The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement

Explore major Massachusetts events in the first year of the American Revolution at the Old State House, where protest turned into action and the momentum for independence accelerated. Created through a partnership between&nbsp;<a href="https://revolutionaryspaces.org/">Revolutionary Spaces</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.masshist.org/">Massachusetts Historical Society</a>,&nbsp;The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement&nbsp;invites visitors to step into 1775 and 1776—a moment defined by uncertainty, debate, and decisions that would reshape the world.

Old State House

Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts

Learn how slavery was first established in colonial Massachusetts and how the practice in New England differed from southern plantation-style slavery. Discover how enslaved people in Massachusetts used religious spaces and practices, such as marriage and baptism, and government institutions like the courts and petitioning to protect their autonomy and community. You will also hear stories of resistance by Scipio Gunney, Phillis Wheatley, Zipporah Potter Atkins, and Belinda Sutton. The Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts Tour is FREE for anyone who purchases joint museum admission to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Not valid with single-site admission. Tours depart from the Main Hall of the Old South Meeting House. Tours are subject to change and/or cancellation due to staff availability.

Old South Meeting House

Massacre and Memory Tour

TOUR OFFERED SAT-SUN THROUGH MONTH OF MARCH The Massacre and Memory Tour is a guided walking tour that explores the Boston Massacre and how it’s been remembered. Uncover how patriot and loyalist factions in town attempted to control the narrative surrounding the event through dueling reports circulated throughout the colonies and abroad. Discover how later generations of Bostonians used the Massacre to argue against slavery and teach the American public about Crispus Attucks, one of the Massacre’s first victims. You will also learn how Bostonians in the 1970s used the legacy of the Massacre in very different ways while debating how to address racial segregation in public schools. Led by a member of the Revolutionary Spaces Visitor Experience team, the Massacre and Memory Tour covers a half-mile, runs for approximately 75 minutes, and is capped at 20 attendees. The Massacre and Memory Tour is FREE for anyone who purchases joint museum admission to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Not valid with single-site admission. Tours depart from the front desk located inside the Old State House museum store. Tours are subject to change and/or cancellation due to staff availability and dangerous or extreme weather.

Monthly Spotlight: Old State House & Old South Meeting House Birthdays

Happy Birthday! This month the Old State House turns 313 years old and the Old South Meeting House turns 296! These are incredible milestones that we at Revolutionary Spaces believe deserve to be celebrated all month long. As the stewards of these iconic buildings, we honor the stories held within their walls of generations of Bostonians who stood up for what they believed in.  From Massacres to Tea Parties to everyday people speaking up and petitioning to better their lives, these buildings have stood the test of time thanks to the ongoing dedication of people who recognize the importance of preserving, remembering, and learning from our shared history. Visit us throughout the month to discover what makes these places so special, and maybe even make your own party hat and celebrate with us!

TOUR OFFERED FRI-SUN THROUGH MONTH OF APRIL The Massacre and Memory Tour is a guided walking tour that explores the Boston Massacre and how it’s been remembered. Uncover how patriot and loyalist factions in town attempted to control the narrative surrounding the event through dueling reports circulated throughout the colonies and abroad. Discover how later generations of Bostonians used the Massacre to argue against slavery and teach the American public about Crispus Attucks, one of the Massacre’s first victims. You will also learn how Bostonians in the 1970s used the legacy of the Massacre in very different ways while debating how to address racial segregation in public schools. Led by a member of the Revolutionary Spaces Visitor Experience team, the Massacre and Memory Tour covers a half-mile, runs for approximately 75 minutes, and is capped at 20 attendees. The Massacre and Memory Tour is FREE for anyone who purchases joint museum admission to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Not valid with single-site admission. Tours depart from the front desk located inside the Old State House museum store. Tours are subject to change and/or cancellation due to staff availability and dangerous or extreme weather.

Sensory-Friendly Morning

Revolutionary Spaces is pleased to introduce Sensory-Friendly Mornings at the Old State House—special early open hours designed for visitors of all ages who benefit from a quieter, more supportive museum experience. With adjustments to lighting and sound, limited attendance, and hands-on activities, these mornings are ideal for people with sensory needs or those managing autoimmune or chronic illnesses, offering a welcoming way to explore Boston’s revolutionary past!

The Massacre and Memory Tour is a guided walking tour that explores the Boston Massacre and how it’s been remembered. Uncover how patriot and loyalist factions in town attempted to control the narrative surrounding the event through dueling reports circulated throughout the colonies and abroad. Discover how later generations of Bostonians used the Massacre to argue against slavery and teach the American public about Crispus Attucks, one of the Massacre’s first victims. You will also learn how Bostonians in the 1970s used the legacy of the Massacre in very different ways while debating how to address racial segregation in public schools. Led by a member of the Revolutionary Spaces Visitor Experience team, the Massacre and Memory Tour covers a half-mile, runs for approximately 75 minutes, and is capped at 20 attendees. The Massacre and Memory Tour is FREE for anyone who purchases joint museum admission to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Not valid with single-site admission. Tours depart from the front desk located inside the Old State House museum store. Tours are subject to change and/or cancellation due to staff availability and dangerous or extreme weather.

