Overview
Explore hidden history on Beacon Hill's Black Heritage Trail, and learn stories from America's "Second Revolution" prior to the U.S. Civil War. Boston's role in the fight to end legalised slavery is linked by the Black Heritage Trail in historic Beacon Hill. Our tour delves deeply into the years 1833 to 1863, the tumultuous years leading toward Civil War. We walk in the footsteps of 19th-century Bostonians, all of whom grappled with the peculiar institution of racial enslavement in the U.S.
What you will be doing
The tour gathers on Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please meet your guide at 1 Charles Street (02108), inside Boston Common and across the street from Starbucks Coffee
Oldest public land in the Americas and Boston's communal grazing pasture (1634)
Narrow cobblestone alleyways wind throughout historic Beacon Hill
Elegant neighbourhood square from the elite world of 19th-century Boston Brahmins
Built as a whites-only school in 1824, but among the first schools to integrate in Boston by 1855
Home of leading abolitionist, state legislator, and former barber
Primary thoroughfare of Beacon Hill, lined with local shops and restaurants
Historic meeting house (1807) and site of contentious debate over racial integration
Home of African-American community activist and abolitionist
Underground Railroad safe house owned by the Haydens, staunch abolitionists who were formerly enslaved
1796 residence of Harrison Gray Otis, Boston mayor and nephew of revolutionary James Otis, Jr.
Historic 1806 church designed by noted architect Asher Benjamin
Home of outspoken abolitionist and U.S. Senator beaten unconscious in the Capitol over the issue of slavery in 1856.
Homes of several African-American abolitionists, including historian William Cooper Nell
Founded in 1835 as a segregated school for Boston's African-American children
The cultural centre of Boston's African-American community and oldest extant black church building in the U.S. (1806)
The oldest extant house in Beacon Hill (1787) was home to African-American Revolutionary War veterans
Massachusetts state capitol and Hub of the Solar System (1798)
Our tour concludes beside the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial opposite 24 Beacon Street.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: 1 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
🗺️ Instructions: The tour gathers on Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please meet your guide at 1 Charles Street (02108), on the east side of the road, which is inside Boston Common and opposite Starbucks Coffee.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Pregnancy friendly
Infant friendly
Children friendly
Service animal/dog friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Service animals welcome, but pets are NOT allowed in historic burying grounds
Plan ahead, as parking is often difficult
Tours operate rain or shine - we make every effort to lead all scheduled tours
Not recommended for guests with heart conditions or difficulty standing
Luggage and large bags NOT allowed
Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
Inclusion ✅
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Pick up and drop off transport
Entrance ticket
Gratuities
About your host
Hub Town ToursIn 2016, we joined the bustling tourism market in Boston with one goal: to provide the most fulfilling history tour experience of this fantastic American city. In essence, we want to leave you wondering why your history classes were never quite so captivating! Now entering our seventh full season, we are proud to have served thousands of wonderful guests, earning hundreds of five-star reviews across travel industry platforms.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.