One of Boston's most beloved historical icons, the Old State House dates back to the 1713.
The building served as the lifeline for Boston during the colonial period and was the center for all government and politics during the era. Just days after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Boston citizens gathered on the street below the Old State House balcony to hear the first public reading of the declaration in Massachusetts.
The new State House was built on Beacon Hill at the turn of the 19th century, and today the Old State House serves as a history museum and the home of the Bostonian Society. The building is open for tours daily.
Located just in front of the old state house is the place where five colonists were killed by a British guard of nine soldiers on March 5, 1770, known as the "Boston Massacre." This is marked by a cobblestone ring in the sidewalk at the intersection of Devonshire and State Street.
