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At the very least, if you want to visit two of the included attractions, the build-your-own-pass option is a no-brainer. In this section, we will provide information about some of the best deals you can get on tickets to the Old State House Museum, including tourist passes, combo deals, and more. Discover a host of historical sites linked to the American Revolutionary War, from the Freedom Trail to Yorktown Battlefield and more.
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This exhibit will take you through time from the earliest colonial days of Boston to its role in shaping what the United States would become many years later. There is currently only one combo package which includes admission to the Old State House Museum. Alternatively, an all-inclusive pass offers access to dozens of different locations for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days).
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Revolutionary Spaces brings people together to explore the American struggle to create and sustain a free society, singularly evoked by Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House. Built in 1713, the "Town House" acted as a merchants' exchange on the first floor. The second floor served as the seat of colonial and later state government throughout the 1700s. The royal governor, appointed by the King of Great Britain, held his office in the building until 1775, and from the balcony he gave voice to the King 3,000 miles removed from London. The governor's stature as surrogate for the crown was underscored by his elevated position upon the balcony which overlooked King Street. Upon the right and left of the balcony, a lion and unicorn—royal symbols of the King of Great Britain—graced the main façade facing the public square.
The Bostonian Society and the museum 1881–2019
My family and I love road-tripping across America and finding new educational places to explore. Follow along on our adventures here and check our travel tips and recommendations. Guests can test their abilities with building bricks, find hidden doors, practice stitching a historic coat and even get an idea of what it must have smelled like during the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. In this section, we will provide a few details about some of the things you can expect to see when you visit this historic location.
This is an especially good option for activities that are already pretty affordable because you don’t have to do as much to get the discount and there are over 40 different attractions to choose from. That said, there are some holidays where they are either closed or hours are limited/extended. The Old State House Museum (built c. 1713) was the center of Boston civic life, known as the Towne House.
In response, the Bostonian Society was formed to save the building and convert it to a museum. They restored the building to its pre-Revolutionary War appearance, including replicas of the lion and unicorn that were destroyed in 1776. While a museum today, the Old State House bore witness to events that served as catalysts for the Revolutionary War. On its balcony, the Declaration of Independence announced the birth of a new nation. Walk through the exhibits at the Old State House to learn about the complex history of the founding of the United States and the lasting legacies of the events surrounding the American Revolution. Step into the Council Chamber, the seat of power of the British Empire, and imagine the debates that occurred in this historic room.
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From this balcony, Bostonians listened to royal proclamations, but here they also heard for the first time the Declaration of Independence, which announced the birth of a new nation. Built in 1712 and situated in the heart of downtown Boston, Old State House exudes history and cultural significance. As I walked up to the stately old structure and through the rather small entryway located on the side of the building, I was met with a large and ornate spiral staircase just a few steps inside. The staircase was added much later, in 1830, but its fascinating appearance made me even more curious about the history to be found here. Like a small boy I desperately wanted to run up that staircase, eager to explore the three levels of this three hundred year old site.
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The Bostonian Society was formed in 1881 to preserve and steward the Old State House, in response to plans for the possible demolition of the building due to real estate potential. In the cacophony of taunts, screams, and church bells ringing, one of the soldiers was struck. Most of the other soldiers opened fired in response, thinking an order had been given.
Making Public History in Boston and D.C. – Carleton College - Carleton College
Making Public History in Boston and D.C. – Carleton College.
Posted: Fri, 09 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Old State House was originally completed in 1713 and served the multiple functions of being a merchant’s hall and the seat of the colonial government. However, a fire in 1747 meant that it had to be rebuilt to a great extent in 1748 and further restoration and changes were made to the Old State House in 1830. As important as what occurred inside the State House was what happened just outside its doors. It was in front of the Old State House where the Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. Today a small ring of stones sits close to the location where eight British soldiers opened fire into a mob of colonists, killing five and wounding six.
Explore at your own pace and enjoy tours and performances led by fun, interactive guides or fully-costumed Revolutionary Characters. Discover historic period rooms filled with multi-sensory exhibits, beautiful art and important artifacts. Visit the site of the infamous Boston Massacre, one of the pivotal moments on America’s road to Revolution. Don't forget to sit in the Royal Governor's chair inside the newly restored King's Council Chamber and experience what it was like to be the most powerful person in Colonial America.
It seems unimaginable today, but in 1881 the Old State House was slated for demolition to make way for city expansion. But at 169 years old, the building had become a fixture and thankfully many citizens recognised its historical significance. The Bostonian Society was formed to save the old building and it was instrumental in the sites preservation. Visit the Old State House and Old South Meeting House with one joint ticket to explore the unique relationship between these two historic sites. It has been restored several times since it was saved by demolition in 1881. In addition to being the State House, the building also served as City Hall in the mid 1800s.
The museum offers more than 7,500 paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, and ceramics, 1,500 rare books, and 7,000 archival objects from around the world. After Gardner died in 1924, her will stipulated that nothing in the house change and so guests view the museum’s contents as she arranged them. Here you can travel to the moon, explore the science behind light and color, and go back in time to learn about the history of transportation. The Charles Hayden Planetarium is also a must-see, where you’ll be transported to outer space or experience music ranging from Pink Floyd to Beyonce under the dome with a light show. There’s a reason USA Today voted the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum the top “Best Patriotic Attraction” in the country.
The very same spot where the American Constitution was read for the first time to Bostonians in the 1700’s from the small, unassuming balcony that still stands today. Now close allies, this is the same balcony where two hundred years later in 1976 Queen Elizabeth II stepped out onto to deliver a bi-centennial speech of friendship and goodwill. One can only imagine what these American forefathers would have thought if they had known that one day the British Monarch would be standing on that very same balcony making such a friendly speech. The Old State House Museum is included at a discount on many Boston tourist passes, and there are additional opportunities to save money on tickets for this attraction. Today the Old State House is a museum of Boston’s history managed by the Bostonian Society as well as being part of Boston National Historical Park. Guided tours of the Freedom Trail – of which the State House forms a part – are available, but you can also walk it independently.
In 1830, Isaiah Rogers alters the building's interior in a Greek Revival style, most notably adding the spiral staircase that remains today. The Declaration of Independence is read by Colonel Thomas Crafts for the first time in Boston from the balcony of the Old State House. A confrontation between British soldiers and Bostonians takes place in the square in front of the Town House, leaving five people dead and many more wounded. This deadly event came to be known as the “Boston Massacre.” It was some of the first bloodshed in the years before the Revolution and marked a dramatic escalation in the disputes between the British and colonists. James Otis argues against the Writs of Assistance before the Superior Court, marking the first major protest against British laws. The writs permit customs officials to search for contraband goods without probable cause.
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