The Brooks Estate
Medford, Massachusetts
Artist rendering – The Brooks Estate Plan
A Gift from the Past, a Legacy for the Future
An urban oasis with 50 acres of protected open space, the Brooks Estate in Medford, Massachusetts is a beloved environmental and historical treasure.
Nestled in a landscape of wooded paths along Grove Street in West Medford, The Brooks Estate offers sanctuary for visitors seeking escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Enjoy nature’s rich pageant year-round along The Brooks Pond habitat, where fish, migrating birds, and various forest creatures make their home.
Follow the walking path up to the majestic Shepherd Brooks Manor and Carriage House, each an architectural masterpiece and the focus of ongoing restoration for continued community benefit.
Explore
More than a collection of trails, the Brooks Estate provides a critical habitat for native and migrating birds and small mammals. Join your neighbors and stroll (or jog) on the trails, seek birds, fish in the Pond (catch and release), or simply relish the outdoors.
History
Did you know that the Brooks Estate is on the National Register of Historic Places? Learn more about the history of the Estate and how the Brooks family and generations of Medford residents have contributed to local and national history over almost four centuries.
Donate
Help support our vision of a fully-restored, self-sufficient Brooks Estate for both today and for future generations.
Latest News & Events
Brooks Estate Lecture Series
Medford’s Brooks Estate: A Gift from the Past, a Legacy for the Future An illustrated talk by Tom Lincoln, President, Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust (M-BELT) The Brooks Estate is 50 acres of conservation land, graced by Brooks Pond, wooded walking trails and the historic Shepherd Brooks Manor and Carriage House. Owned by the residents of […]
Bird Walk – More Early Spring Migrants!
Join us as we explore the grounds of the Brooks Estate, a hidden urban oasis for early spring migrants. The first week of May can be full of early avian “scouts” who seem to arrive before the larger groups of migrants. Meet at the green gate at 7:30am on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Co-sponsored by […]
Fieldstone Wall Restoration Update
Work Begins on Final Phase of Grove Street Wall Restoration Work has begun on the final phase of the restoration of the historic stone wall along Grove Street. The focus is on the portion of the Wall that ends at the former entrance drive for the Point of Rocks mansion, near the Winchester line. This part of the Wall […]
Spring Open House!
Come for a look at the historic Shepherd Brooks Manor and an update on our progress on its restoration. Brief tours are given periodically; the last tour is at 3:40pm. Refreshments, of course! Please refer to the bottom of this page for directions and parking. If you need accessible parking for this day only, please […]
Spring Spruce Up!
We are seeking volunteers to help spruce up the Manor & grounds for our 2023 season. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks both outdoors and in the Manor. Work will include: trail work, manor yard work, manor cleaning; staining the west porch floor, and other items as needed. We also will be working […]
Early Spring Migrant Bird Walk!
Join us as we search for early spring migrants – particularly Pine, Palm, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, but there may also be phoebes, several sparrows, kinglets and thrushes. Or, let’s find a surprise! Meet at the green gate at 8am on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. For more information, please contact Diana Fruguglietti or inquiries@brooksestate.org. Co-sponsored with […]
Save the Date: Spring Clean Up
We are excited to once again host our Annual Spring Clean Up on Saturday, April 29th beginning at 10am. There will be light refreshments and tours of the manor following the completion of the clean up. We would love for you to volunteer! Email inquiries@brooksestate.org to be added to our volunteer list. If you are […]
2023 Meetings
We are excited to share our 2023 meeting schedule! Be sure to check back here on our blog for updates throughout the year. Board of Director Meetings: March 16 – 7pm May 18 – 7pm June 22 – 7pm September 14 – 7pm Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 30th at 6:30pm. For agendas […]
2022 Annual Meeting
The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust, Inc. (M-BELT), a Massachusetts non-profit corporation, will be held on December 1 2022 via ZOOM, at 6:30p.m. local time, for the following purposes: To elect a President of M-BELT, Inc., from the membership for a term commencing December 2, 2022 and ending as of the […]
1859 Cornerstone Returned to the Brooks Estate
Some years ago, Rob Allen, a founding member of BEPA, discovered a large “1859” cornerstone in the northwest corner of the Brooks Estate, near the original site of the Point of Rocks mansion (built in 1859). The stone, which weighs about 250 pounds, was removed for safekeeping in the neighborhood. Recently, it was returned to […]
Event: Fall Open House!
Join us for our Fall Open House! Saturday, October 15, 2022 2:00pm – 4:00pm Free and open to all! A perfect follow-up to the Brooks Family Art & Architecture talk at the Medford Library earlier in the week. Manor tours and an update on M-BELT activities will be given – last tour is 3:30 p.m. […]
Event: Brooks Family Art & Architecture
Join Doug Carr, an architect and student of art and history, as he presents a variety of art works collected by generations of Brooks Family members, whose ranks include the Saltonstalls and the family of John Quincy Adams. The Brooks collection contains works by John Singer Sargent, John LaFarge, Claude Monet, and sculptor Cyrus Dallin, […]
Donate today
Donate today and continue the legacy left to our community by the Brooks family. Your monetary support will help preserve, restore, and transform the Estate into a fully-functional community destination for the enjoyment of all.