Beacon Hill: Small Group Tour of Civil War Boston

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Boston, USA

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2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation

Overview

Boston's role in the fight to end legalized slavery is linked by the Black Heritage Trail in historic Beacon Hill. This pedestrian path is best experienced on foot, in a small group, with a knowledgeable local guide! Your 2.5-hour loop tour travels from Boston Common to visit Underground Railroad sites, elite homes of "Boston Brahmins," and abolitionist landmarks such as the African Meeting House.

Our small-group walking tour delves deeply into the years 1833 to 1863, the tumultuous years leading toward Civil War. We walk in the footsteps of 19th-century Bostonians, all of whom grappled with the "peculiar institution" of racial enslavement in the U.S.

With a captivating storytelling approach, Hub Town Tours provides the perfect introduction to Boston's role in America's "Second Revolution." As we travel past landmarks from Civil War Boston, your guide shares the gripping story of local Bostonians finding their voices and demanding an end to injustice across their young nation.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1 P Charles St, Boston, MA 02108, USA

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The tour gathers on Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please meet your guide at 1 Charles Street (02108), on the east side of the road, which is inside Boston Common and opposite Starbucks Coffee.

End point

Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, Freedom Trail, Boston, MA 02108, USA

Your 2.5-hour tour concludes in front of the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, across the street from the Massachusetts State House. This special loop tour of Beacon Hill ends within 0.2 miles of its starting location at the Prescott House.

Description

Stop At: Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts

The tour gathers on Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please meet your guide at 1 Charles Street (02108), inside Boston Common and across the street from Starbucks Coffee.

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Boston Common, 139 Tremont St, Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Oldest public land in the Americas and Boston's communal grazing pasture (1634)

Stop At: Acorn Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Narrow cobblestone alleyways wind throughout historic Beacon Hill

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Louisburg Square, Louisburg Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Elegant neighborhood square from elite world of 19th-century "Boston Brahmins"

Stop At: Phillips School, 65 Anderson St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Built as a whites-only school in 1824, but among the first schools to integrate in Boston by 1855

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: John J Smith House, 86 Pinckney St, Boston, MA 02108, USA

Home of leading abolitionist, state legislator, and former barber

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts

Primary thoroughfare of Beacon Hill, lined with local shops and restaurants

Stop At: Charles Street Meeting House, 70 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Historic meeting house (1807) and site of contentious debate over racial integration

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: John Coburn House, 2 Phillips St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Home of African-American community activist and abolitionist

Stop At: Lewis and Harriet Hayden House, 66 Phillips St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Underground Railroad safe house owned by the Haydens, staunch abolitionists who were formerly enslaved

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Otis House, 141 Cambridge St, Boston, Massachusetts 02114

1796 residence of Harrison Gray Otis, Boston mayor and nephew of revolutionary James Otis, Jr.

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Old West Church, 131 Cambridge St, Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Historic 1806 church designed by noted architect Asher Benjamin

Pass By: 20 Hancock St, Boston, MA 02122, USA

Home of outspoken abolitionist and U.S. Senator beaten unconscious in the Capitol over the issue of slavery in 1856.

Pass By: Smith Court Residences, 56 Joy St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Homes of several African-American abolitionists, including historian William Cooper Nell

Pass By: Abiel Smith School, 46 Joy St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Founded in 1835 as segregated school for Boston's African-American children

Stop At: African Meeting House, 8 Smith Ct, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Cultural center of Boston's African-American community and oldest extant black church building in the U.S. (1806)

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: 5 Pinckney St, Boston, MA 02114, USA

Oldest extant house in Beacon Hill (1787) was home to African-American Revolutionary War veteran

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts 02133

Massachusetts state capitol and "Hub of the Solar System" (1798)

Stop At: Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, Corner of Beacon Street & Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Our tour concludes beside the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial opposite 24 Beacon Street.

Duration: 15 minutes

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What To Expect

  • Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
  • Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
  • Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
  • Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
  • Return Details:

    Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, Freedom Trail, Boston, MA 02108, USA

What's Included

  • Small Groups (16 guests max)
  • Black Heritage Trail (All 10 landmarks)
  • Beacon Hill Neighborhood
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup not offered
  • Guides in Period Costume
  • Admission inside Museums

What To Bring

  • Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
  • Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
  • A Smile!

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Not recommended for travelers who have difficulty standing for extended periods

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-66111P4

Reviews

5.00
70 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 70 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures© and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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