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State/County Park | Historic Site
Boston Common
Once the training ground for British troops in Boston, it was from here that Regulars marched toward Lexington & Concord, sparking the American Revolution.
Massachusetts
Experiences
Historic Tours
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Boston, an Underground Railroad Hub
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Boston: An Underground Railroad Hub
June 25 & September 24
Did you know that Boston played a central role in the Underground Railroad? Explore the inspiring stories of freedom seekers in the Beacon Hill neighborhood who escaped to Boston, as well as the people, organizations, and historic buildings that gave them refuge.
Meeting Point: Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
Final Stop: Museum of African American History
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 0.75 miles through Beacon Hill over uneven surfaces and moderate hills
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Henry Knox, a Pillar of the Early American Republic
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Henry Knox: A Pillar of the Early American Republic
July 30 & August 27
On March 5, 1770, a young Henry Knox witnessed the chaotic scene of the Boston Massacre. This moment sparked the transformation of Knox from a bookstore owner to son of liberty, revolutionary war hero, and Secretary of War. Explore sites that played a significant role during Knox’s life in Boston.
Meeting Point: West side of the Old State House, 206 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02109
Final Stop: Long Wharf
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 0.71 miles over uneven surfaces and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.
History at Sunset Walking Tour: The Siege, or Ruin and Back Again, Life in 1776 Boston
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
The Siege, or Ruin and Back Again: Life in 1776 Boston
August 6 & October 15
When the sun set on June 17, 1775, General Thomas Gage held the heights outside Charlestown at the cost of roughly 1,000 British casualties. Charlestown lay in ruins, and Boston remained a city under siege. Nine months later British soldiers evacuated Boston as General George Washington and the new Continental Army entered Boston victorious.
This 90-minute walking tour explores how everyday colonists navigated uncertainty and hardship under occupation and rebuilt their lives after the siege ended in March 1776.
Meeting Point: Find Your Park Space in the lower level of Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109
Final Stop: Bunker Hill Monument
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Boston Resists the Fugitive Slave Act
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
A Man Kidnapped: Boston Resists the Fugitive Slave Act
August 13 & September 17
On June 2, 1854, more than 1,500 troops marched Anthony Burns down State Street to T wharf where he was taken aboard a steamer bound for Virginia. The arrest, trial, and re-enslavement of Anthony Burns was the last time an enslaver captured and returned a freedom seeker to slavery from Boston.
This tour traces paths of resistance by Boston residents as they fought to protect freedom seekers from the Fugitive Slave Act.
Meeting Point: African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court, Boston, MA 02114
Final Stop: Long Wharf
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.25 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated area.
"An Incident on King Street:" Boston Massacre Walking Tour
On March 5, 1770, seven British soldiers fired into a crowd of Bostonians. What led to this “Incident?” Join a Park Ranger to explore the role of riots in Boston since 1700 and how the social popularity in riots effected growing tension between British Regulars and the citizens of Boston between 1768-1770.
Tours begin inside the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center and end at the Boston Massacre Site, covering about .25 miles.
2026 Season (July 22 - September 2nd)
Join a Ranger for "An Incident on King Street" on Wednesday's at 12:00pm
*In case of weather, Rangers will offer an indoor option in the basement of Faneuil Hall, also known as the "Find Your Park Space."
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Pirate or Patriot?
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Pirate or Patriot?
July 2 & October 8
Did you know that colonial Boston was a hub of activity for the most notorious pirates in the 1700s? During this “Golden Age of Piracy” pirates lived in Boston, were imprisoned here, and sometimes executed here. This tour examines the lives of several of the most famous pirates who walked the streets of Boston, including Captain William Kidd, “Black” Sam Bellamy, Ned Lowe, and Willian Fly.
Meeting Point: Sam Adams Statue, outside Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109
Final Stop: Old State House
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Becoming American During the Siege of Boston
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Becoming American During the Siege of Boston
July 16 & September 10
During a year under siege, colonists in Boston began to see themselves not as subjects of the crown but as citizens. Discover how a new American identity emerged here in Boston on the eve of the Declaration of Independence. Explore the site of Boston's Mill Pond neighborhood, the home of Rachel and Paul Revere, and the Copps Hill Burying Ground.
