Also known as Boston's "Towne House", the Old State House dates back to 1713. This Georgian style structure was occupied by the British during the Revolution and was a continuous reminder to the settlers of British dominance and presence in the colony.
The Old State House was the center of all political life and debate in colonial Boston. On July 18, 1776, citizens gathered in the street to hear the Declaration of Independence read from the building's balcony, the first public reading in Massachusetts. The Royal Governor presided here until the new State House was built on Beacon Hill in 1798.
Today, the building is run by The Bostonian Society as a Boston history museum.
| Location: | Corner of State and Washington Streets
|
| Hours of Operation: | 9am- 5pm Daily. January 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July and August 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day |
| Tours: | Available through the Old State House Museum |
| Admission: | Adults $5, Seniors (62+) $4, Students (over 18) $4, Children (6-18) $1. Bostonian Society members , children under six, visitors with disabilities, Boston seniors, and Massachusetts children (in family groups, not school groups) are admitted free at all times. |
| For More Information: | www.bostonhistory.org/ |
Content provided by The Freedom Trail Foundation