Beacon Hill: Small Group Tour of Civil War Boston

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Discover the rich history of Boston’s role in the fight against slavery on a small-group walking tour of Beacon Hill. Explore Underground Railroad sites, elite homes, and abolitionist landmarks with a knowledgeable local guide.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

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.
Boston Common - Oldest public land in the Americas and Boston’s communal grazing pasture (1634)
Acorn Street - Narrow cobblestone alleyways wind throughout historic Beacon Hill
Louisburg Square - Elegant neighborhood square from elite world of 19th-century “Boston Brahmins”
Phillips School - Built as a whites-only school in 1824, but among the first schools to integrate in Boston by 1855
John J Smith House - Home of leading abolitionist, state legislator, and former barber
Charles Street - Primary thoroughfare of Beacon Hill, lined with local shops and restaurants
Charles Street Meeting House - Historic meeting house (1807) and site of contentious debate over racial integration
John Coburn House - Home of African-American community activist and abolitionist
Lewis and Harriet Hayden House - Underground Railroad safe house owned by the Haydens, staunch abolitionists who were formerly enslaved
Otis House - 1796 residence of Harrison Gray Otis, Boston mayor and nephew of revolutionary James Otis, Jr.
Old West Church - Historic 1806 church designed by noted architect Asher Benjamin
Charles Sumner House - Home of outspoken abolitionist and U.S. Senator beaten unconscious in the Capitol over the issue of slavery in 1856.
Smith Court Residences - Homes of several African-American abolitionists, including historian William Cooper Nell
Abiel Smith School - Founded in 1835 as segregated school for Boston’s African-American children
African Meeting House - Cultural center of Boston’s African-American community and oldest extant black church building in the U.S. (1806)
George Middleton House - Oldest extant house in Beacon Hill (1787) was home to African-American Revolutionary War veteran
Massachusetts State House - Massachusetts state capitol and “Hub of the Solar System” (1798)
Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial - Our tour concludes beside the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial opposite 24 Beacon Street.

What's Included

Small Groups (16 guests max)
Black Heritage Trail (All 10 landmarks)
Beacon Hill Neighborhood

What's Not Included

Guides in Period Costume
Admission inside Museums
Gratuities

Additional Information

The Black Heritage Trail in the historic region of Beacon Hill lends insight into Boston’s engagement in the agitation against institutionalized servitude. This walking route is ideally explored by foot, within a small group, guided by an informed resident! On a circular tour of 2.5 hours, you will start from Boston Common, venturing through the Underground Railroad locations, prestigious residences of ‘Boston Brahmins,’ and significant abolitionist landmarks like the African Meeting House.

Our compact exploration group delves deep into the turbulent period from 1833 to 1863, the countdown to the Civil War. We tread the paths frequented by the Bostonians of the 19th century, all who grappled with the U.S.’s ‘peculiar institution’ of racial slavery.

Utilizing a riveting narrative method, Hub Town Tours offers an ideal primer to Boston’s part in America’s ‘Second Revolution.’ As we cross the significant areas from the Civil War era in Boston, your guide will recount the engaging tale of local Bostonians finding their voice and demanding an end to unfairness across their emerging nation.

Not recommended for travelers who have difficulty standing for extended periods

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), on the east side of the road, which is inside Boston Common and opposite Starbucks Coffee.

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

5.0

(64 Ratings)

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Susan_s

Aug 25, 2024

Passionate and knowledgeable guide - Learned a lot about such an important topic. Long but not too long given the large amount of information given. Only complaints are he checked his Apple watch too often and the nice laminated should have been in a binder in order as i usually see so that he didnt have to shuffle through them.

Review provided by Viator

Deborah_n

Aug 4, 2024

Exceptional history tour - This tour was a real eye opener into Boston's role in the start of the Civil War. Dana is an excellent tour guide-full of enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject matter.

Review provided by Viator

A8689llemilyr

Jul 19, 2024

Informative and Engaging! - I loved this tour with Dave - it was informative, interesting, and a manageable length in the summer heat. We had a lucky opportunity at the end of the Black Heritage Trail to see inside of the African Meeting House; this isn't a standard part of the tour, but Dave and his colleague adjusted the tour to accommodate the opportunity when it presented itself. I would definitely recommend this tour to other groups of students, tourists, or others!