Advance purchase required.
Tours often sell out quickly!

BOOK IN ADVANCE TO GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT!

Old State House

Boston is a city rich in history that is full of events that helped to shape our nation. On the Foods of the Freedom Trail tour you will be immersed in the culinary culture and history of Boston and New England while learning about some of the city's most famous historical landmarks along the Freedom Trail. The Old State House is a historic government landmark along the Freedom Trail where many important moments in the history of America took place.

Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in the city of Boston. It is located on the corner of Washington and State Street right in front of the location of the infamous Boston Massacre.

Now a museum of history, the Old State House at one time housed the state's legislature. It was built as a replacement for the old townhouse which was destroyed in the fire of 1711. Many of America's pivotal moments in history took place here at the Old State House. In 1770 the Governor of Massachusetts spoke to the people from the balcony, asking them to return to their homes during the Boston Massacre and it was on this same balcony that the Declaration of Independence was read by Colonel Crafts. Ironically enough, Queen Elizabeth II gave a touching speech form this same balcony in 1976.

After the revolution the Old State House had many uses over the years including serving as the seat of the Massachusetts State government, Boston's City Hall and later was rented out for commercial use by businesses such as tailors, merchants, offices, etc.

In 1881 the Bostonian Society was formed to save the Old State House from demolition. Today the Bostonian Society runs a museum from this historical building which is open year round and offers guided tours. After your Boston walking tour, return to the Old State House for a more in depth look at the history that unfolded here and helped to shaped our country.