Historic Massachusetts: Pilgrims to the 21st Century

Gr 5 Up—Part of a series exploring historic sites under the auspices of the National Park Service in the 50 states, this program briefly looks at a variety of Massachusetts locations. Presented in chronological order, from the arrival of the Pilgrims to modern times, the film makes an attempt at historical relevance. Included are short visits to the Old North Church, John F. Kennedy National Historic Site, and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, among others. However, there's not much content here, and the film gives some sites more coverage than others. On Cape Cod, a dune buggy tour company is afforded a long segment, whereas the Minuteman National Historical Park is given a much shorter portion. Tinny music accompanies the consistently upbeat narration, and the photography seems haphazard and amateurish.