Meeting Point: Sam Adams Statue, outside Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109
Final Stop: Copp's Hill Terrace
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.
The Freedom Trail: Enemies to this Country Guided Tour
In 1774 Paul Revere and his neighbors in the North End were forced to make difficult and dangerous choices. As sides were drawn, both Patriots and Loyalists labeled the other "enemies to this country."
Join a National Park Service Ranger for a free 75 minute walk and decide who the real "Enemies to This Country" were in the months before the breakout of the War for Independence.
Tours begin inside the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center and end at Old North Church, covering about 0.5 miles.
2026 Season (May 23 - October 11)
Join a Ranger for Enemies to this Country Tour Wednesday through Sunday at 11 am.
*In case of weather, Rangers will offer an indoor option in the basement of Faneuil Hall, also known as the "Find Your Park Space."
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Memento Mori, the Significance of Gravestones and Burying Grounds
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Memento Mori: the Significance of Gravestones and Burying Grounds
October 1 & October 29
While walking through Boston’s Granary Burying Ground, learn what burying grounds meant to the Puritans in the 1600s and other residents of colonial New England. How did the emblems and imagery on gravestones change over time? How have Bostonians of the founding generation been honored and remembered within these burying grounds? On this tour, view gravestones of patriots such as Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and the victims of the Boston Massacre.
Meeting Point: Granary Burying Ground, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116
Final Stop: Granary Burying Ground
Route Info: The route will cover approximately 0.25 miles and consist of walking over uneven surfaces.
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Desegregation in the Cradle of Liberty
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Desegregation in the Cradle of Liberty
August 20 & September 3
Boston earned its nickname as the “Cradle of Liberty” by fostering the revolutionary ideals and values that serve as the foundation of this country. As the home to the oldest public school in America, Boston has historically considered access to education as one of these core values. But to whom were those doors open for?
Explore Boston's long struggle for equal education, from Prince Hall’s petitions of 1787 through 1976 with the fight for school desegregation.
Meeting Point: African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court, Boston, MA 02114
Final Stop: City Hall
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated area.
History at Sunset Walking Tour: Cotton Mather and the Pirate Trial of 1717
Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours.
Pirates and Puritans: Cotton Mather and the Pirate Trial of 1717
July 23 & October 22
In 1717, six captured pirates faced trial for piracy in Boston. Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister, condemned piracy but also offered salvation to these six pirates. This tour will explore the moment during which the opposing worlds of Puritan Boston and piracy collided. Walk in the footsteps of the condemned pirates through Boston’s North End where they met their fate.
Meeting Point: Find Your Park Space in the lower level of Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109
Final Stop: Copp's Hill Terrace
Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.1 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.
Museum/Visitor Centers
Bunker Hill Museum
The park's main exhibits are at the Bunker Hill Museum. Located across the street from the Monument grounds, the exhibits are housed in the old Charlestown Branch building of the Boston Public Library.
Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center
Located in Building 5 of the Charlestown Navy Yard, this Visitor Center features exhibits and a short film about the work and workers of the Navy Yard who supported the United States Navy from 1800 to 1974. Please note that access to this building is through a security checkpoint.
Faneuil Hall Visitor Center
Located in the heart of downtown on the market floor of the historic 1742 building, the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center is the main visitor center for Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site. Maps and information for the Freedom Trail® and Black Heritage Trail® are available here. Tours begin here seasonally.
Programming
Programming
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park
Explore! Learn! Protect! Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park. Opportunities for all ages (even adults) makes becoming a Junior Ranger an experience for the whole family.
The "Liberty" Junior Ranger Activity Book introduces you to the sites along the Freedom Trail® here in Boston. Travel along the sites as you learn about the early stirrings of the American Revolution.
When you come to the park, visit the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center or the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center. A park ranger or volunteer can give you a copy of the Junior Ranger Handbook.
Or visit virtually! Most activities in the Junior Ranger book can be completed by reading through the book and visiting the websites of our partners. You can also complete your Ranger guided program by coming along on a virtual tour of the Bunker Hill Monument or learn about the battle with Ranger Patrick. Visit the Park's Junior Ranger page to get your virtual Junior Ranger badge and take the Junior Ranger oath.
