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Old South Meeting House

Old South Meeting House Famed 1729 National Historic Landmark where the Boston Tea Party began in 1773. Visit to experience one of the nation's most important colonial landmarks.

Visit the famed, National Historic Landmark where the Boston Tea Party began in 1773. Within the walls of Old South Meeting House, meeting by meeting, vote by vote, a revolution began. On exhibit: Historic 3-D model of colonial Boston showing the Patriots' route to the harbor; John Hancock's portable writing desk; first edition 1773 book by slave & poet Phillis Wheatley; and many more rare revolut

Visit the famed, National Historic Landmark where the Boston Tea Party began in 1773. Within the walls of Old South Meeting House, meeting by meeting, vote by vote, a revolution began. On exhibit: Historic 3-D model of colonial Boston showing the Patriots' route to the harbor; John Hancock's portable writing desk; first edition 1773 book by slave & poet Phillis Wheatley; and many more rare revolut

Operating as usual

Difficult Transitions
01/12/2021
Difficult Transitions

Difficult Transitions

JAN 13: A lively panel discussion with leading historians exploring some of the most tenuous moments in executive power in our nation’s history.

12/16/2020

It's the 247th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party!

Join Revolutionary Spaces TONIGHT at 7:30pm for the premiere of Tea Party Tonight! here on Facebook and YouTube.

Artists! Join Revolutionary Spaces for FREE workshops in December to explore the life and work of America's first publis...
11/17/2020

Artists! Join Revolutionary Spaces for FREE workshops in December to explore the life and work of America's first published Black woman writer, Phillis Wheatley Peters.

Learn more and sign up today! https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/events/wheatley-workshop/

Calling artists of all kinds! This December, join us for a riveting workshop series to explore the life and legacy of Phillis Wheatley Peters, America's first published Black woman poet, and long-time congregant of Old South Meeting House. Through these workshops, we hope participants come away with their own personal connection to Miss Phillis and her work.

These workshops are inspired by "The Age of Phillis,” a lyrical new work by poet and writer Dr. Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, who imagines Phillis Wheatley Peters, America’s first published Black woman poet, “as a human being who lived and loved while making her mark on history.”

Like Dr. Jeffers, participants will ground their creative process in the history by exploring primary sources and scholarly works about Peters. From there, participants will craft their own responses to her life in forms that may include writing, art, and performance concepts.

This project is supported by the 400 Years of African-American History Commission.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER: https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/events/wheatley-workshop/

If you're not following Revolutionary Spaces, you're missing out on some stellar upcoming events, including:Tues, Nov. 1...
11/07/2020
Events

If you're not following Revolutionary Spaces, you're missing out on some stellar upcoming events, including:

Tues, Nov. 10: Monumental Attucks

Thurs, Nov. 19: Looking for Miss Phillis: Finding the Woman Inside the Icon

Sun, Nov. 22: Poetry as a Force for Change: A Conversation with Marge Piercy

LEARN MORE via RevolutionarySpaces.org.

A community connected. Upcoming Events

09/09/2020
Reflecting Attucks at RevolutionarySpaces.org

Over the course of several months, Revolutionary Spaces' provides a ground-breaking look at Crispus Attucks - a man of African and Native descent, who was the first to die at the Boston Massacre.

The time has never been more relevant to reflect on the "first martyr of liberty" as our nation grapples with the vital role that protest and resistance play in American democracy and with the historical roots of inequality, particularly for Black and Indigenous communities.

Join the conversation: www.RevolutionarySpaces.org/ReflectingAttucks

Video narration by Charles Coe.

Revolutionary Spaces is excited to announce the reopening of Boston's Old State House and Old South Meeting House on a t...
08/01/2020
Reopening Revolutionary Spaces

Revolutionary Spaces is excited to announce the reopening of Boston's Old State House and Old South Meeting House on a trial basis for at least 3 weeks beginning TODAY!

MORE INFO AND ONLINE TICKETS: https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/reopening/

Revolutionary Spaces will reopen the Old State House and Old South Meeting House museums with strict cleaning and physical distancing guidelines.

Follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates!
06/02/2020

Follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates!

Silence is violence. As a new organization striving for a just, equitable future, we cannot ignore the injustices Black people in America face every single day.

As a nation, we look to our history to tell us who we are. Too often our founding history has been enlisted to justify inequality and legitimize white supremacy. We cannot allow this to happen any longer. We must recognize and credit the many Black and Brown people who have contributed so much to the ongoing American experiment. While we can’t change the past, we have a duty to tell the truth about the founding of our nation, and we stand committed to exploring this history in new and honest ways.

We know we have work to do as a public history organization striving to be anti-racist in our practices. But we stand here committed to listening, to learning, to growing. This is only the beginning.

Hi folks! Since we merged with the Bostonian Society in January, we'll be posting all Old South Meeting House and Old St...
04/29/2020

Hi folks! Since we merged with the Bostonian Society in January, we'll be posting all Old South Meeting House and Old State House updates over at Revolutionary Spaces.

Like and/or follow Revolutionary Spaces now!

Take a look at Revolutionary Spaces' blog for a deeper look at the Great Fire of 1872, and how ordinary Bostonians leape...
04/14/2020
Resilience at Old South Meeting House

Take a look at Revolutionary Spaces' blog for a deeper look at the Great Fire of 1872, and how ordinary Bostonians leaped to action in the face of that crisis.

And remember to follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates on Old South and the Old State House!

Every day that we adapt our lives to stay inside and protect each other or go back on the front lines as an essential worker in this epidemic, we show our capacity for resilience. While this current moment feels unprecedented, Bostonians have been through crises before, building resilience along the...

Wise words from Phillis Wheatley.Remember to follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates in these times of social distan...
03/26/2020

Wise words from Phillis Wheatley.

Remember to follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates in these times of social distancing.

As days and nights start blending together, we turn to the words of Phillis Wheatley. She may have been looking at the Western and Eastern skies between the Old State House - close to the Wheatley family home - and Old South Meeting House - where she attended church every Sunday - when she wrote her poem “A Hymn to the Evening,” with its description of one day’s end and anticipation of the next day’s beginning.

-----

Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main
The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain;
Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing,
Exhales the incense of the blooming spring.
Soft purl the streams, the birds renew their notes,
And through the air their mingled music floats.
Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are spread!
But the west glories in the deepest red:
So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow,
The living temples of our God below!
Fill'd with the praise of him who gives the light,
And draws the sable curtains of the night,
Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind,
At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd;
So shall the labours of the day begin
More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.
Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes,
Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.

-----

Read more about Phillis Wheatley via the Poetry Foundation & Poetry Magazine. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley

Becoming a Revolutionary Spaces member gives you the opportunity to connect with the history and continuing practice of ...
03/24/2020

Becoming a Revolutionary Spaces member gives you the opportunity to connect with the history and continuing practice of democracy through the intertwined stories of two of the nation’s most iconic sites – Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House.

https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/membership/

As we grapple with uncertainty in this pandemic, we're finding new ways to connect in the chaos. Becoming a Revolutionary Spaces member gives you the opportunity to connect with the history and continuing practice of democracy through the intertwined stories of two of the nation’s most iconic sites – Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House.

While we can't be together in person right now, we're exploring new ways to connect virtually, and will roll out new member-exclusive content soon.

Your support is vital in helping us bring people together, and we couldn't do this without you.

https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/membership/

It's lovely to relive In Mo Yang's 2018 performance. Follow Revolutionary Spaces for more ways to stay connected in the...
03/22/2020
Music At The Meeting House: In Mo Yang | Forum Network

It's lovely to relive In Mo Yang's 2018 performance.

Follow Revolutionary Spaces for more ways to stay connected in these times of social distancing!

New England Conservatory Artist Diploma student, In Mo Yang, talks about the theme of Occupation. Yang describes how the pieces he chose to perform connect to not only the immigrant experience but also to his own country’s story of being occupied.

03/17/2020
Remembering Unity In Moments Of Crisis

As we adjust to this new normal of social distancing, follow Revolutionary Spaces for updates and digital content related to Old South Meeting House and the Old State House!

This last week was packed with moving, meaningful, and memorable commemorations of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston M...
03/10/2020

This last week was packed with moving, meaningful, and memorable commemorations of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Remember to follow Revolutionary Spaces for all updates!

This last week was packed with moving, meaningful, and memorable commemorations of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Thank you to all who joined us for the Commemoration on March 5th at Old South Meeting House. We remember these moments to honor those who died, and to reflect on how we can learn from our shared past to build a more just and equitable future.

If you didn’t make it to the commemoration on March 5 (or want to relive it again), watch it here. https://forum-network.org/lectures/commemorating-250th-anniversary-boston-massacre/

As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre this week, we remember the events of the night of March 5...
03/02/2020
Remembering The Boston Massacre, With Nat Sheidley (episode 174) HUB History - Our Favorite Stories From Boston History podcast

As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre this week, we remember the events of the night of March 5, 1770. Hear more from Revolutionary Spaces President & CEO Nat Sheidley on HUB History.

Listen to Remembering The Boston Massacre, With Nat Sheidley (episode 174) and 176 more episodes by HUB History - Our Favorite Stories From Boston History, free! No signup or install needed. Remembering the Boston Massacre, with Nat Sheidley (episode 174). Remembering the Boston Massacre, with Nat S...

One week from today we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Follow Revolutionary Spaces for updates...
02/27/2020

One week from today we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Follow Revolutionary Spaces for updates!

Next Thursday marks the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre. To commemorate this historic event, we have several programs coming up, including:

March 5 - Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre: a few tickets are still available!

March 7 - 2020 Boston Massacre Reenactment

March 12 - Sanguinary Theatre: Dr. Joseph Warren & his Massacre Oration

We hope you'll join us at one of these events. And stay tuned for even more events and programs at the Old State House and Old South Meeting House soon!

Reserve your tickets now for How Long Must We Wait?, presented by Revolutionary Spaces, in partnership with History At P...
02/26/2020

Reserve your tickets now for How Long Must We Wait?, presented by Revolutionary Spaces, in partnership with History At Play and Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts, Inc..

We hope to see you on March 24!

We are thrilled to announce a FREE performance of "How Long Must We Wait?" in partnership with Revolutionary Spaces and the Old South Meeting House. This family-friendly presentation will take place at the Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108, with a reception at 6:30 pm and performance at 7 on Tuesday, March 24th. Easy $9 parking after 4:00 pm at the Garage at Post Office Square! Event is free but reservations are requested at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-long-must-we-wait-tickets-92784564129

Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts, Inc. Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement - Boston WBZ | CBS Boston Boston Women's Heritage Trail 7News - WHDH Boston WCVB Channel 5 Boston Chronicle on WCVB Channel 5 Bob Jolly Charitable Trust Photo: SO Design

Don't miss this event with Revolutionary Spaces. Reserve your seat at the Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the ...
02/24/2020
Boston Massacre 250th Anniversary Commemoration

Don't miss this event with Revolutionary Spaces. Reserve your seat at the Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre now!

Join us to honor those who lost their lives in the Boston Massacre and reflect on how difficult memories can inspire us to reach higher.

The background of this image is the center of a marker in front of the Old State House. The text is from a speech given ...
02/05/2020

The background of this image is the center of a marker in front of the Old State House. The text is from a speech given here at the Old South Meeting House. The was a turning point in the hearts of the people of Boston, and whether with memorials or with words, how they chose to commemorate that tragic event helped put the Colonies on the path to Independence.

March 5 marks the 250th anniversary of the . This year, while we reflect on the lives lost and the impact of that night on the move toward Independence, we will also explore how we remember people and events and why we commit so much to commemoration.

01/08/2020
Welcome to Revolutionary Spaces

What a perfect space to talk about bringing people together. The Old South Meeting House has always been a gathering place for people to speak out and engage with their community, and our future with Revolutionary Spaces will continue that tradition.

"The work of democracy is the focus... what does it say that we are part of a democracy?"Thanks to The Boston Globe for ...
01/07/2020
Two Freedom Trail destinations joining forces - The Boston Globe

"The work of democracy is the focus... what does it say that we are part of a democracy?"

Thanks to The Boston Globe for helping spread the word about this exciting new direction!

The Old State House and Old South Meeting House, which together attract more than 200,000 visitors a year, have joined to form a new organization called Revolutionary Spaces.

We’re excited to announce our merger with the The Bostonian Society to create Revolutionary Spaces, a dynamic new cultur...
01/07/2020

We’re excited to announce our merger with the The Bostonian Society to create Revolutionary Spaces, a dynamic new cultural resource unlike any other. Follow Revolutionary Spaces and visit RevolutionarySpaces.org to learn more.

Happy New Year!
12/31/2019

Happy New Year!

Address

310 Washington Street
Boston, MA
02108

Telephone

(617) 482-6439

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A Special Invitation from Paul Revere
A Special Invitation from Paul Revere

A Final Ring to Westbiorough, MA
A Final Ring to Westbiorough, MA

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So fortunate to have met him a number of times. Most recently it was at a talk at Old South Meeting House. We have David McCullough to thank for understanding the human depths of American History and beyond.
Check out Boston's Irish Famine Memorial unveiled on June 28, 1998 near Downtown Crossing, across the street from Old South Meeting House and down the street from the Omni Parker House. Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn Visit Boston
Leah Cole Allen, Attorney Jay McMahon, Rayla Campbell for Massachusetts, Kari MacRae, and I attended a dinner last night with the Ashbrook Center and special guest Brian Kilmeade, at the Old South Meeting House. The discussion of the night was getting our schools back to teaching students about the Constitution and self-government which we all support. Great discussions with the other attendees about the ticket focus on education and improving our schools in the Commonwealth.
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One of the most major intersections of Congregational history and American Revolution history occurred on this day in 1773, when 5,000 people met in Boston's Old South Meeting House to debate British taxation. After the meeting, a group raided three tea ships anchored nearby, in what became known as the Boston Tea Party. Revolutionary Spaces Revolution250
the Great Boston Fire of 1872 began. Old South Meeting House was almost destroyed, but was saved by the timely arrival of a fire engine from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

However, the fire caused the city's residential districts to shift toward the Back Bay, away from the church. The congregation then built a new church building (the "New" Old South Church in Boston at Copley Square) which remains its home to this day. The Old South congregation returns to Old South Meeting House for services in its ancestral home once a year, on the Sunday before .
One of the top attractions in Boston and a good way to see many historical sites in a short amount of time is to follow Boston's Freedom Trail. This trail runs 2.5 miles through the city and is marked with a red brick path. The path leads to 16 historical sites scattered around the city. It's an absolute must when visiting Boston for the first time.

This we remember Phillis Wheatley, who despite suffering kidnapping, enslavement, and racial prejudice became one of the most famous colonial-era poets in North America. She was also a Congregationalist and a baptized member of Boston's Old South Meeting House.

Many of her published works and associated biographies are available to read at the library.
Manny Steen, 19 years old, Irish Jewish from Dublin.
Come to Old South Meeting House this weekend, time travel to 1925, and take a journey with me to NYC🗽
Opening night tomorrow Guerilla Opera
ダブリン生まれアイルランド系ユダヤ人の19歳、マニーと一緒にニューヨークに旅をしましょう！
明日ついに初日！
Old South Meeting House where Sam Adam’s signaled to begin the Boston Tea Party
Our public in-person tours are back and it’s time to go on our most comprehensive Freedom Trail offering, Road to Revolution. It includes historical landmarks such as King's Chapel, Old South Meeting House, The Paul Revere House, the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, and more. Come explore the streets of Boston's oldest neighborhoods and hear the extraordinary stories preserved in the places where the Revolution was born. Whether you are a history buff or just want a refresher on our nation’s Revolutionary past, our guides will gladly take you down the Road to Revolution on this fascinating tour! Learn more and buy tickets:

https://www.bostonbyfoot.org/tours/Road_Revolution
The Old South Meeting House is one of the most iconic buildings in Boston and truly a historic American treasure. Although it is a museum today, it once echoed with exhortations from some of the most important orators of the revolutionary era and served as a crucial public meeting place for decades. So whether you are walking the famed Freedom Trail or simply exploring Boston on your own accord, a visit to the Old South Meeting House is an absolute must!
This week's Pay-Per-HAP: Cato & Dolly, A New American Play LIVESTREAM offers a glimpse into the famous Hancock House on Boston's Beacon Hill, the home of Governor John Hancock and Dorothy Quincy Hancock (Dolly); the First Lady of Massachusetts. Playwright Patrick Gabridge offered the following description of the house, based on his research while composing the play:

The Hancock House was built between 1734-1737 by Joshua Blanchard for Thomas Hancock, John Hancock's uncle and a wealthy merchant, whose company-- -- was engaged in a variety of import/export activities. The grand house was situated at 30 Beacon Street (adjacent to where the Massachusetts State House stands today). The three-story granite mansion overlooked Boston Common and was the site of many balls and banquets thrown by the Hancock Family over the years.

In addition to members of the Hancock Family, the Hancock House was also home to servants and enslaved peoples, who were purchased to care for the home and daily needs of the Hancock Family and property.

After John’s death in 1793, much of the property was purchased by the City of Boston , and in a deed signed by Dolly Quincy Hancock, the gardens of the estate were bequeathed to the Commonwealth, designated as the future site of the seat of government (i.e. the state capitol).

After Dolly’s death in 1830, the house was owned by relatives until it gradually fell into disrepair and was razed to the ground in 1863. The destruction of the Hancock House caused a public uproar that launched the historic preservation movement that would help to save Old State House, Old South Meeting House (Revolutionary Spaces) , the The Paul Revere House, and other important landmarks from demolition.

RESEARCH: Patrick Gabridge, supplemented by Judith Kalaora.

PHOTOS: A prospective view of part of the commons, 1902 engraving by Sidney L. Smith after Christian Remick's 1768 watercolor; The Hancock Manor, ca. 1860. The woman standing on the balcony is identified as Elizabeth Lowell Hancock Moriarty, the great-grandniece of Governor John Hancock.

Enter the Hancock House through the eyes of those who lived there when Pay-Per-HAP Episodic Livestream Living History Series presents "Cato & Dolly" on Friday February 12th, 2021.

History At Play™, LLC is proud to be the exclusive performance troupe licensed to produce "Cato & Dolly: A New American Play."

Tickets at this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pay-per-hap-cato-dolly-a-new-american-play-livestream-tickets-132962808339

Recording viewable for 48 Hours! Tickets must be purchased prior to 6:00 PM ET on Friday Feb. 12th to be admitted to the Livestream; purchases made after that time will receive a link to view the recording on Vimeo, available for 48 Hours following the livestream. Both Livestream and recorded performance audiences receive a Digital Playbill and access to BONUS MATERIALS associated with the production.
Violin maker Antonio Stradivari passed in 1737. Stradivari was famous for crafting sting instruments, over 600 of which still survive. In honor of Stradivari, take a listen to some violin music from In Mo Yang via Old South Meeting House >> https://to.wgbh.org/37xZ6Vs
☕ Today marks the Anniversary of Boston Tea Party, a political protest in 1773 to the Townshend Acts by the Sons of Liberty.

History lovers! For all you could want to know about events surrounding the Townshend Acts, watch this series with Old South Meeting House & The Paul Revere House > https://to.wgbh.org/3ac387M
Phillis Wheatley Peters was a poet, writer, and long-time member of the Old South Meeting House congregation.

Join us on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7pm ET for "Looking for Miss Phillis: Finding the Woman Inside the Icon" to explore Miss Phillis's legacy with the award-winning Honoree Fanonne Jeffers.

REGISTER NOW: https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/2020/11/03/looking-for-miss-phillis/

https://www.facebook.com/events/392713918745803/
Eviction Threat Looms Again With Moratorium End, reports GBH News. When housing issues arise, we often resurface this 2018 talk with City Life/Vida Urbana because it helps us better understand tenant rights and the resources available.

Learn more Old South Meeting House >> https://to.wgbh.org/2FJcT0f
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