Old State House

Close your eyes and you can almost see the parchment of the Declaration of Independence unrolling from the second floor balcony to the townspeople below; hear the bellowing of patriot James Otis decrying the British Writs of Assistance; smell the deadly gunpowder of Redcoat fire during the chaos of the Boston Massacre. The exhibits at the Old State House present information about these and other famous moments leading to the American Revolution in 1775.

Part of Boston's famed Freedom Trail and the oldest public building in the city, the original State House was built in 1713 and served as the seat of the Massachusetts government until 1798. The building went through numerous changes thereafter, including a period of merchant ownership that many historians would just as soon forget. In the late 1800s, talk of demolishing the Old State House was silenced when Chicagoans proposed moving the building to the shores of Lake Michigan, reminding Bostonians of its importance to American history. The building currently is property of the city and is maintained by The Bostonian Society as a historical museum.

Exhibits and Points of Interest
The main attraction on the first floor of the building is an exhibit titled "Colony to Commonwealth," which traces Massachusetts' growth since its conception as an early British settlement. (Note: Massachusetts is technically a "commonwealth" and not a "state" but the differences, which revolve around the original charter, are minimal, hence the use of the term "statehouse" to describe the seat of Massachusetts' government.) According to The Bostonian Society, this exhibit is especially popular among newcomers to Massachusetts. Another exhibit details the recent renovation of the Old State House and includes low-tech but nifty gadgets such as a light meter that measures the vibrations of subways running underneath the building.

The first-floor exhibit area also offers an eight-minute video on the history of the building. We recommend that you skip this video if you are planning to attend one of the Old State House lectures, although it is worth the time otherwise. Also on the first floor are displays of historically significant items, such as John Hancock's deep red frock coat and a vial of tea from the Boston Tea Party. And don't miss the famous Paul Revere engraving of the Boston Massacre.

The second floor of the Old State House contains temporary exhibits, which change every 9 to 12 months. Also on the second floor is an annual exhibit on an aspect of the legal history of Massachusetts.

Tour Information
You should plan to spend one to three hours at the Old State House, depending on your level of interest in Boston and American history. Although tours are generally self-guided, the cheerful and informative staff of The Bostonian Society are on-hand to answer questions. They also run 30-minute lectures throughout the day. Try to attend one of these presentations if you can -- they are very well done. Call the State House directly on the day of your visit or visit the Society's web site for that day's lecture schedule.

The Boston Society's web site will also provide you with information about hours, admission fees and special exhibitions.

Getting There
The Old State House is easily reached via the subway (called the "T" in Boston). While it is located closest to the State Street stop on the Orange and Blue lines, it is no more than a five-minute walk from the Government Center stop on the Blue line and a ten-minute walk from the Park Street stop on the Red line. (Click here for more information about the T, including fare and schedule information.)

by Allyson Krieger

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