Fernald, Walter E., State School
Also known as Mass. School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth
Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.
About the district
Fernald, Walter E., State School, at 200 Trapelo Rd., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jan 21, 1994. The Register lists it for its architecture, medicine and social history, at the national level. It describes its style as Greek Revival, as it does for 828 other Massachusetts listings. The district takes in 44 historic buildings. It was listed as part of Massachusetts State Hospitals And State Schools MPS. The listing covers 180 acres.
What it isHistoric district in the United States. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 132 MB · National Archives↗Make it a walk: 3 landmarks in about 20 minutes
200 Trapelo Rd., Waltham · about 0.6 miles on foot, as the crow flies
- 1Fernald, Walter E., State SchoolStart here
- 2
Phineas Lawrence HouseFederal · Built 1810 · 0.3 mi on - 3
Whitney-Farrington-Cook HouseItalianate · Built 1790 · 0.3 mi on
10 more Register listings within a mile
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Greek Revival style, nearby
Other National Register listings within 25 miles described as Greek Revival.
Memories of Fernald, Walter E., State School
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about Fernald, Walter E., State School
Is Fernald, Walter E., State School on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Jan 21, 1994 (Register number 93001487).
Is Fernald, Walter E., State School a National Historic Landmark?
No. It is on the National Register; Massachusetts has 189 National Historic Landmarks. The nearest is The Vale, 1.2 miles away.
Can you visit Fernald, Walter E., State School?
Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.
Where can I read the history of Fernald, Walter E., State School?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 132 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 63791392 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.