Back Bay: Small Group Tour of Women's Rights Boston

Explore Boston’s Back Bay on a small group tour, uncovering the city’s pivotal role in women’s suffrage. Walk historic streets with a local guide.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Boston Public Garden - Established in 1837 as first public botanical garden in the United States.
  • Make Way for Ducklings Statues - Sculpture by Nancy Schön based on Robert McCloskey’s classic picture book.
  • George Washington Statue - Equestrian statue of George Washington by Thomas Ball commissioned in 1859.
  • Boston Women’s Heritage Trail - Marking important sites related to Boston’s Women’s History
  • 6 Marlborough St - Home of Pauline A. Shaw, financier of Boston’s women’s suffrage movement and founder of the Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government.
  • First Church in Boston - Established in 1630, the church later became a center of the Transcendentalist movement.
  • 67 Marlborough St - Home of Elizabeth Putnam, anti-suffragist and first woman to preside over a state electoral college.
  • 45 Commonwealth Ave - Home of Kate Gannett Wells, founding member of MAOFESW, Boston’s leading anti-suffrage organization.
  • 25 Commonwealth Ave - Home of Mary Shreve Ames, president of the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association.
  • The College Club of Boston - First women’s college club in the United States
  • Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Historic, long avenue featuring a path through trees, grassy areas, park benches & statues.
  • Newbury Street - Popular street home to shopping, dining, and many luxury brands.
  • RH Boston | The Gallery at the Historic Museum of Natural History - Home to the Museum of Natural History from 1864-1951.

  • Copley Square - Iconic public square built to be the cultural center of Boston.
  • Trinity Church - Built in 1877 and considered by members of the American Association of Architects as one of this country’s top 10 buildings.
  • 585 Boylston St - Then known as Chauncy Hall, was home to the offices of many pro-suffrage organizations including the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and The Women’s Journal.
  • Boston Public Library - Founded in 1848, it is now the third-largest public library in the United States.
  • Boston Marathon Finish Line - Finish line of the iconic Boston Marathon.
  • 687 Boylston St - Location of the Kensington Building (demolished 1967), which housed the offices of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to Further Extension of Suffrage to Women.
  • Boston Women’s Memorial - Memorial depicting Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone
  • 3 Exeter St - Home of Abigail Williams May, one of the first women appointed to the Massachusetts State Board of Education and cousin of Louisa May Alcott.
  • Beacon Street & Exeter Street - Beacon Street, “enemy-country” according to Boston Suffragists, was the starting location for the 1915 Suffrage Victory Parade.
  • 260 Beacon St - Home of Blanche Ames, a pro-suffrage cartoonist and early advocate for birth control.
  • 241 Beacon St - Home of Julia Ward Howe.
  • The Gibson House Museum - Historic House Museum with preserved interior from 1859.
What's Included
  • Small Groups (16 guests max)
  • Women’s Rights Landmarks
  • Back Bay Neighborhood
What's Not Included
  • Guides in Period Costume
  • Admission inside Museums
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Boston’s leading role in the American fight for women’s suffrage is found on the tree-lined streets of its elegant Back Bay neighborhood. This masterpiece of Victorian-era architecture is best experienced on foot, in a small group, with a local guide! Your 2.5-hour tour travels from Boston Common into historic Back Bay, visiting must-see landmarks such as the Public Garden, Newbury Street, and iconic Copley Square.

Our walking tour delves deeply into the years 1870 to 1920, tumultuous decades culminating in women earning the right to vote in the United States. Walk in the footsteps of prolific activists and financiers, visiting the political battleground for pro- and anti-suffrage groups.

With a captivating storytelling approach, Hub Town Tours provides the perfect introduction to Boston’s role in the advancement of women’s rights. As we travel past key landmarks and historic homes, your guide shares captivating stories of the Bostonians who assembled the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

  • Not recommended for travelers that have trouble standing for extended periods of time.
Location
1 P Charles St
Charles Street
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.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(33 Ratings)
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Anneky5787vg
Jul 25, 2024
Inspiring and Informative! - The Boston Women's History Tour is an enlightening journey through the city's past, celebrating the often-overlooked achievements of women.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S_obrien13
Jul 23, 2024
Wonderful and Informational Tour - Kaitlin did an incredible job of leading an informative and meaningful tour. I would definitely recommend booking this Back Bay Women's Rights Tour to learn more about how Boston's history is involved with this movement!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheilawu1086en
Jul 23, 2024
Excellent Team Outing! - We can't say enough about the inspiring and fascinating team outing we had today! Our guide, Kaitlin, was extremely knowledgeable and quick with many amazing facts about the suffrage movement and women's history in Boston. The tour was full of interesting history and was relevant to today. Well-paced tour with plenty of time for questions and viewing beautiful sights. I would highly recommend the Women's tour for any individual or organization that wants to learn more about this important part of our past!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brm235
Jul 23, 2024
Great women's history tour! - Wonderful tour! Informative, interesting, and a great walking route. I was a history major in Boston and still learned so much- Kaitlyn was a great tour guide- engaging, friendly, and my team had a great experience. Thank you Hub Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Greta_hollar
Jul 17, 2024
Leah is the best tour guide! - I was on a girl's trip to Boston and we did the Back Bay tour of the Women's Rights in Boston. Leah was an amazing tour guide and so knowledgeable. We learned so much and had a great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vision30
Jun 24, 2024
Hidden Gem with a message! - An Amazing tour! There is a story to tell here and Leah did a great job of showcasing MA women who were influential in the women’s suffrage movement. Not only will you learn a lot but you will enjoy a nice walk down Marlborough and Beacon Streets!! It is great storytelling at its best! Don’t miss this tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aikol2020
Jun 9, 2024
Had a great experience! - Our group had a great time on the Back Bay Women's Rights tour! Our tour guide was excellent and really knowledgeable, and I learned a lot of history that I hadn't known before (despite being from Boston and thinking I knew it all!). Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mirandawei
Jun 8, 2024
Had a great experience! Highly recommended it! - Clio is a history major and passionate about this topic. She is very knowledgable with the topic and gave us lots of details. She was also very patient with questions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
414harinii
Jun 3, 2024
Sarah is awesome! - Our tour guide Sarah H. was amazing on this tour! She was engaging, extremely knowledgeable and you can tell she’s truly passionate about the history of the city. I would recommend this tour and Sarah for anyone who wants to learn a little more about the American Suffragette movement!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lydiari3920vn
Jun 3, 2024
Knowledgeable Guide & Engaging Tour! - I had such a fantastic tour experience with our guide Sarah. Time flew by! We walked through the suffrage movement and listened to engaging stories that humanized influential historical figures. I can get lost in names and dates, but Sarah was great at providing context and shared interesting images to keep us on track. She was so knowledgeable and answered our many many questions. Really grateful to learn more about the women who dedicated their time and resources to establish the rights I get to enjoy today ❤️ Would strongly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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