Lethe or Oblivion at Dallin (dates to 1903)

One thousand great places in Massachusetts? So say the state's tourism folks -- and Arlington has seven of them.

Listed under Arlington are Cyrus Dallin Art Museum, the Mystic Lakes, Robbins Farm Park, the Robbins Library, Spy Pond and the statue of Sam Wilson ("Uncle Sam") in Arlington Center. The Minuteman Bikeway is listed under Bedford, but of course it is a key feature of Arlington.

Who could quibble? (Anyone could. What about the historic Old Schwamb Mill?)

Full list | Boston Globe, July 13 >>

 Arlington tops most of its neighbors in the number of attractions chosen for the state list.

Winchester has just one, the Griffin Museum of Photography.

Belmont has two -- the Beaver Brook Reserve and the Mass. Audubon Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lexington has three -- Lexington Center (a questionable choice?) and two that are not questionable at all, the Minuteman Statue and Battle Green.

Medford has two -- the Middlesex Fells Reservation and the Royall House and Slave Quarters -- while Somerville has four: Davis Square (can a T stop be a tourist stop?), Powder House Park, the Brickbottom Artist Building, the Somerville Theater and Union Square.

Of course, our internationally known neighbor to the east, Cambridge, has the most attractions, 16.

They are the Alewife Reservation, Alexander Calder's Great Sail sculpture at MIT, Central Square, Central Square Theater, Club Passim, Dr. Paul W. White Bikeway, Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, Longfellow National Historic Site, MIT Museum, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Multicultural Arts Center, Museums at Harvard, Sanctuary Theater, the Dance Complex and the Mount Auburn Cemetery.

NOTE: The official state list has six sites for Arlington. The Minuteman Bikeway is listed under Bedford, where it ends, but it is a seventh site for Arlington, through which it runs.