Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
In the 1600's, on the banks of the Saugus River, something extraordinary happened! Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.
About under an hour from Boston and 1 hours from Providence by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Park Grounds | Daily · All Day |
When to go
August draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located within the Iron Works House annex is the park's Visitor Center.
Explore
Things to do
- Become a Saugus Iron Works Junior Ranger30-120 Minutes
Work together or adventure on your own, this youth focused program is your one-page guide to your National Park! The Junior Ranger Guide can be completed in-person, online, or by using the National Park Service App.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit Broadhearth Visitor Center30-60 Minutes
Located within the Iron Works House annex, Broadhearth serves as the park visitor center. Books and souvenirs can be purchased inside at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Park Store.
Opens on the Park Service site - Take an Industrial Site Tour1-2 Hours
This guided tour begins at the Visitor Center and stops at three significant locations. At each, there is a mechanical demonstration using historic replicas of water wheels that would have been used in the original iron works.
Opens on the Park Service site - Attend a Blacksmith Demonstration1-2 Minutes
Blacksmithing demonstrations are one of the most popular programs offered by the park. Visitors will get to observe staff create various metal objects and ask questions about blacksmithing.
Opens on the Park Service site - Watch Iron Works on the Saugus1-12 Minutes
The Saugus Iron Works official park film provides an overview of the creation, operation and historical significance of Saugus Iron Works in the 17th century.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Saugus Iron Works B.A.R.K. Ranger5-120 Minutes
Hello four-legged friends! Do you want to explore Saugus Iron Works with your leash-holding companions? Interested in getting your very own B.A.R.K. Ranger dog tag? We made it easy for your human to help you get one. Just follow the B.A.R.K.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Industrial Site Guided Tour10/1402:00 PM · runs through Nov 13 · freeSaugus Iron Works National Historic Site (244 Central Street, Saugus MA)
- Iron Works House Guided Tour10/1411:00 AM · runs through Nov 13 · free · registration requiredSaugus Iron Works (244 Central Street, Saugus MA)
- Waterwheel Demonstration10/1410:00 AM · runs through Nov 13 · freeSaugus Iron Works National Historic Site (244 Central Street, Saugus MA)
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New England
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthMute Swan 58× · Bald Eagle 12× · Coyote 12× · Belted Kingfisher 10× · Barred Owl 10× · Osprey 10× · Greater Yellowlegs 5× · Great Horned Owl 3×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 28 birds, 0 mammalsHide
Waterfowl & wadersBlack-crowned Night Heron · Canada Goose · Great Blue Heron
Shorebirds & seabirdsEuropean Herring Gull · Great Black-backed Gull
Gamebirds & dovesCommon Pigeon · Mourning Dove
WoodpeckersRed-bellied Woodpecker
Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Goldfinch · American Robin · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Blue Jay · Common Grackle · Common Starling · Eastern Phoebe · Gray Catbird · House Sparrow · Mallard · Northern Cardinal · Northern Mockingbird · Red-winged Blackbird · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Song Sparrow · White-breasted Nuthatch
Weather & climate
New England weather is unpredictable year-round. Monthly averages, in degrees Fahrenheit, are: January: 37 high, 20 low February: 40 high, 23 low March: 47 high, 30 low April: 57 high, 38 low May: 67 high, 48 low June: 76 high, 58 low July: 82 high, 63 low August: 80 high, 62 low September: 73 high, 55 low October: 62 high, 45 low November: 52 high, 37 low December: 42 high, 27 low
Questions people ask
Does Saugus Iron Works charge an entrance fee?
No. Saugus Iron Works is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
Is Saugus Iron Works open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Saugus Iron Works?
51,495 recreation visits in 2025, number 262 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Saugus Iron Works?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Saugus Iron Works?
New England weather is unpredictable year-round. Monthly averages, in degrees Fahrenheit, are: January: 37 high, 20 low February: 40 high, 23 low March: 47 high, 30 low April: 57 high, 38 low May: 67 high, 48 low June: 76 high, 58 low July: 82 high, 63 low August: 80 high, 62 low September: 73 high, 55 low October: 62
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
More in Massachusetts