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site
Explore! Learn! Protect! Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site. Activities for all ages (even adults) makes becoming a Junior Ranger an experience for the whole family.
Our Junior Ranger Activity Book introduces you to the sites along the Black Heritage Trail® here in Boston. Travel along the sites as you learn about the free Black community of the north slope of Beacon Hill and their fight for equal rights in the United States.
When you come to the park, visit the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center. A park ranger or volunteer can give you a copy of the Junior Ranger Handbook.
Or become a Junior Ranger virtually! Most activities in the Junior Ranger book can be completed by reading through the book and visiting the websites of our partners. You can also complete your Ranger guided program by coming along on a virtual tour of the Black Heritage Trail, listening to Ranger Shawn discuss the Maritime Underground Railroad, or learning about the story of Anthony Burns. Visit the Park's Junior Ranger page to get your virtual Junior Ranger badge and take the Junior Ranger oath.
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Explore! Learn! Protect! Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Opportunities for all ages (even adults) makes becoming a Junior Ranger an experience for the whole family.
Our Jr. Ranger booklets introduce you to the wildlife, geography, and history of the islands. Through activities, you can identify marine life, interview a ranger, and discover all that these islands have to offer!
You can download Jr. Ranger booklets on Spectacle Island, Georges Island, Peddocks Island, and the Camping Islands (Lovells, Grape, and Bumpkin Islands). Visit the Kids and Families page on the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership website to download Jr. Ranger Booklets available in Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole.
Events
Handmade Craft Demonstration and Sale with the Steinhagens at Paul Revere House
Erich and Janice Steinhagen bring their 18th century craft techniques all the way from Connecticut as they demonstrate redware pottery production and the fiber art of spinning. Erich will be throwing pots on the wheel while Janice spins sheep’s wool or flax into yarn. Finished products will be available for sale!
Bunker Hill: Muskets, Men, and Liberty Program
Join a Ranger for a 'Muskets, Men, and Liberty' Program!
Who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill? Listen to a ranger dressed in period clothing discuss why three men from different backgrounds stepped onto the battlefield. They each had different ambitions, motivations, and concerns. The program concludes with a musket firing demonstration!
2026 Season (May 23 - September 27)
Saturdays at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.
Programs are held outside the Bunker Hill Monument and last approximately 30 minutes.
Virtual Talk with Old North Illuminated: "On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear"
Join Old North Illuminated on Zoom for a special event with Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Julia Angwin and former White House senior policy advisor Ami Fields-Meyer, authors of the new book, On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear. You may remember their acclaimed 2025 New Yorker essay “So You Want to Be a Dissident?" which offered a roadmap for resisting authoritarianism through courage, community, and nonviolent action, and sparked a wave of conversation and debate.
USS Constitution Underway
View “Old Ironsides” Underway in Boston Harbor!
USS Constitution goes underway in Boston Harbor at various times each year. The Ship cruises into the Harbor, stopping for a memorable 21-gun salute at Fort Independence, Castle Island.
**NOTE: Underways affect public visitation hours of USS Constitution. Please follow the ship's social media for updates.
THE 2026 SCHEDULE:
March 28 – USS Massachusetts Commissioning
May 28 – Turnaround for USS Constitution Crew
June 17 – The Battle of Bunker Hill Commemoration
July 4 – Independence Day and Public Lottery*
July 11 – Sail Boston Parade of Tall Ships
August 21 – Chief Petty Officer Heritage Week
August 28 – Chief Petty Officer Heritage Week
September 25 – Honoring Gold Star Families
October 21 – Commemorating USS Constitution and the United States Navy’s Birthday
Please note that USS Constitution is an active-duty U.S. Navy vessel: the USS Constitution Museum shares details about the underway at the Ship’s discretion as a matter of public interest.
*The Commander of USS Constitution holds a Public Lottery providing opportunities for the public to join the crew on board the Ship for the Independence Day cruise. The lottery is typically held in early Spring, at the discretion and oversight of the U.S. Navy. All other events are by invitation-only. The public is encouraged to view the Ship from various vantage points throughout Boston’s harbor.
All underway dates are subject to change or cancellation, at any time and at the discretion of the U.S. Navy.
