Boston: Underground Railroad History Tour of Beacon Hill
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Beacon Hill's historic streets
- Learn about Boston's abolitionist movement
- Visit key Underground Railroad sites
- Discover stories of freedom seekers
- Engage with knowledgeable local guides
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Small Groups (16 guests max)
- Black Heritage Trail (All 10 landmarks)
- Beacon Hill Neighborhood
- Gratuity for Guide (optional)
- Admission inside Museums
- Guides in Period Costume
Itinerary
Meet your guide at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of Boston Common, steps from the Boston Common Visitors Center at 139 Tremont Street (02108). Look for a white granite column topped by a female figure holding a flag; four bronze statues surround the base of the central column.
Pass by: Oldest public land in the Americas and Boston's communal grazing pasture (1634)
Narrow cobblestone alleyways wind throughout historic Beacon Hill
Pass by: Elegant neighborhood square from 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
Pass by: Primary thoroughfare of Beacon Hill, lined with local shops and restaurants
Historic meeting house (1807) and site of contentious debate over racial integration
Pass by: 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.
Pass by: Historic 1806 church designed by noted architect Asher Benjamin
Pass by: Home of outspoken abolitionist and U.S. Senator beaten unconscious in the Capitol over the issue of slavery in 1856.
Pass by: Homes of several African-American abolitionists, including historian William Cooper Nell
Pass by: Founded in 1835 as segregated school for Boston's African-American children
Cultural center of Boston's African-American community and oldest extant black church building in the U.S. (1806)
Oldest extant house in Beacon Hill (1787) was home to African-American Revolutionary War veteran
Pass by: 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.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tours are conducted rain or shine; dress accordingly.
- Advance booking is recommended to secure your spot.
- Group sizes may vary; contact the provider for specific details.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for the conditions.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Traveler reviews
Excellent underground railroad tour
Will is a passionate,educated guide and i felt like I was reliving history through him. Highly recommend the underground railroad tour.
Brilliant experience
I had an excellent time on this tour. The guide had a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of local African American history and delivered the whole tour in an engaging and insightful manner - highly recommend this tour! It has been a highlight of my short trip to Boston.
Worth every penny and MORE
BEST WALKING TOUR EVER! Will was an AMAZING guide! We learned so much and The level of detail and the passionate story telling made the Underground Railroad and beacon hill and the Boston of the 1800s come alive for us. I truly cannot recommend this tour enough! Worth every penny and much more.
The best tour guide EVER.
I am a 76 year old black woman born and raised in Boston listening to a young white man telling me about some very important but not very well known history about blacks in Boston. From the moment Will introduced himself and explained the plan for our tour, I knew he was going to provide us with a great tour and he did. Will not only met my expectation but surpassed them. Every person in our group left more enlightened about the history of Boston and the people who shaped it into the city it is today. I never was made to feel uncomfortable, but felt pride in what my ancestors went thru to get us here, and they couldn't have done it without the help of some white people who believed ALL men were born free. Thanks Will for the history lesson I was never taught in school.
Great History Lesson
Very informative about the abolishment movement in Boston. Our guide was knowledgeable and very considerate.