Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Back Bay's rich history
- Learn about women's suffrage movement
- Visit historic landmarks
- Engage with knowledgeable guides
- Discover lesser-known historical facts
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Small Groups (16 guests max)
- Women's Rights Landmarks
- Back Bay Neighborhood
- Gratuity for Guide (optional)
- Admission inside Museums
- Guides in Period Costume
Itinerary
Meet your guide inside the Boston Public Garden, in the northwest corner of the park opposite 67 Beacon Street (02108). Bronze sculptures by Nancy Schön, based on Robert McCloskey's classic children's book (1941), depict a mama duck proudly leading her band of ducklings.
Pass by: Iconic equestrian statue of George Washington (1859).
First public botanical garden in the United States (1837).
Pass by: Site of school founded in 1887 by Pauline A. Shaw, financier of the women's suffrage movement in Boston and founder of Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government.
Originally established in 1630, this church later became a center of the Transcendentalist movement.
Pass by: Home of Elizabeth Putnam, anti-suffragist and first woman to preside over a state electoral college.
Home of Julia Ward Howe, who authored "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1861) and co-founded the American Woman Suffrage Association (1869).
Pass by: Home of Blanche Ames, pro-suffrage cartoonist and early advocate for birth control.
Pass by: Ames-Webster Mansion (1872) was centerpiece of the Ames family fortune and political involvement, including anti-suffragist Mary Shreve Ames and suffragist Blanche Ames.
Wide central boulevard with greenspace and statuary at the heart of Back Bay development plan.
Pass by: Home of Mary Shreve Ames, president of the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association.
Pass by: First women's college club in the United States (1890).
Former site of Museum of Natural History (1864-1951).
Pass by: Former MIT chemistry lab, where Katherine McCormick protested against popular fashion as part of the suffrage movement.
Central public square designed to be the new cultural center of Boston (1883).
Pass by: Iconic church (1877) recognized by American Association of Architects as one of the top 10 buildings in the United States.
Third-largest public library in the United States (1848).
Pass by: Formerly Chauncy Hall, office site of multiple pro-suffrage organizations including Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and The Women's Journal.
Finish line of the iconic Boston Marathon.
Pass by: Hotel Kensington (1884-1967) housed offices of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to Further Extension of Suffrage to Women.
Popular Boston outdoor attraction lined with shopping, dining, and numerous luxury brands.
Pass by: Former Spiritualist Temple (1885), where women were allowed to lead public meetings.
Memorial honoring three famous Bostonians: Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine
- Advance booking is recommended
- Check the meeting point details upon booking
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Dress appropriately for the weather
- Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Traveler reviews
Amazing Summary
Zoe did a great job pulling decades of history together while pointing out influential women and men who contributed to the movement. She was able to summarize the decades of turmoil, multiple failures and successes the movement and walk us through the decades of suffrage evolution and celebrate the people that made it all come to fruition.
A MUST for history lovers
Sarah was so knowledgeable and made everything incredibly interesting. Our whole group had an amazing time and learned some lesser known history of the area. Loved it!
Masterfully crafted tour!
What a masterfully crafted tour. Not only do you get to see so much of Back Bay (and learn about it was built), but you weave a fascinating story of women’s suffrage as you go! Fantastic historic photos bring the story to life too. The suffrage movement was such a fascinatingly complex historical moment. This tour not only does it justice, but makes it compelling! Our guide Sarah was fantastic—deeply knowledgeable, but never boring or stuffy—energetic, fun! Five stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Worth every footstep!
This was the second walking tour I experienced in a day & Sarah included enough stops with benches/steps that I didn't even notice how much my feet ached a few hours after it ended. As an urban planner, I especially loved the depth & development pictures of the Back Bay.
Don't miss this tour!
When the stories of history are told by those who are passionate about the subject matter, the stories come alive. That's why I generally prefer guided walking tours over self-guided tours. I find the interactions much richer and HUB Town Tours really know their subject matter! Maura told the stories of Boston suffragists not just skillfully, but inspiringly. I learned so much and by the time we were done with the tour, my "further reading" list had grown considerably. I'm looking forward to digging in. I think a lot of people, when they come to Boston, think of the Freedom Trail, which is phenomenal and important and HUB Town Tours has a fantastic tour for that (which I took the day before this one and loved), but Boston's role in women's suffrage is less known, or at least it was to me, with NY suffragists like Susan B Anthony generally taking center stage. Do yourself a favor and take this tour. You won't regret it. I can't wait to return to Boston and I highly recommend the Votes for Women tour.