Revolutionary Spaces
The Old State House and Old South Meeting House use original rooms, objects, and changing exhibitions to examine protest, power, public speech, and who could participate.
Artwork inspired by Henry Sandham
The Old State House and Old South Meeting House use original rooms, objects, and changing exhibitions to examine protest, power, public speech, and who could participate. The two-site institution prevents the Revolution from becoming one unanimous story. A meetinghouse that held mass debate and a colonial seat of government expose conflict among crowd, crown, merchants, enslaved people, women, Native nations, and later interpreters.
Admission covers both sites, but they are several blocks apart and deserve separate time. Check which guided talks or exhibition rooms are operating, watch for Freedom Trail crowds, and avoid confusing the Old State House with the newer Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill.
- Sites
- Old State House and Old South Meeting House
- Old State House
- 1713
- Old South
- 1729
Quick guide
- Use both buildings
- Debate and government need different rooms.
- Question consensus
- Revolution contained many competing interests.
Know before you go
- Use both buildings
- Debate and government need different rooms.
- Question consensus
- Revolution contained many competing interests.
- Follow one object
- Material evidence resists simplified myth.
- Name the right State House
- Beacon Hill holds a different building.
Good to know
The sites are not adjacent, and downtown construction or events can complicate the walk. Historic stairs and small rooms produce different accessible routes in each building.
Notice these
- Council Chamber
- Old South interior
- Boston Massacre site view