Fowler, Henry Gould, Thomas Hobbs, Daniel Hovey, Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball, Robert Kinsman, Robert Lord, Thomas Lowe, Francis Peabody, John and Judith Perkins, Henry Pindar, Anthony Potter, William Prichard, Daniel Rindge, John Shatswell, John Smith, William Story, Simon and Sarah Cogswell Tuttle, Daniel Warner, John & Matthew Whipple, John and Sarah Wildes, the Willett family, Ezekiel Woodward and other early residents of Ipswich, Topsfield, Rowley, Essex and Hamilton. View an interactive list of early residents of Ipswich on the WikiTree site.
To reserve a group or family ancestry tour, email Gordon Harris at gordonharris2@gmail.com. Please include a date for your tour, your genealogical interest, and a way to contact you. The charge for custom ancestry/genealogy tours, including a custom document produced for the tour, is $250.00 for the group, regardless of size. Please send links or copies of your Ipswich ancestry chart. Gordon can research your ancestry at an additional charge.
Self-guided Tours of Ipswich
- Self-guided tour of Historic Ipswich using the Interactive Google Map
- Download a comprehensive 4-mile tour of historic Ipswich as a PDF document
Email Ipswich historian Gordon Harris about a tour for your group or family: historicipswich@gmail.com
Historic Ipswich 
I had the absolute pleasure of taking the Historic Ipswich Ancestry Tour with Gordon Harris, last month and it was truly unforgettable. Gordon not only has an incredible depth of knowledge about the history of Ipswich and Essex, Massachusetts, but he also has a gift for bringing that history to life in a way that feels both personal and meaningful.
What made the experience so special for me was how Gordon connected the broader story of Ipswich to my own family’s history. He took the time to guide me to locations that were directly tied to my ancestors and shared fascinating details about the people and events that shaped the area. From historic homes and landmarks to cemeteries and hidden gems, every stop on the tour deepened my appreciation and love for the rich heritage of this community.
If you have roots in Ipswich or Essex County—or even if you simply love history—this tour is an absolute must. Gordon’s passion, knowledge, and warm personality make it a one-of-a-kind experience. I walked away with not only a stronger connection to my family’s past but also a profound respect for the history of this remarkable place, that I will return too.
Highly recommended for genealogists, history buffs, and anyone who wants to step back in time and see New England through the lens of its earliest settlers.
Gordon led us on a fantastic personalized tour of Ipswich, focusing on our first family ancestors, Thomas French Sr. and Thomas French Jr.. Walking with him around Ipswich as he shared insights about these men and their families was enlightening and deepened our understanding of our forefathers’ lives in Ipswich. Before our meeting, Gordon provided a detailed report of his research into our family history in Ipswich, much of which was all new for us. If you’re interested in learning about your family roots in Ipswich or gaining insight into life in an early Puritan town, I highly recommend booking a tour with Gordon – he is an invaluable source of information.
Thanks Mark and Cathy. I enjoyed doing the research and sharing the town’s incredible history with you!
No one knows more about the history of Ipswich – the buildings and the people – than Gordon Harris. His tours are delightful as he adds color and commentary to the regular tour-guide descriptions. They are a must for anyone who wants to learn more about our wonderful community.
Thanks, and I enjoy spending time with the history buffs!
Excellent tour today. Starting at the Ipswich library, and traveling a journey from 1600 to 1900 in architecture, textiles, industrialization, religion, history and wonderful anecdotes. Thank you Gordon. Learned so much to further appreciate beautiful Ipswich. Will consider volunteering more.
Thanks for your comment! We had a nice group of knowledgeable participants on the tour today!
Thanks Patricia, I enjoyed researching and exploring your Ipswich family links with you!
I spent the most fascinating – and gloriously sunny – afternoon with Gordon recently. He specifically tailored the tour to my Ipswich-founding ancestral families of which there are many, as well as the history of the town and the architectural history of the many first period / early houses. The 3 hour tour concluded with a visit to the Old Burying Ground where we strolled from ancestral headstone to headstone that he had flagged in preparation for my visit. There was not a moment that I wasn’t utterly captivated by the breadth and depth of his knowledge, and his enthusiasm for sharing it. As I continue to research my family history, I’m unearthing more ancestors from Ipswich, so I may well be back for a follow-up tour! Thank you, Gordon, you truly brought the history of this marvelous town and my people to life!
My husband and I will be visiting Ipswich in June of this year. I’m descendent of Thomas and Susannah Howard who came to Ipswich from Kent, England in 1634. I’m looking forward to finding out more about the Howard families of Ipswich. It would be so fun to take a tour of where they were.
I recently had the pleasure of spending the day with Gordon Harris touring some of his favorite places and many of my ancestral towns. Gordon grabbed me from the train station and drove me all over to visit my ancestor’s graves and houses which were divided between Ipswich and Essex, a former part of Ipswich that was known as Chebacco. Gordon had previously marked several graves of my people at two incredibly old cemeteries in Essex, and found about 10 houses of my ancestors that are still standing, or have grounds that I can visit. I am still blown away at how lucky I was to have so many places that I could still visit connected to my ancestry. But what made it even more special was to have someone so knowledgeable and interesting to show me around and talk about this history with! Gordon even took me to a local place in Ipswich that serves the best fried clams in New England – and certainly the best fried clams I’ve ever eaten in my lifetime. I can’t wait to go back and bring my family to meet Gordon.
Gordon is a New England treasure and also a gem of a human! Don’t hesitate to hang out and talk history with Gordon at the first chance you get.
Thank you Gordon!!!
