Boston History Sites and Fun Facts to Learn Before You Go

Last Updated on October 1, 2022 by Ellen Christian

I love learning more about our country’s history. You may have read about my visit to the Shelburne Museum and Hildene here in Vermont.  Well, I recently had the opportunity to visit Boston and learn more about Boston history sites.

Boston History Sites and Fun Facts

Living in New England, one of my favorite time periods to learn about is the American Revolution. There is just something fascinating about tea parties and colonial living.  Of course, Boston is one of the most popular destinations to learn more about that time period. These are a few of the Boston history sites that I got to visit.

Captain Jackson’s Historic Chocolate Shop – In 1740, Captain Newark Jackson opened a chocolate shop in the North End of Boston. Fun Fact: Chocolate was considered to have medicinal uses and women were discouraged from enjoying too much of it in case it stimulated their “libido.” In 2013, Captain Jackson’s Historic Chocolate Shop was opened inside the historic Clough House where you can now watch costumed interpreters demonstrate 18th century chocolate making. After each demonstration, visitors are welcome to sample freshly made drinking chocolate.

Printing Office of Edes & Gill – In 1755, Edes & Gil became the owners of The Boston Gazette and Country Journal which was one of the most influential newspapers of the time.  The Printing Office of Edes & Gil is located on The Freedom Trail in Boston.

When you visit you can see the historic equipment, live demonstrations, interpreters and historic settings to help you understand how colonial printing was done. In Colonial times, little metal letters were placed in a frame to form words and sentences. Ink was rolled over the letters and paper was pressed on top to create the printed piece. Fun Fact: The large letters (upper case) were stored in the top or upper case. The small letters (lower case) were stored in the bottom or lower case.

Old North Church – On April 8, 1775, two lanterns were hung from the steeple of the Old North Church. This action launched the Revolutionary War and signaled the departure of British regulars “by sea.”  Every year since 1875, on the eve of Patriot’s Day, the Old North Church commemorates the hanging of the lanterns by inviting guests to join the Lantern Ceremony. Fun Fact: Despite what the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says, Paul Revere did not ride alone. He was accompanied by two other riders, Williams Dawes and Samuel Prescott and that’s a good thing because he was captured by the British long before he made it to Concord.

Old State House – The Old State House was built in 1713 and was the seat of the colony’s government and at the center of the events that sparked the American Revolution. In 1768, the colony’s House of Representatives defied the royal governor and refused to rescind their call for united resistance to British taxes.

British officials dissolved the legislature and sent British regiments to occupy the colony. Today, the Old State House has guided tours, interactive activities, and exhibits where you can learn more.  Fun Fact: On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time to the public in Massachusetts from the balcony of the Old State House.

There are so many fun Boston history sites to visit. I highly recommend that you walk the Freedom Trail with a Lessons on Liberty guide. Our guide, Michael, taught me so much.

I loved learning more about our country’s history and seeing all the fun sites that Boston had to offer. I even got to wear his great coat when the weather got cold.

I had a truly amazing time learning more about the Boston history sites.  We also had the opportunity to watch part of the Boston Marathon, eat at a number of truly amazing restaurants and do a little bit of shopping.  I loved visiting the historic cemetery and listening to the church bells ring at the Old North Church.

If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do this summer, I definitely recommend you spend a few days visiting these fun Boston history sites.

Ellen Christian

Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.