Tantiusques
About the Business
Tantiusques is a historic park and tourist attraction located at 493 Leadmine Road in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, United States. Visitors can follow a loop trail through quiet woodlands and explore the site of a former lead mine that was used by Indigenous peoples and later by European settlers. The name "Tantiusques" comes from a Nipmuc word meaning "to a black deposit between two hills," reflecting the site's history as one of New England's first mines.
The Nipmuc tribe originally mined graphite at Tantiusques to make paints, and in 1644, John Winthrop, Jr. purchased the mine with hopes of extracting lead and iron. The site has a rich history, with Frederick Tudor shipping around 30 tons of graphite per year to Boston between 1829 and 1860. Visitors can explore the mine cut along the ridge, which is a partially filled-in trench that once followed the vein of graphite.
The park features a short loop trail through the woods, as well as a spur trail that passes through the Leadmine Wildlife Management Area and leads to the Robert Crowd Site. Visitors can see the foundations of the house and barn of an African American and Indigenous man who worked at the mine in the 1850s. The parking lot is not plowed in winter, so visitors should plan accordingly.
To reach Tantiusques, visitors can take Exit 78 from the Mass Turnpike (I-90) and merge onto I-84 West. From there, take Exit 3 toward Sturbridge and follow Mashapaug Rd. before turning onto Leadmine Rd. The entrance and parking lot are on the left.
Before embarking on their adventure, visitors are encouraged to take a photo of the trail map on their phone or download it in advance. The park is part of The Trustees organization, which is dedicated to protecting ecologically significant environments across Massachusetts. Visitors can also participate in The Trustees Hiking Challenge and explore over 100 places with hundreds of miles of trails.
At Tantiusques, visitors can explore the serene Quinebaug River, a former working forest, and a small pond surrounded by giant boulders. The site offers a glimpse into the history of mining in New England and the relationship between people and the land.
Photos
Location & Phone number
493 Leadmine Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566, United States
Reviews
"This is a great trail with lots of history. There is an old sign that says that the Indians used the graphite from the formations for face paint at one point in time. The first cave you come across is barred off. We walked up to the bars and it was very marshy, there was a frog jumping in front of the grate. There was water dripping down the rock formations. You can continue through and there are various caves that are not barred or blocked off but they’re marshy too and I wouldn’t recommend trying go through or enter in. The path is maintained well enough with lots of shade for cover, however that’s why it was FULL OF MOSQUITOES!! We wanted to continue on but it was that bad we were getting eaten alive. Then we drove less than 10 minutes away to the emerald lagoon and because it is more open and sunny there were no mosquitoes bothering us."
"It felt good hiking there. A good vibe. We did a short little loop, just beating the rain. I thought the mines were a little spooky. I've seen too many horror movies! We do a lot of traveling to pick up and deliver products, so we try to hit a trail nearby. We will return."
"Very cool, easy hike in the winter, fun to see the old mine and the woods were beautiful in the snow."
"Short walk 30 yards or so from parking spot. 30 mins there and your ready to go. Easy to miss the sign so drive slow."
"Great place to take a hike with the kids...not to long and somewhat educational."
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