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Boston's Best Historical Tours

The history seated in the city of Boston is deep and rich. There are many landmarks and historical sites to see and experience as a visitor or native to the area. Whether a walking tour or riding tour, one that is self-guided or conducted by a tour group, there is much to see and do around the city to enrich the visitor's knowledge about how our forefathers traversed the city.

Freedom Trail
(Image Credit: CityofBoston.gov)

Free Tours By Foot
119 Berkeley St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 299-0764
www.freetoursbyfoot.com

Free Tours By Foot include tours in all corners of the city. Each one covers about one mile of walking and lasts about two hours. The tours include Boston's Back Bay, Cambridge and Harvard University, the Freedom Trail, North End/Little Italy, Boston Strong: Fire, Flood and Famine and a Beacon Hill Crime tour. The Boston Strong tour covers the Marathon bombing site, the Hotel Vendome Memorial, the "Combat Zone" and more. There is a discussion about the causes and aftermaths of each disaster along the way. Interestingly, these tours are free or name-your-own-price, which means that participants can pay what they think the experience was worth after they complete the tour.

Boston By Foot
(Photo Credit: Boston By Foot)

Boston By Foot
87 Mount Vernon St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 367-2345
www.bostonbyfoot.org

Boston By Foot strives to encourage public awareness of Boston's strong history and architectural prowess through their informative tours. The tour guides number about 200 volunteers, most of whom have been working at it for many years. The tours are reasonably priced and include nine different choices like Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Road To Revolution and even a Boston By Little Feet tour for kids along the Freedom trail. The Road To Revolution tour covers the Boston Massacre to the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Boston By Little Feet is geared to young walkers and allows children to witness the Freedom Trail from a child's perspective.

state house generic
(Photo credit: Anna Meiler - WBZ-TV)


State House Tour
24 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 727-3676
www.sec.state.ma.us/trs/trsidx.htm

The Massachusetts State House is the oldest building on the prestigious Beacon Hill and covers two city blocks with the beautiful building and grounds. The architecture and history of the Massachusetts State House come alive with volunteer tour guides and self-guided tours of the building and grounds. The free State House tours last about 30 to 45 minutes and are offered from 10 AM until 3:30 p.m. every weekday. Visitors enjoy seeing the statue of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, that sits on the grounds of the State House. Visitors are also welcome to observe the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives if they are in session.

Related: Boston's Best Historical Sites

duck boat
(Image Credit: Boston Duck Tours)

Boston Duck Tours
4 Copley Place, Suite 4155
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 267-3825
www.bostonducktours.com

Boston Duck Tours provide a guided tour of the city in WWII style amphibious landing vehicles. Each tour lasts for about one hour on land and about 20 minutes in and along the Charles River. The tour hits the historical highlights of the city like the Prudential Tower, Boston Common and the Public Gardens, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Newbury Street, Boston Public Library, the original Cheers and more. Along the tour, the vehicle plunges into the Charles River and travels through the water to display spectacular views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines.

JFK Library
(Photo credit EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library And Museum Tour
Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 514-1600
www.jfklibrary.org

This indoor historical tour is enjoyed at a great site, the JFK Library, as it is known to the locals. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library And Museum offers docent guided tours, audio tours and also offers virtual tours for home enjoyment. There are docents-led tours cover the 25 multimedia exhibits on display. The complex is situated on a 10-acre park, which is at the ocean's shore and highlights the life, leadership and legacy of JFK.

Related: Boston's Best Free Tours

Nancy is a native Bostonian. She enjoys the sights, sounds and tastes of Boston while exploring the city by day or night. Nancy is also a school nurse at an independent middle/high school. Her work can be found on a variety of websites, including Examiner.com.
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