Sights and landmarks in Fall River

Sights and landmarks in Fall River

1. See

   Battleship Cove

   Battleship Cove lays claim to the largest collection of preserved U.S. Navy ships in the world, from World War II to the present, which are open as historic monuments. The most famous of these boats is the USS Massachusetts ("Big Mamie"), which is said to have fired the first and last shells of WWII. Other ships include the Destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Submarine USS Lionfish, and PT Boats 617 and 796. Visitors are welcome to board the vessels and tour their outside areas and interiors. Visitors can arrange to spend a night aboard the ships for additional charge. Ticket includes two days of access, and admission to the nearby Maritime Museum.

   museum closes at 4:30PM·$15-25, children under 3 free

2. See

   Bicentennial Park

   This patriotic waterfront park houses a copy of Washington DC's Iwo Jima Memorial. In 2021, an 80% scale replica of DC's Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will open- the only one of its kind in the world.

3. See

   Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

   St. Mary's

   Oldest Catholic church in Fall River and Cathedral for the Fall River Diocese. One of four cathedrals in Massachusetts..

4. See

   Children's Museum of Greater Fall River

   This small interactive museum offers children a number of exhibits to explore. Exhibits include the Lego Room and the World of Water, and there are various events that change on a regular basis.

   Admission $8, children under 12 months free

5. See

   Copicut Woods

   Owned and managed by Massachusetts' Trustees of Reservations, this secluded forest is located entirely in Fall River city limits. A varied landscape featuring conifer forests, mossy rock walls, and freshwater swamps is contained within a compact wooded area. As of January 2021, some paths, including the Cedar Swamp trail, are closed for repair.

6. See

   Fall River Heritage State Park

   Fall River Heritage State Park hugs the Taunton River which provides a wonderful and relaxing views. This 8.5-acre park overlooks Battleship Cove, which houses the World War II battleship, USS Massachusetts. Heritage State Park also has a boardwalk that runs the length of the park, benches for lounging, trees, an antique carousel, sailing opportunities, tennis courts, historical statues, and a huge open area perfect for the recreational activity of your choice. This park is a great family spot for picnics, relaxing, or even just going for a leisurely walk.

7. See

   Fall River Historical Society

   Set in an 1800s Highlands mansion, the Historical Society offers guided museum tours that glimpse into the lives of New England's 19th century elite. Rotating exhibits display an extensive collection of Fall River heirlooms, including Lizzie Borden artifacts. The Victorian Christmas tour (Nov - Dec) is perhaps their most spectacular offering, with every room in the house decorated in a different traditional holiday style. A Christmas shop and a Victorian High Tea room are open year-round.

   Adults $12, children under 15 $8

8. See

   Fall River Maritime Museum

   formerly Marine Museum at Fall River

   Nautical museum whose collections include extensive ephemera of the Fall River Line's luxurious steamboats, called "floating palaces" by the aristocrats and presidents who stayed aboard them in the late 1800s. The museum also showcases one of the largest RMS Titanic exhibitions in the world, featuring a 28 ft model of the ill-fated vessel that was used in the Oscar-winning film Titanic. (No, not that Oscar-winning film Titanic- the 1953 version!).

9. See

   Fall River-Freetown State Forest

   Freetown State Forest

   This state forest is one of Massachusetts' largest outside of the Berkshires. With land split between Fall River, Freetown, and Lakeville, the forest features over 25 mi of trails for hikers, equestrians, and dirt bikers, as well as an uninhabited Wampanoag reservation. Notable goings-on in the forest over the years have included satanic cult murders in the 1980s, escaped emus, and the collapse of its most prominent feature, Profile Rock.

10. See

    Kennedy Park

    in size, this park was designed by master landscaper Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York's Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace. Known as "South Park" prior to 1963. Macabre history buffs will be interested in the case of Sarah Maria Cornell, whose death at the park in 1832, and the acquittal of a Methodist minister for her murder, led to outrage and scandal across New England.

11. See

    Oak Grove Cemetery

    Really? Why visit a cemetery? Well, Oak Grove is the largest public urban greenspace in Fall River. It is the final resting place of Lizzie Borden and her family (just follow the painted arrows from the main entrance on Prospect Street). Its obelisks and monuments are some of the city's finest architecture. It is well-manicured and filled with tortuous paths, designed in the style of Cambridge's famous Mount Auburn. And, it is a surprisingly great place to go for a walk.

12. See

    Portas da Cidade

    A physical representation of Fall River's connection to Portugal, this is a scale replica of the Portas da Cidade (Gates of the City) in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel and the largest city in the Azores. The monument was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the relationship between Fall River and Ponta Delgada as sister cities. Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and the mayor of Ponta Delgada have visited the site.

13. See

    The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast/Museum

    In 1892, Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother in this house. Though she was acquitted of all charges, the axe murder mystery continues to intrigue 130 years later. You can view the scene of the crime and explore the house, or spend the night and enjoy breakfast where it happened.

    Museum admission $17-22, children under 6 free

14. See

    Watuppa Ponds

    Two bodies of water, separated by a small channel (The Narrows) make up this freshwater body. The North Watuppa Pond is the second largest natural body of water in Massachusetts; the South Watuppa Pond is #3. The North Watuppa is Fall River's primary drinking water reservoir, and as such cannot be used for fishing, swimming, or boating; all three of these activities are allowed in the South Watuppa. Trails exist around both ponds, including a bike path on the South Watuppa.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Fall River (CC BY-SA 4.0).