Old State House

Tour Boston's oldest surviving public building, where the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony in 1776.

206 Washington St · Boston, MA

Plan your visit

Price: Under $25
Good for: First-time visitors
History lovers
Rainy afternoons
Public transit nearby: 1 | State StSubway 4, 92, 93, 116, 354, Blue Line, Blue Line Shuttle, Green Line E Shuttle and 2 more · 50 ft away
Government CenterSubway and Light rail B, C, D, E · 0.1 mi away
Valenti WaySubway and Train and Light rail and Bus B, C, D, E, Green Line Shuttle, Orange Line, Orange Line Shuttle · 0.4 mi away
Stops and lines from the USDOT National Transit Map. Check times with the agency before you go.
Flying in: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is about 3 miles away.
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About Old State House

Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in Boston and a stop on the Freedom Trail. The Boston Massacre took place in the square outside on March 5, 1770, and on July 18, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was read from its balcony. Inside you can explore the Council Chamber and Representatives' Hall, and outside look for the lion and unicorn statues on the roofline. One ticket also covers the nearby Old South Meeting House.

#freedom trail
#history museum
#american revolution
#colonial boston

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Old State House, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sightseeing
History Buff
Revolutionary Spaces
Under $25
Boston's Old State House and Old South Meeting House, twin landmarks of the American Revolution.
Transit: reachable by public transit
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Irish Famine Memorial
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A sculpture memorial on Cambridge Common in Harvard Square that honors the Irish Potato Famine.
Transit: reachable by public transit
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Museums
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Old South Meeting House
Under $25
The 1729 meeting house where thousands gathered before the Boston Tea Party, now a museum of protest and free speech.
Transit: reachable by public transit
Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums
Eat & Drink
Foodie Favorite
Faneuil Hall Marketplace & Quincy Market
No admission fee
Historic 1742 marketplace packed with food stalls, street performers, shops, grab chowder where revolutionaries rallied.
Transit: reachable by public transit
Steps awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink
Foodie Favorite
Union Oyster House
No admission fee
Eat oysters and seafood at the original oyster bar inside a Georgian building on Boston's Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall.
Transit: reachable by public transit
Steps awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink
Sightseeing
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New England Holocaust Memorial
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Walk beneath six glass towers etched with numbers on the Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall.
Transit: reachable by public transit
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