First settled by Europeans in 1640, Woburn is an independent city in the north-west of Boston. It is named after a town in Bedfordshire, England and flourished as a tanning hub following the opening of the Middlesex Canal. In recent years, Woburn’s historic centre has been revitalised with independent stores and globally-inspired eateries.
Things to do in Woburn
One of Woburn’s most impressive buildings is the Winn Memorial Library, which was designed in a Romanesque Revival style by the 19th-century architect H.H. Richardson. It features red ashlar sandstone juxtaposed against bands of granite, with a High Victorian tower at one end. Step inside to admire the reading room’s impressive timber trusses and the barrel-vaulted ceiling of the study hall.
On the lawn outside the library is a statue of Sir Benjamin Thompson, a locally-born physicist who was part of the Loyalist forces during the American Revolutionary War. In North Woburn, you can visit his birthplace, which is now managed by the Rumford Historical Association. Join a guided tour to explore the interior, which features reconstructed models of Thompson’s scientific experiments and inventions.
On the southern edge of Woburn’s town centre is Horn Pond, a glacial-formed water body surrounded by a 200-hectare conservation area. It was once the site of an Algonquin settlement and was later used for sand and gravel quarrying. You can explore along the perimeter loop trail or climb to the top of Mount Towanda for elevated views toward Boston.
Getting around Woburn
Woburn is a 20-minute drive from the centre of Boston and 35 minutes from Boston Logan International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Amtrak trains connect to the Anderson Regional Transportation Center while local buses travel through Woburn. Renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore.