Massachussetts: Boston Tea Party Museum

February 3, 2022
Boston
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The Boston Tea Party was one of defining moments that led to the Revolutionary War and the eventual establishment of the United States of America.

The incident took place on December 16, 1773, when American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians threw 342 chests of tea from ships belonging to the British East India Company into Boston Harbor.

The Americans were protesting both a tax on tea (taxation without representation) and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company.

The tour fell into three distinct parts. Initially, everyone gathers in a meeting room with bench-like seats. During Covid-19 times this felt a little awkward but we made it through! As we sat there a number of people in period costumes came to the pulpit and spoke of the injustices we were suffering at the hand of the British and in particular the East India Company. We were role-playing so we had to jeer and applaud at the right moments. Everyone in the audience was handed a card with the name of the person we were role-playing. Some of the lucky few actually got speaking and action roles! It was very interactive and great fun – we also got to learn a bit about the history and proceedings of those days in late 1773.

From the meeting room, we moved outside to storm one of the sailing ships moored outside in the harbour. There are two reconstructed ships; the Brig Beaver and the Eleanor. Once we, the Sons of Liberty, were onboard – which was fairly cramped – we were treated to more cheering and incitement (plus some history lessons) before being invited to throw some packs of tea overboard in the water (these obviously were not real bundles of tea!)

Once these shenanigans were over we triumphantly returned to shore for the final part of our tour.

We returned back inside where there was an excellent multimedia experience which was incredibly well done. This included portraits on the wall of protagonists from the time of the Tea Party that would come to life, Hogwarts fashion, and tell their story. Other parts of the show used light and sound with more traditional multimedia.

Planning your visit to The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Address:	306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Website:	www.bostonteapartyship.com
Telephone:	T:(617) 338-1773
Hours:	10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Admission Fees	Adults $20 Youth under age 25 Free

Best time to visit Boston

The best time to visit Boston is from June to October. Mild autumn weather makes touring around on foot a joy. And even though summer brings in swarms of tourists and expensive hotel rates, the sidewalk cafes, baseball games and outdoor concerts make it worth a trip. Winter is chilly, so pack a warm coat and a pair of boots if you decide to see Beantown sprinkled (or immersed) with snow. Another incentive for wintertime: you might catch a great deal on a hotel. If winter is too cold for you but summer and fall’s hotel rates fall outside your budget, try visiting at the start of the spring season.

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Other things to do whilst in Boston

1. THE FREEDOM TRAIL

Walk Into History and experience more than 250 years of history on Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail — the 2.5-mile red line leading to 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1951, the Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. Today the Freedom Trail is a world-renowned, signature tourist experience attracting over 4 million people annually to visit Boston’s precious 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century sites.

2. ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM

At once intimate and unparalleled in its grandeur, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum draws on the art collection of its eponymous founder. Within a Venetian-style palazzo, surrounding an elegant courtyard decorated in verdant plants, masterpieces hang next to architectural elements Gardner purchased from Europe. The ambience of the museum itself is a treasure, and the wonders it holds offer a one-of-a-kind experience. If you’re lucky enough to be in Boston during the third week of the month, soak up the museum’s monthly Third Thursdays event, when neighbours come together to sip champagne, listen to lively music in the courtyard, and laugh together over gallery games.

3. BOSTON DUCK TOUR

Hop aboard Boston’s Original and World Famous, Boston Duck Tours and enjoy a fully narrated, historic tour of Boston in a WWII style amphibious vehicle that travels on land and water. You’ll be greeted by one of our legendary ConDUCKtors, who’ll be narrating your tour. You’ll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, it’s time for a Big Splash as your ConDUCKtor drives the DUCK right into the Charles River for breathtaking views of Boston and Cambridge.

Where to stay in Boston

1. ELIOT SUITE HOTEL (5-STAR)

Built in 1925, the historic Eliot Suite Hotel is located in Boston’s Back Bay neighbourhood. It offers an on-site sashimi bar and elegantly decorated rooms with down comforters and marble bathrooms.

The Eliot is less than five minutes away from Hynes Convention Center. Nearby shopping includes the Prudential Shopping Center and Newberry Street shops. Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is 1,000 yards away