Enjoy views of the Neponset River marshes and Boston Harbor from the hilltop site of the estate of the last Massachusetts Colonial governor.
What makes Governor Hutchinson's Field a special place?
We think it's the link to a piece of revolutionary history. In 1734, Gov. Thomas Hutchinson, the last royal Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, built a country estate on Milton Hill. His zealous loyalty to the crown made him an object of popular ridicule in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, and, in 1774, shortly after the Boston Tea Party, Hutchinson fled to England. The site of his former estate, of which only the ha-ha (sunken fence) survives, boasts spectacular views of the Neponset River and its tidal salt marshes, the Boston skyline, and the Boston Harbor Islands.
From the reservation, you can access the adjacent Pierce Reservation, a four-acre parcel of grassy slopes that runs down to the tidal marshes that border the Neponset River. To get to Pierce Reservation, walk down the hill of open fields and bear right. Pierce Reservation sits behind a private residence; please respect the privacy of our neighbor
Trails
A quarter-mile trail runs along the embankment of the Neponset River. Easy walking.
When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of ½ hour.
Getting Here & Parking:
The Trustees reserves the right to photograph or video visitors and program participants for promotional use, and usage of our properties implies consent. Find the full policy here.
Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186
Telephone: 781.784.0567
E-mail: greaterboston@thetrustees.org
Latitude: 42.2655
Longitude: -71.0652
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Points North: I-93/Rt. 3 South to Exit 10. Go 0.2 mi. At stop sign, turn right onto Adams St. Follow for 1.2 mi. to top of Milton Hill; entrance is on right.
From Points South: I-93/Rt. 3 North to Exit 9, Granite Ave. Follow north for 1.5 mi. through two sets of traffic lights. Turn left and drive over expressway bridge to stop sign. Turn right onto Adams St. Follow to top of Milton Hill; entrance is on right.
From Dorchester: Take Dorchester Ave. to Adams St. and follow up Milton Hill; entrance is on the left.
Note: There is no designated parking area and road-side parking is not permitted.
Getting Here & Parking
When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1/2 hour.
Admission
FREE to all
Getting Here & Parking
Governor Thomas Hutchinson was the last Royal Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Born in Boston in 1711 and educated at Harvard, he was a prominent conservative, powerful and devoutly loyal to the British Crown. His over royalist leanings made him the object of public ridicule in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War. He found himself at great odds with the radical revolutionaries (soon to be patriots) of the day, namely Samuel Adams who, with others, mockingly dubbed him “Tommy Skin-and-Bones” Hutchinson presumably because of his gaunt appearance.
In 1743, he built for his family a modest country estate on Milton Hill to escape the city. Hutchinson commissioned Sir Francis Bernard to design his house and gardens. All that remains of the estate today is the field and a “ha-ha” that formed the western boundary of the formal garden; located next to St. Michael’s Church on Randolph Street in Milton, the “ha-ha” is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1774, shortly after the Boston Tea Party, Governor Hutchinson went into exile in England where he died in 1780. Following his departure from Massachusetts, his property and effects were sold at auction. Today his writing desk can be seen at the Milton Public Library. The house was later owned by James Warren whose wife was Mercy Otis Warren, a brave polemist whose satiric sketches and accounts of the Revolutionary War were circulated throughout the colonies. The house was razed in 1946.
Property Acquisition History
Original acreage a gift of John M. Forbes and Mrs. Mary F. Cunningham in 1898. Additional land purchased in 1898. Endowment given by Mrs. Cunningham in 1898 and by Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust in 1983.
Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have worked to protect special places in Massachusetts and maintain them to the highest standards. To ensure these standards are met, a program of careful planning and sound management is essential. Comprehensive property management plans are created for each reservation and are completely updated approximately every ten years. We often work with volunteers, property users, and members of the community to carry out this planning, which typically involves several steps:
Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.
Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:
Click on links below for further visitor information:
Before Setting Out
Please note: There is no parking area for Governor Hutchinson’s Field and roadside parking is not permitted. There is parking for special events and programs, please see the Directions tab for more info.
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