Thank you Leah! I enjoyed our day together tracing your ancestry
Whilst touring New England we thought that it was essential that we visit Ipswich MA as our home is Ipswich in Suffolk, England and we are so glad that we did. What a lovely, historic town made even better by the wonderful tour with Gordon. Gordon’s knowledge and understanding of the town and the surrounding area is outstanding and we saw and learnt so much more than we had hoped. A fantastic few hours which simply flew by.
Hopefully we will see Gordon in our Ipswich soon.
Thank you, Annie and John. It was a real pleasure!
Just had a most enjoyable tour with Gordon. When I learned that my ancestry dates back to Reginald Foster I booked a tour with my history major granddaughter. At nearly every corner and stop, Gordon was greeted by fellow Ipswich Residents making the walk even more pleasurable. I grew up on the North shore but I never realized the amazing collection of historical homes in Ipswich nor my direct connection to one of its earliest residents. Special day with my granddaughter. Thank you, Gordon
Thank you Jeane–you are quite knowledgeable, and our walk was very enjoyable for me too.
I’ve wanted to visit Ipswich, MA to see the text book examples (literally) of early American architecture I studied while getting my MA in art history. I was so happy to run across Gordon’s contact information. Not only was he easy to work with for scheduling, he was happy to accommodate some mobility issues I have. A purely walking tour would not be possible. He worked with us without batting an eye, and it lead to the highlight of our week exploring the architecture of colonial era Massachusetts. His experience with regional history and carpentry and the access he provided to sites I’d merely hoped to see from the exterior for over thirty years made this tour more valuable to me than a behind the scenes tour of Winterthur I’d fenagled years earlier, and that was an excellent tour, too! I highly recommend a guided experience with Gordon. If we ever come back, we likely will book another. He clearly has more knowledge that a couple of hours could accommodate. More importantly, we started the tour with a guide and ended it with a friend as well as out much richer understanding of the spaces where US history first unfolded.
I am a descendent of the CALDWELL’s. Is this tour offered year round? Would love to make arrangements to take the tour in the Fall 2022. I’m from Colorado.
I lead open signup tours only occasionally, but as long as the weather is reasonably comfortable I am available to provide a custom tour at your request. There’s a lot of Caldwell history in Ipswich. https://historicipswich.net/?s=caldwell
A friend and I took the historic tour yesterday and enjoyed it very much.
Mr. Harris’ knowledge of Ipswich was astounding and much to our
benefit as was, his friendly ease of delivery.
Thank you also to the owners of the John Wesley Dow house
for welcoming us into their home which they have maintained
as faithfully as humanly possible to the period.
Just spent a lovely afternoon on a historic walking tour, narrated by Gordon Harris. This is a must for every resident. You will be filled with pride as a result of your enriched understanding of the role our great town and it’s citizens have played in American history. You will also gain a perspective of how history impacts current issues, such a town planning and development. Gordon’s passion for history and research, is our win, as he literally is able to answer all questions. His gift as a storyteller, makes the experience one to remember.
My husband and I took a Gordon tour in Sept. 2019 and it was wonderful. If I lived closer, I would do it again. He is an excellent guide and has a wonderful knowledge of the town of Ipswich.
I went on a tour with Mr. Harris this July. As one whose family is derived from Ipswich but who had never visited, it was a true privelege to hear Mr. Harris speak with passion and erudition on the history of a town that is now very dear to me. Those with even the faintest interest in history should avail themselves of the opportunity to hear a real authority on Ipswich by scheduling a tour.
Thank you Gordon, for the great tour of Ipswich on Aug. 4th. With Daniel Hovey, the immigrant, being my 9th great-grandfather, and us being the only ones on the tour that day, you were able to spend a little more time on various Hovey homes around town. And yes, I think we did find the original site of Daniel’s house on Tansey Lane. It is a long trip from Arizona, but we will be back, very soon, hw hope. Thank you again for making the history come alive. It was a great day for both of us.
We had a delightful, informative, entertaining walking tour of Ipswich. Gordon had the history, humor and time to do it justice. Great take!
Mr. Harris was kind enough to arrange a private tour for me and my father. We walked for hours through Ipswich — we were given the option to drive but declined — as Mr. Harris gave us an enthralling orientation to Ipswich history. He took us to numerous sites of note to the Fellows family and expounded some of the reasons for their importance. I encourage anyone interested in Ipswich to schedule a tour with Mr. Harris; it is a real treat to hear someone discourse avidly and expertly on a subject about which he is passionate, especially if the fate of one’s family is tied into that subject.
Regarding the Walking Tours – highly recommended! If you want to learn why they built the way they did, Gordon knows his stuff. These people were practical, orderly and committed. They had town rules for building and for respecting the land. To top it off, seeing a home that was built by, or belonged to, your own ancestor is really exciting. I love this town, and I’m so thankful it has been preserved. Thanks to Ipswich and all those who have worked, and continue to work, for this amazing history.
Annie , Do you know when your family came over. “our” Kimball ancestors came in 1634 , Richard & family came from Suffolk ,England and he was a wheelwright–just curious -kevin
As a descendent of early pioneer Isaac Cummings, it was a special moment to be standing on land he owned as his life in Ipswich was described. Gordon made history come alive for a tour bus of descendents. Thank you Gordon.
My mom’s family has been in Ipswich and Rowley since the Great Migration and we lived there back in the early 70s. I need to head up that way and take this tour.
Fantastic !
Great job, Gordon! Thanks for all your work on this.
This is one of the best walking tours I’ve been on. Gordon’s knowledge of the history of Ipswich allowed us to understand the daily life of Ipswich resdents from the time the town was established through the Revolutionary War and beyond. We learned things the history books omit. It is worth your time to take this tour!
If you have a chance, take Gordon’s tour! Even as an Ipswich resident, I learned so much about our town and our history. Take the tour, you will be glad you did!