Humphrey, Mary Baker Eddy House Tours Among Free Essex County Events

Everything that’s great about Essex County - and the North Shore - will be celebrated with two weekends of activities and events dubbed “Trails and Sails.”

There will be more than 150 free events at historic, cultural and natural sites across the county’s 34 cities and towns in the area designated at the Essex National Heritage Area.

Each of the events are listed by community - and not date - below, so scroll through to see the ones nearby.

For all the details including specific limits of the number of participants and clothing recommendations, or to create a customized itinerary, go to the Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails and Sails website.

Swampscott

Mary Baker Eddy House Tour

Hosted by Longyear Museum, 23 Paradise Road

Tour the home where Mary Baker Eddy experienced the healing through prayer that would lead to her discovery of Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy is the first American woman to have founded a major worldwide religion. Enjoy a guided tour that engages interest and respect regardless of one’s religious background.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21, 1-4 p.m., open doors

Swampscott Town Hall Tour

Saturday, Sept. 20, noon-4 p.m.

Hosted by Swampscott Historical Commission, 22 Monument Ave.

Visit this beautifully restored Georgian Revival Mansion, built in 1889 by the architect James Kelley for Professor Elihu Thomson. At the center of the Olmsted Historic District, the building is now Swampscott’s Town Hall, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tour the Sir John Humphrey House

Friday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hosted by The Swampscott Historical Society, 99 Paradise Road

Tour the Sir John Humphrey House, built in 1637 for Humphrey, Deputy Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Now a museum the house has many fascinating details, such as original floorboards, a secret passageway, and a birthing room. The house is now the home of the Swampscott Historical Society.

Swampscott and Lynn

All About Murals

Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m.

Hosted by Local Artist Yetti Frenke, 5 North Common St., Lynn

This three hour event includes a walk from the Lynn Public Library to the Swampscott Public Library to view murals at each location.