Public art, shows, collections and stories that delight every time you visit.
Enter Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House – the two most iconic sites on the Freedom Trail. We view history as a powerful tool to understand our present and build work toward a more just and equitable future.
Exhibits
- Gallery TalksJoin Revolutionary Spaces staff for brief gallery talks highlighting the key stories and themes in each of our gallery spaces.Read more →
- The Humble PetitionerIn Colonial America, those without the right to vote were forced to pursue other avenues to have their voices heard.Read more →
- Council ChamberOnce 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.Read more →
- Voices of ProtestDiscover compelling people who made a difference at Old South Meeting House and the history of protest and free speech that continues to this day.Read more →
- The Main Hall at Old SouthThe largest meeting space colonial Boston, this room was host to thousands of people leading to the Boston Tea Party, and has been a steadfast haven for free speech for almost three centuries.Read more →
- Colony to CommonwealthYour first stop in Boston! See how Massachusetts and its residents played a pivotal role in the birth of America.Read more →
- Hands on HistoryFor 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.Read more →
- Unfinished Business Film SeriesA film series exploring the legacy of protest, representation, and revolution embodied in our historical sites.Read more →
- Reflecting AttucksA 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.Read more →
Tours
- Massacre and Memory TourBEGINNING MARCH 3: A half-mile guided walking tour that explores the surprisingly small geography of colonial Boston to uncover the roots of the Boston Massacre and includes entry to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House.Read more →
- Boston Reconsidered TourCURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE BOOKING ONLY: See how events in our backyard have shaped the entire nation. Trace the ideals of the Revolution through Independence, abolition, struggles for civil rights, and into the present day.Read more →
- Gallery TalksJoin Revolutionary Spaces staff for brief gallery talks highlighting the key stories and themes in each of our gallery spaces.Read more →
Upcoming Events
- Massacre and Memory TourBEGINNING MARCH 3: A half-mile guided walking tour that explores the surprisingly small geography of colonial Boston to uncover the roots of the Boston Massacre and includes entry to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House.Read more →
- Special Member TourMAR 30: In this 60-minute tour, we’ll examine visual and textual representations of both powerful men and common people to understand how context impacts our confidence and trust in imagery. This tour is offered as a special benefit to Revolutionary Spaces Members and space is limited.Read more →
- Polly Sumner: Witness to the Boston Tea Party Book LaunchAPR 19: Author Richard C. Wiggin will read excerpts from his new children’s book, which tells the story of Polly Sumner, a real doll that arrived in Boston aboard one of the Tea Party ships 250 years ago.Read more →
Online Exhibits
- Reflecting AttucksA 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.Read more →
- Imagining the Age of PhillisA short film series directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje that brings a selection of the poems from Honorée Fanonne Jeffers’s book to life.Read more →
- Unfinished Business Film SeriesA film series exploring the legacy of protest, representation, and revolution embodied in our historical sites.Read more →
- Heard“Heard” explores questions of colonial government, community, and prejudice through the lens of the colonial to the contemporary deaf community.Read more →
- Essential Questions Discussion SeriesIn-person and virtual discussions that confront key issues that sit at the heart of the American experiment in self-government.Read more →
- Our CollectionsSearch our online catalog to learn more about the objects, books, and documents in our collections.Read more →
Past Event Videos
- A Potent Force: A Material Memory ProgramMAR 14: Join us as we unearth a treasure from our expansive collection, the iconic Liberty Tree Flag, and explore the great American tradition of protest.Read more →
- The Boston Tea Party in HistoryJAN 10: Moderated by Revolutionary Spaces President & CEO Nat Sheidley, acclaimed historians will explore how the events preceding the Boston Tea Party led to this historic occasion.Read more →
- Piracy and Liberty by the SeaSEP 19: Join three swashbuckling experts on the struggle for freedom and equality in the pirate and maritime community. Eyepatches optional, registration is not.Read more →
- We Were Always HereJoin two esteemed professors to uncover the legacies of LGBTQ+ Colonial Americans and learn what life was like for those lived outside the gender and sexual norms of early America.Read more →
- Cry Havoc! Legislative Violence in AmericaVIDEO: Explore an iconic artifact from the Revolutionary Spaces’ collection and the legacy of what this American relic symbolizes: violence perpetrated in the hallowed halls of Congress.Read more →
- Unfinished Business Film SeriesA film series exploring the legacy of protest, representation, and revolution embodied in our historical sites.Read more →
- Joseph Warren, Medicine, and ActivismVIDEO: Explore the intersection of activism and medicine in this timely virtual panel discussion with scholars and doctors.Read more →
- Violence, Revolution, and MemoryVIDEO | In commemoration of the Boston Massacre, this panel explores political violence, revolution, and memory in a global context.Read more →
- Protest and Commemoration at the 1973 Boston Tea Party AnniversaryWho inherits a legacy of protest and revolution? Can we look back at a moment frozen in time and still march forward in the spirit of change?Read more →
Education Programs
- Revolution is Brewing: Immersive Roleplaying GameA 90-minute immersive experience for students grade 8 and up developed in partnership with the award-winning education game designers Gigantic Mechanic.Read more →
- Education ToursVisit the Old State House and Old South Meeting House with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, or explore at your own pace.Read more →