I guess the best way to explain this site is thus: This is a travel guide that your ancestors could have used almost two hundred years ago. I spent a lot of time reading through this site last night. It contains a large number of historic descriptions covering New England, from the states down to individual locations (springs, rivers, etc.).
NewEnglandTowns.org brings together historic accounts of New England places that not only tell us about times gone by, but also offer hints and revelations for the modern visitor. Searching for a scenic getaway? Want to visit ancestral towns and villages in search of genealogy and family history.
Here’s an entry for the Massachusetts portion of the site
A trigonometrical and astronomical survey of the state, by order of the general court, for the purpose of a new map, was commenced in 1830, and will soon be completed. Surveys of the mineralogy, botany, zoology, and agriculture of the state have been commenced; some favorable reports have been made, and the researches of scientific men are continued, and promise great public usefulness.
It’s a great site to poke around, and the creators have done a good job of pulling all of this information together.