• Old North Church & Historic Site - Beneath the church lie 37 brick tombs, the first constructed in 1732. Wealthy parishioners began commissioning personal tombs. Among them is Tomb 14, known as the ‘strangers’ tomb,’ where anyone, regardless of social status, could be buried through a benefactor’s intervention. By 1820, with 33 tombs, the area was quite full, leading to expansion under the Vestry. By 1845, space constraints necessitated the reuse of space and removal of coffins. Church leaders were not hesitant to clear out bones after a few decades to make room for new ones, all in the interest of financial sustainability in a rapidly changing society. In 1853, a City ordinance closed the tombs to further burials due to health concerns, as this was a time of relocating services due to unpleasant odors. However, wardens occasionally ignored the law, likely for a fee. A skeleton was discovered in the cellar when the first tomb was built; its coffin plate read ‘Mr. Thomas’—a family among the founders of Christ Church.
• Copp’s Hill Burying Ground - Dr. John Warren’s son, Dr. John Collins Warren (1778–1856), a founder of Mass. General Hospital in 1811, recounted a body-snatching incident from his medical school days at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. While in college in 1796, Dr. John Collins Warren began acquiring bodies for dissection. Upon learning that a man without relatives was to be buried at Copp’s Hill, he and some associates set out to exhume the body. They arrived at 10:00 at night, began digging, but thought they were in the wrong spot, so they moved to another grave. They then decided they were correct initially and returned to the first grave. They broke open the coffin and took the body of “a stout young man,” placing it in a bag.
• North Square Stories - Smallpox epidemics have been a recurring event in world history. During Cotton Mather’s lifetime, three of his children nearly succumbed to one such outbreak. In 18th-century England, the disease Variola major (smallpox) was called the speckled monster. After being struck with weakness, fever, pain, and chills, a spotty, bumpy rash would cover the patient, eventually erupting into oozing blisters and pustules. These pox often appeared on the face and inside the eyelids. After a few weeks, the blisters would dry and scab off, leaving the victim with pitted scars. In Boston, 6 out of every 10 people who contracted the disease died, often due to systemic shock from widespread infection and a buildup of toxins in the blood (toxemia). Even survivors often faced long-term complications, such as severe scarring or blindness (Massmoments.org, 2020).
• Brinks Job Building - Brinks was America’s largest money transporter. In the 1950s, when large companies paid employees in cash, they hired Brinks to deliver the cash for payday distribution. Brinks was known for its security, but their practices had become lax. Tony Pino, suspected of robbery and burglary, took an interest in Brinks and began observing their operations. “He set up a telescope on the roof of 109 Prince St., with a direct view into the garage. He learned every detail of the company’s daily routines: how the money was brought in, counted by Brink’s employees, stored in the vault, and locked up. He also studied the guards’ habits, including their bathroom breaks. To facilitate the break-in, he removed a cylinder from one of the Brink’s office doors and took it to his locksmith friend, who made a key. Pino then carefully reinstalled the cylinder, one door at a time, and obtained all the keys for the five locked doors.”

• Walking tour led by passionate and well-trained guides

• Private transportation

Hear tales of misery, misfortune and murder - all based on true historic events! On this tour through the North End’s winding streets and alleyways, you will hear tales of misery, misfortune, and murder. These dark stories are all based on true historical events that have occurred in Boston. Learn about the Great Influenza of 1918, outbreaks of smallpox, the Molasses Flood, and the infamous Brink’s Robbery against the backdrop of Boston’s oldest neighborhood. Exploring the North End is always a delight. It’s even better when investigating stories from Boston’s checkered past!

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