March Hands-On History Day

The British are leaving, the British are leaving! That's right, on March 14th Revolutionary Spaces will celebrate Evacuation Day, when the British were finally kicked out of Boston for good! We’re a few days early for the anniversary, but we think Washington will forgive us. Come honor this momentous occasion at the Old South Meeting House as part of our Hands-On History series, and participate in some fun Evacuation Day-themed crafts and activities. Inspired by Children's Hours held at Old South Meeting House from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, Hands-On History is a modern take on family fun at our historic sites and museums! Activities take place from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and are included in the price of general admission. Plus, all children ages 12 and under get into both the Old State House and Old South Meeting House for FREE all day long!

The Old South Meeting House

Crispus Attucks Day & Boston Massacre Commemoration

In observance of the Boston Massacre anniversary in the City of Boston, Revolutionary Spaces will present a special <a href="https://revolutionaryspaces.thundertix.com/events/259729">commemorative program</a> at 10 AM for Boston Public School students, including winners of the annual Crispus Attucks Essay Contest and students from Boston’s Eliot School. Registration is limited to the public, but a waitlist is available for those who wish to attend if space permits. Following the student program, all are invited to gather at the Boston Massacre memorial plaza outside the Old State House for a <a href="https://revolutionaryspaces.thundertix.com/events/259729">wreath-laying ceremony</a> at 10:30 AM. Remarks will be delivered by Revolutionary Spaces President and CEO Nat Sheidley and Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell. The wreath-laying is free and open to the public, and advance registration is encouraged.

The Old State House

Monthly Spotlight: Black Congregants and OSMH

Based on original research conducted by Revolutionary Spaces staff, this month we are spotlighting the relationship between race, slavery, and Christianity at the Old South Meeting House. During the colonial period, Old South was one of the most popular churches for free and enslaved Black congregants in Boston, a place where they exercised a degree of control and experienced a form of equality in their spiritual lives that they were largely denied outside of the church. At the same time, many of Old South’s white congregants were slave owners who practiced a moderate form of Biblically-sanctioned Christian slavery championed by some of its most influential and leading members. We invite you to engage with this complex history and to learn about some of the figures whose thoughts on this topic have survived, including Judge Samuel Sewell and poet Phillis Wheatley. Afterwards we invite you to write a letter to one of these figures responding to their perspectives on the relationship between Christianity and slavery.

February Hands-On History Days

Inspired by Children's Hours held at Old South Meeting House from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, join Revolutionary Spaces for a modern take on family fun at our historic sites and museums! Visit the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House throughout the year for activities for all ages of history enthusiasts, including themed games, crafts, scavenger hunts, gallery talks, music, and more! Hands-On History Day activities are included in the price of general admission and all children ages 12 and under get in to both the Old State House and Old South Meeting House for FREE!

February Sensory Friendly Mornings

Revolutionary Spaces is pleased to continue Sensory-Friendly Mornings at the Old State House—special early open hours designed for visitors of all ages who benefit from a quieter, more supportive museum experience. With adjustments to lighting and sound, limited attendance, and hands-on activities, these mornings are ideal for people with sensory needs or those managing autoimmune or chronic illnesses, offering a welcoming way to explore Boston’s revolutionary past! Admission is free for children 12 and under, $5.00 for adults

Old State House Boston

January Sensory Friendly Mornings

Revolutionary Spaces is pleased to continue Sensory-Friendly Mornings at the Old State House—special early open hours designed for visitors of all ages who benefit from a quieter, more supportive museum experience. With adjustments to lighting and sound, limited attendance, and hands-on activities, these mornings are ideal for people with sensory needs or those managing autoimmune or chronic illnesses, offering a welcoming way to explore Boston’s revolutionary past!

Christmas Eve Balcony Carols at the Old State House

This Christmas Eve, Revolutionary Spaces revives a long-forgotten Boston holiday tradition: live carols performed from the historic balcony of the Old State House. For the first time since World War II, the sounds of seasonal music will once again ring out over State Street, inviting passersby to pause, gather, and share in the spirit of the season. Originally introduced in 1913 by the Bostonian Society (Revolutionary Spaces’ predecessor organization), the balcony carols marked the start of the holiday season and the close of the business year in Boston’s financial district. The tradition came to an abrupt halt in 1942 when military buglers were deployed during World War II—and it never resumed. This year, Revolutionary Spaces proudly restores this century-old civic celebration, reconnecting past and present in one of Boston’s most storied public spaces. The 30-minute program features live trumpet performances of historic, public-domain carols documented in early 20th-century setlists, including favorites such as Adeste Fideles, Jingle Bells, The First Noel, and Angels We Have Heard on High. A bell ringing and town-crier–style announcement from the balcony will precede the music, honoring the return of this beloved holiday custom. This program is co-sponsored by the <a href="https://www.downtownboston.org/">Downtown Boston Alliance</a> and is free and open to the public thanks to their generous support. The program will begin promptly at 12:00 PM.

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

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 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

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.

revolutionaryspaces

Experiences

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement

Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts

Massacre and Memory Tour

Monthly Spotlight: Old State House & Old South Meeting House Birthdays

Massacre and Memory Tour

Sensory-Friendly Morning

Massacre and Memory Tour

Sensory-Friendly Morning

March Hands-On History Day

Crispus Attucks Day & Boston Massacre Commemoration

Monthly Spotlight: Black Congregants and OSMH

February Hands-On History Days

February Sensory Friendly Mornings

January Sensory Friendly Mornings

Christmas Eve Balcony Carols at the Old State House