The Crimson Quills Tour: The Literary History of Harvard Square

Have you ever stood somewhere and realized: “This is where an author from the past stood —&nbsp;someone who wrote something that’s impacted me today?” That’s the experience of the Crimson Quills tour. As we walk the streets of Harvard Square where writers from the past lived, gathered, and wrote, you’ll see that the past and present really do carry on in parallel. From America’s first printing press and published woman, to Nobel laureates and pioneer poets, discover the writers who lived, studied, and wrote in Harvard Square and how they shaped literary history. Throughout the tour, we’ll read work by the authors we encounter, including Anne Bradstreet, Margaret Fuller, Harriet Jacobs, and more. You’ll walk away with a greater understanding of Harvard Square’s literary history, as well as the experience of being in the same place where some of America’s greatest authors once stood.

Harvard Square

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

Have you ever stood somewhere and realized: “This is where an author from the past stood — someone who wrote something that’s impacted me today?” That’s the experience of the Ink &amp; Cobblestones tour. As we walk the streets of Boston where writers from the past lived, gathered, and wrote, you’ll see that the past and present really do carry on in parallel. On this tour, you’ll learn about the writers who lived on Beacon Hill, the oldest library in Boston, the hub of 19th century publishing, the site of the first bookstore in Boston, and some literary inspiration from a graveyard. Along the way, we’ll read work by the authors we encounter, including Phillis Wheatley, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Sylvia Plath, and more. You’ll walk away with a greater understanding of Boston’s literary history, as well as the experience of being in the same place where some of America’s greatest authors once stood.

Downtown Boston

Revolutionary Words Tour A Literary Walk Through the Writings that Inspired Independence

Have you ever wondered how a revolution becomes more than an idea? Before the battles, before the Declaration, before the nation, there were words: speeches, pamphlets, poems, essays, broadsides, and public arguments that helped shape how ordinary people understood liberty, power, rights, resistance, and revolution. That’s the experience of the Revolutionary Words tour. As we walk through downtown Boston, we’ll explore the places where revolutionary ideas were printed, spoken, debated, read aloud, and carried into the streets. On this tour, you’ll learn about Boston’s role in the American Revolution through the literary voices who helped create the language of independence. We’ll visit sites connected to the Liberty Tree, Benjamin Franklin, Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Phillis Wheatley, Isaiah Thomas, Paul Revere’s Boston, and more. Along the way, we’ll read revolutionary-era words in the places connected to them: poems, speeches, newspaper writings, and other texts by Sam Adams, Phillis Wheatley, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and others that reveal how language helped move Boston from protest to revolution. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of Boston’s Revolutionary history — not only as a story of battles and politics, but as a story of language, print, persuasion, poetry, and public imagination.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything to do around Boston.

Things to do in Boston and beyond

Things to do in Boston

New at Museum of Science, Boston 💫 

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Literary Boston

Where

literaryboston

Experiences

The Crimson Quills Tour: The Literary History of Harvard Square

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

Revolutionary Words Tour A Literary Walk Through the Writings that Inspired Independence

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past

The Crimson Quills Tour: The Literary History of Harvard Square

The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past