Bunker Hill: Decisive Day Talks
Join a Ranger for a Decisive Day Talk!
Throughout the summer season, join Park staff or a volunteer outside of the Bunker Hill Lodge for a "Decisive Day Talk." These talks provide an overview of the Battle of Bunker Hill and its memory. Hear the stories of the colonial militiamen who constructed the redoubt where the Bunker Hill Monument stands today. Consider the experiences of British soldiers who sustained substantial casualties in pursuit of this position. Learn about the early inspiration for a Monument to commemorate this early battle of the American Revolutionary War and the individuals and community effort it took to construct.
2026 Season (May 23 - September 27)
Tuesday through Sunday at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.
These talks are typically 15-20 minutes in length. If there is poor weather, these talks may be moved inside to the Bunker Hill Museum or cancelled.
Vault to Vessel: Explore "Old Ironsides" with USS Constitution Museum
An Exclusive Tour of the Museum’s Collection and USS Constitution.
Join USS Constitution Museum Curatorial Staff for a special viewing of artifacts in the Museum’s Samuel Eliot Morison Memorial Library, followed by a guided tour of “Old Ironsides.”
This exclusive, guided exploration of naval life during the Age of Sail will start in the Museum’s Reading Room to “open the vault” and look at items from the collection. Then, we’ll head over to board USS Constitution and journey through the decks to see how sailors lived and worked there in the early 1800s.
Historic Town Meeting
Join a Park Ranger for a FREE 30 minute interactive program at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall as we recreate a historic meeting.
The following town meeting reenactments will be offered throughout the summer:
"Declaring Independence" 1776 Town Meeting
250 years ago, citizens gathered at local town meetings throughout Massachusetts. Each town had to determine if they supported their delegates decision to declare independence from Great Britain. How will Boston vote?
"Rocking the Cradle" 1854 Town Meeting
In May of 1854 Federal Marshals arrested Anthony Burns under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law. Immediately following Burns’ arrest, Bostonians gathered at Faneuil Hall to discuss whether they would abide by this federal law or appeal to a higher law of freedom and liberty for all. The eyes of the nation were firmly fixed upon Boston. How will Boston respond?
"Woman's Tea Party" 1873 Town Meeting
On December 15, 1873 Boston’s suffragists held the New England Women's Tea Party, a massive suffrage rally in the Great Hall of Faneuil Hall. Leading suffragists, including Lucy Stone, Frederick Douglass, and Mary Livermore, delivered rousing speeches to a crowd of more than three thousand, furthering the suffrage movement in Boston. Will Boston support women's suffrage?
Hands-On History Days at Revolutionary Spaces
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!
September 13 Hands-On History Day
Theme: Revolutionary Kids
Location: Old State House
Time: 10:30 AM until 2:30 PM
Admission: Free for ages 17 and under all day
Faneuil Hall Talk
Rangers provide FREE Faneuil Hall talks Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm. Each talk lasts about 15 minute. No registration is required.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Reading at Old North Church
Experience a hauntingly beautiful autumn night at the Old North Church with a musical reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Step into the shadows of history at Boston’s oldest church as the brilliant Johnny Kinsman brings Washington Irving’s classic tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman to life. The gripping live recitation is perfectly paired with a breathtaking atmospheric score of original music performed by multi-instrumentalists Josiah Reibstein, Joe Kessler, and Tev Stevig.
Set inside the historic, candlelit sanctuary of the Old North Church, this immersive hour-long performance blends 18th-century charm with spine-chilling storytelling. It is the ultimate way to celebrate the October season in New England. Come alone, if you dare, or bring a band of friends to fill your own private pew.
Elevate your experience by adding an Old North Church Crypt Tour to your itinerary. Descend beneath the church floorboards on a 20-minute guided tour to explore the stories of 37 brick tombs holding the remains of 1,100 early Bostonians.
Doors open at 5:00pm for the 5:30pm performance and 6:30pm for the 7:00pm performance. Seating and crypt tours are strictly limited inside this historic landmark, so hold onto your heads and secure your tickets today before they vanish into the night!
Experiences
Museum/Visitor Centers
Historic Tours
Event Programming
Programming
Events
