Colony to Commonwealth

Open Daily

At the Old State House

Entrance is included in the cost of admission.

Our Revolutionary Story

Native Bostonians and out-of-town visitors alike will want to make this your first stop at the Old State House.

Gallery Talk
12:30PM

Join Revolutionary Spaces staff for brief gallery talks highlighting the key stories and themes in each of our gallery spaces.
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From occupation by British forces, to the Boston Massacre, to shaping the United States Constitution, Massachusetts and its citizens played a pivotal role in the birth of America. Stroll through time and watch the politics, the people, and even the geography of Boston change over the centuries as events unfold around you through unearthed artifacts and interactive maps.


More at the Old State House

  • Reflecting Attucks
    Reflecting Attucks
    A virtual exhibit that examines the memory of Crispus Attucks, a man of African & Native descent who was the first to die in the Boston Massacre.
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  • Unfinished Business Film Series
    Unfinished Business Film Series
    A film series exploring the legacy of protest, representation, and revolution embodied in our historical sites.
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  • Hands on History
    Hands on History
    For young visitors and the young at heart, there’s no better way to understand history than to reach out and touch it at the Old State House.
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  • Colony to Commonwealth
    Colony to Commonwealth
    Your first stop in Boston! See how Massachusetts and its residents played a pivotal role in the birth of America.
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  • Council Chamber
    Council Chamber
    Once an exclusive space for the most powerful men in Massachusetts, now all are invited to connect to our nation’s history in this meticulously-restored 18th-century room.
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  • The Humble Petitioner
    The Humble Petitioner
    In Colonial America, those without the right to vote were forced to pursue other avenues to have their voices heard.
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  • Gallery Talks
    Gallery Talks
    Join Revolutionary Spaces staff for brief gallery talks highlighting the key stories and themes in each of our gallery spaces.
    Read more →
  • Framing Mass Killings
    Framing Mass Killings
    Exploring how the words we use to describe mass killings in American history affect whether and how we remember them.
    Read more →