People

The land that makes up Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site has been used by many different people over time. Archaeological evidence shows that Native American groups used the land here for thousands of years. The Native Americans who were in the area at the time of contact with Europeans are known as the Pawtucket.

European exploration and settlement brought about vast change and introduced new groups of people who made use of the area. In the 1640s, a group of Englishmen and Massachusetts residents built the Saugus Iron Works to make iron for the new colony and to make money for themsdelves. This endeavor forced interactions between diverse groups of people including Puritans, English iron workers, Scottish indentured servants, and Pawtucket Native Americans.

In more modern times, people concerned with the preservation of history have left their own mark at Saugus Iron Works. Archaeologists have excavated the site to help us protect artifacts and learn more about the past. Preservationists were originally drawn to the Iron Works House, but eventually ended up protecting the entire site.

Explore the resources below to learn more about these different groups of people, and how they lived and worked in this area.

 

Learn more about...

  • A person standing in front of a brick structure holding a rake-like object over several troughs.
    Iron Workers

    The iron workers were recruited from England for their iron making knowledge. They were not Puritan and often ran into conflicts with them.

  • A variety of differently sized, shaped and colored chips of stone and projectile points.
    Native Americans

    Learn more about the archaeology of the area and the people who have called the land home since time immemorial.

  • two people wearing green lab coats and a third wearing a purple shirt, look over shelves of objects.
    Preservationists

    Preservation of the iron works started with the restoration and protection of the Iron Works House. Learn how it continues today.

  • Two men in black hats and collared shirts with two women in black clothing and bonnets on a boat.
    Puritans

    In 1630, a group of Puritans left England in search of a place to practice their religion. They were the ones to invested in an Iron Works.

  • Two men in white shirts and dark hats standing around a fire.
    Scottish Prisoners

    Scottish soldiers captured in England had to earn their freedom back by working at the Iron Works and in other industries.

Last updated: February 16, 2022

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Mailing Address:

244 Central St
Saugus, MA 01906

Phone:

781-233-0050

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