Old State House
About
The Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in Boston and a key stop on the Freedom Trail. Built in 1713, it was the center of royal government in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock and John Adams debated the colonies’ future inside. The Boston Massacre unfolded just outside in 1770, and the Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians from its balcony in 1776.
After the Revolution it served as the first state house of the Commonwealth, then held a shopping arcade, city hall, post office, merchants exchange and offices during the 19th century. The Bostonian Society restored it in 1881 and has operated it as a museum since. Two floors of exhibits trace Boston’s role in the Revolution, and the site is now managed by the nonprofit Revolutionary Spaces.
What to Know
- Collections include tea from the Boston Tea Party and items connected to John Hancock.
- An immersive show places visitors at the center of the debates that led to the Revolution.
- Custom on-site and virtual programs are available for school groups and families.
- Revolutionary Spaces also runs Old South Meeting House, two blocks away.
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