As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston is filled with a rich history that dates back to the landing of the Pilgrims in 1630. Throughout the War of Independence, Boston was the site of many major events, including the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Now, the city is known more for its colleges than its fighting, with over 100 colleges and universities in the vicinity. While in Boston on school trips, students should be sure to visit Paul Revere’s home to learn about his great ride, then head to the Old State House Museum before ending your time discovering Boston’s history with a trip to the Tea Party Ship and Museum.
Paul Revere’s House
Visiting Paul Revere’s House in the city’s north end at 19 North Square while on school trips, will take you back in time. Entering the simple dwelling, you will see how the original home from 1680 has been adapted and altered over the ensuing years with an added kitchen, and the later adjustment into tenements. In 1770, Revere, a silversmith and industrialist, moved into the house with his growing family, and it was in 1775 he went out on his historic ride to warn about the coming of the British. While at the house be sure to take note of the original furniture and features, including the 900 pound bell in the courtyard made by Paul Revere & Sons.
Old State House Museum
On your school trips to Boston, you will, at some stage, find yourself at the intersection of Washington and State Streets in front of the oldest surviving public building in Boston: The Old State House. Built in 1713, it was used as the seat of the state’s legislature until 1798. It was in the streets outside this building that the Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770. At the house, later, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony to the people of the city. After many diverse incarnations, the Old State House was to be torn down in the early 1980s, but it was saved from demolition by the Bostonian Society. It is now a full time museum and presents the country’s history with, amongst other things, multimedia presentations on the Massacre.
Tea Party Ship and Museum
As a perfect way to round out your school trips to Boston, you should head down to the dock where one of the most famous incidents in the American Revolution took place. When three ships arrived into the port carrying 340 chests of British India Company tea, the recently implemented Tax on Tea had to be paid before the tea could be unloaded, or the ships return. The people protested en masse, and on the night of December 16, 1773, a group of men disguised as Native Americans boarded the ships and dumped all the chests of tea into the harbour. The British government responded by closing the harbour and enlisting the Coercive Acts, which, in time, directly led to the beginning of the American Revolution.
