Massachusetts Local Business Directory

The home of Plymouth Rock and the first colony of Pilgrims in the New World, Massachusetts enjoys an unparalleled historic role in the founding of the United States. The Massachusetts Bay Colony derived its name from the native peoples who lived in the area at the time; the Massachusett Indians were instrumental in helping the settlers establish their colony and adapt successfully to the harsh conditions and unfamiliar foods in the region. In 1773, Massachusetts residents protesting the harsh tax policies of the British government participated in throwing tea into the Boston harbor, an event later known as the Boston Tea Party. This act of defiance was a turning point in the lead-up to the American Revolutionary War.

During both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Massachusetts sailors engaged in sanctioned acts of privateering against British ships; it is estimated that 600 British ships were destroyed by Massachusetts privateers during the Revolutionary War period. Massachusetts joined the Union in 1788, the sixth state to do so.

Today, Massachusetts enjoys a diverse economy that includes tourism revenues, higher education, health care, financial services and biotechnology. Cultural attractions include the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston International Film Festival and the Boston Ballet. Massachusetts also boasts numerous historic sites that include the Minute Man National History Park, the Freedom Trail, the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, the Black Heritage Trail and Plimoth Plantation. The annual Fourth of July fireworks display and concert is the culmination of a week's worth of celebrations and is eagerly awaited by Massachusetts residents and guests to this New England state.