National Register of Historic Places

Fernald, Walter E., State School

Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
January 21, 1994
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
93001487

About this property

The Walter E. Fernald State School, later the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, was the Western Hemisphere's oldest publicly funded institution serving people with developmental disabilities. Under its third superintendent, Walter E. Fernald, it became a model for state institutions for the developmentally disabled. It later was the scene of medical experiments in the 20th century. Investigations into this research led to new regulations regarding human research in children. The school occupies a 186 acres (75 ha) property off Trapelo Road in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Location

200 Trapelo Rd.
Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.39111, -71.20928

Categories

ARCHITECTUREHEALTH/MEDICINESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Lawrence, Phineas, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hammond, Ephraim, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Whitney-Farrington-Cook House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Hammond, Jonathan, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Stewart, Henry, House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Skirmish at Menotomy (Arlington)
1775Revolutionary War
3.2 mi
Battle of Menotomy
1775Revolutionary War
3.2 mi
Lexington Green — Parker's Stand
1775Revolutionary War
4 mi
Battle of Lexington – Parker's Stand
1775Revolutionary War
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fernald, Walter E., State School listed on the National Register?

Fernald, Walter E., State School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1994.

What type of historic resource is Fernald, Walter E., State School?

Fernald, Walter E., State School is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fernald, Walter E., State School?

The period of significance for Fernald, Walter E., State School is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Fernald, Walter E., State School?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fernald, Walter E., State School will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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