Revolutionary ideas were born here.
The Old State House is the oldest and most important public building in American history prior to the Revolution,
where John Adams insisted, “Independence was born.” Step back in time at this must-see destination on the Freedom Trail!
Welcome to the Old State House
The most important building in American history
before the Revolution!
Discover why the Revolution began here, with people and events that changed the world forever. Hear from famous revolutionaries like Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Adams, who debated basic ideas about self-government that we all believe today. Experience the true stories of ordinary people, whose lives were turned upside-down by revolutionary events and ideas. Explore the site of the Boston Massacre, where five men lost their lives. Relive the moment in July 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston. Learn important things you never knew - things that are still important today.
Step into Revolutionary Boston!
Upcoming Events
On King Street
Official Blog of the Bostonian Society
A recently conserved fan prompted research into the woman who owned it. In this post, learn about the story of Agnes Surriage and Sir Charles Henry Frankland and decide if you think if it counts as an 18th century love story or not!
In order preserve John Hancock's clothing, we are currently in the process of having replicas made. These replicas will allow us to return the originals to dark storage and therefore preserve them for future generations. Earlier this week, Master Tailor and Clothing Historian Henry Cooke was in the galleries, studying the original coat and waistcoat in order to begin the process of faithfully replicating them.
Heading back to school? You aren't the only one! New courses were offered in the fall in colonial Boston, too. In this post, we take a close look at a school advertisement from 1756.
Today marks the anniversary of the Proclamation of Rebellion, issued by King George III in response to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Learn more about the events surrounding this proclamation in a new blog post by one of our collections interns.
A good deal of careful and detailed work goes into returning an 18th century textile to its former glory. In this post, learn more the process of conserving the Price kerchief, which was damaged by a water leak in 2015.
August 14 marks the anniversary of the Stamp Act protest. Catch up on some of our previous posts about the Stamp Act Riots and various individuals and artifacts associated with it.
This summer, three interns helped out in our collections department. In this guest post, one of them writes about her experience and shares two of her favorite artifacts in the Society's holdings.
In honor of Bastille Day, we take a closer look at a few of the mementos and relics from our museum collection that memorialize the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834).
Currently on display in the Old State House are artifacts that represent two hundred years of the enduring legacy of the Boston Massacre. Take a peek into the case in this post about one of those items, Joseph Warren's anniversary oration from 1772.
What is it like to portray an 18th century Bostonian as part of our Revolutionary Characters Live program? Learn more about the experience in this chat with Lauren Shear, who plays Elizabeth Cummings.
A new tour focuses on Revolutionary Women, and in this post we explore how women pushed beyond the limits of their traditional spheres of influence in 18th century Boston.
For the 242nd anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, we look at artifacts associated with one of its most well-known casualities, Joseph Warren.
Learn more about an 18th century crewelwork pocketbook - now on display in our #RevolutionaryWomen case.
One of our Education Associates introduces her new tour on music in the revolutionary period, and tells us more about William Billings and The New England Psalm Singer.
This Preservation Month, we're taking a look at the different way our staff works to preserve and share the Old State House and its collections.
For Preservation Month, we look at how the demolition of the Hancock House might have saved the Old State House from a similar fate.
What role did tea play on the global stage in the the 1700s? Part II of our virtual tour examines the tea trade.
One of our Education Associates gives us a peek into her new tour, which explains the social role of tea in 18th century Boston.
In 1764, a proclamation marked April 12 as a day of general fast.
April is poetry month, and we're taking a closer look at an artifact associated with Reverend Mather Byles, one of Boston’s 18th century poets.
