Discover Boston
Boston Educational Tours
Boston is one of America’s oldest cities, and it played a key role in the American Revolution. It was host to events such as the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre. These infamous events led to the “Shot heard ‘round the world” at the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. A visit to Boston will make American History come alive!
Boston Overview
Every study of Early American History includes events in and around Boston, which makes it an excellent destination to help bring history to life for students of all ages. History certainly isn’t the only significant aspect of this city, however; visitors can experience art, science and nature, sports and of course, great seafood!
Take the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking tour that leads visitors through 16 historical sites, including Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church. This trail provides a firsthand look at the city’s role in the American Revolution and is a must-see for any student studying American history. See those same landmarks from a totally different perspective on a Boston Super Duck Tour, where visitors are able to enjoy the Boston skyline from the harbor and learn about the historic waterfront. The Boston area is home to many well known and long-established colleges and universities, including Boston University, Northeastern University, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the oldest and most prestigious university in the country, Harvard. Those looking for a break from guided tours will enjoy strolling Harvard Square in Cambridge.
Boston has no shortage of attractions for students who are on a quest for knowledge! A popular attraction in Boston is the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses an impressive collection of over 500,000 works of art. For science enthusiasts, the Museum of Science provides an engaging way to learn about STEM concepts through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. The New England Aquarium is a window into the many creatures that populate Boston Harbor and the countless bodies of water on our beautiful planet. Sports fans will love the opportunity to actually step foot in a place they’ve seen time and again on television and in the movies: Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox!
Finally, no visit to Boston is complete without experiencing the city’s famous seafood cuisine. Boston is known for its clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fresh seafood, and there are countless restaurants and markets throughout the city where students can sample these delicious dishes such as Quincy Market and the North End.
The Freedom Trail
Get your students outside in the fresh air and keep them moving and engaged! The tour includes Boston Common, The Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, Boston Latin School (and Benjamin Franklin Statue), Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, the USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.
Harvard Square
Per Harvard Square, “Each year, over 8 million men, women and children visit Harvard Square. Visitors come for a variety of reasons; this is a place of history, of books, of ideas, and of learning. It is a place of bookstores and coffee houses, of fine dining and eclectic shopping. It is a place of folk music and old theaters, of Cuban ballet and world-class music, of street-performers and award-winning pizza, of public discourse, and public art.”
Salem
A short distance up the coast from Boston lies the city of Salem. In 1692 a diagnosis of bewitchment set into motion several months of panic that resulted in 19 hanging deaths and centuries of fascination with what we now refer to as the Salem Witch Trials. Present-day Salem is (thankfully) a completely different sort of community, but visitors will find all kinds of fascinating and educational attractions that offer insight into the Salem Witch Trials. Visit the Salem Witch Museum, see the House of the Seven Gables, the mansion that inspired Nathanial Hawthorne’s famous novel, or stop at the Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continually operated museum in the United States. Groups can even participate in a critically acclaimed live re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop! Students can take a stroll on Essex Street, the historic cobblestone-and-brick street in the middle of downtown Salem that has been closed off to vehicle traffic, and enjoy dozens of shops, restaurants, cafes, and more.
