Clough House at Old North, Boston

Built around 1715 by Ebenezer Clough, a master bricklayer, as a residence for himself, his wife Thankful, and their growing family, this brick row house now stands as a rare local survivor from that era, joining the ranks of Old North Church nearby.

Back in the day, this place was just one of many, lining the streets like rows of suburban houses, except with fewer picket fences—imagine an 18th-century neighborhood, sprinkled with the occasional fancy Georgian mansion and the humble wooden-frame survivors of the many fires that once plagued old Boston, and you'll have a picture of the North End in Paul Revere's pre-Social Media era.

Fast forward to today, and Clough House has taken on a new life with not one but two exciting additions. First, there's the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, where you can watch colonial printing demos (a real treat if you've ever wondered how they made books before the age of Kindles and audiobooks). And don't forget about Heritage Goods + Gifts, a shop brimming with New England artisans' creations and products from small local businesses, with an extra special focus on items crafted by BIPOC and women entrepreneurs (because let's face it, it's about time we celebrated something other than just powdered wigs and tricorn hats).

So, if you're in the mood to step back in time and also do some shopping, Clough House is where history meets modern-day swag.