What Is Old State House?
This is America’s oldest Georgian-style public building still standing!
What Makes It Historical?
Originally, this was built to be the seat of government for Boston town, Suffolk County, and the whole Province of Massachusetts Bay, called the Boston Town House! Built in 1712, burnt in 1747, and rebuilt in 1748, it became a flashpoint against British rule, from the riot against Commodore Knowles forcibly conscripting Boston sailors, to James Otis’ speech against Writs of Assistance, which gave a customs officer the power to enter any dwelling where he suspected there might be smuggled goods! And of course, this building was both the backdrop of the Boston Massacre and the scene of the soldiers’ trials!
After July 18, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud from the Town House balcony, and the royal emblems were torn down and burned, the Town House gradually became the State House and saw John Hancock sworn in as first Governor of Massachusetts in 1780! But once the new state house opened in 1798, this became a multipurpose building, then city hall from 1830-40, then a multipurpose building again until the city was ready to demolish it! Luckily, William Whitmore and the Boston Antiquarian Club stepped in and saved the building from demolition and removal to Chicago, of all places! Today, the Old State House is still standing as a museum!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of Revolutionary Spaces!
- Donate to the Freedom Trail!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
206 Washington St
Boston, MA 02109
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The Old State House is open daily from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM!