Colonial Boston Audio Tour | Context Travel Audio Tours

Audio Guide Details

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Product Type: Audio Guide
Venues: Rose Kennedy Greenway

Fanueil Hall

Quincy Market

Copp's Hill Burying Ground

Preview History of Colonial Boston Audio Guide

Crossing the Greenway to Atlantic Ave Southbound

Old Statue House and Boston Massacre Site

Tomb of Paul Revere

Photos & Highlights

Audio Guide Description

Boston played a pivotal role in the events that led up to the American Revolution thanks to its rebels and riots. On this walking tour with Jessica Dello Russo, a Context Travel expert with a PhD in archaeology, you'll learn about the city's history as a British colony, and find out how acts of civil disobedience and public protest helped bring about American independence.

Starting on Long Wharf, (the city's oldest) Jessica will tell you how Boston was one of America's largest trade centers at the time, thanks to excellent port resources, and its many skilled artisans and highly literate population.

As you make your way to the Massachusetts State House where our tour ends, you'll hear how Bostonians were ready to fight any perceived threat to their autonomy and prosperity. You'll meet some of the key characters in colonial-era Boston, like prominent merchant and statesman John Hancock, political philosopher Samuel Adams, silversmith Paul Revere, and inventor Benjamin Franklin.

Along the way, you'll take in examples of pre-revolutionary architecture from the 16th and 17th century. You'll also see Chart House, the city's oldest waterfront building, and learn about Quincy Market, which Boston set up soon after it became a city in 1822. You'll also visit Faneuil Hall and uncover the controversy surrounding the construction of the project back in 1742.

On this self-paced Boston audio tour, you'll:

• Come face-to-face with several American Revolution protagonists where they were finally laid to rest in Granary Burying Ground

• Understand Boston's role in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade between Africa, Europe, and the Americas

• Take in the Custom House, whose size and position reflect Boston's major role in international commerce – and the extent of its power to collect revenue from trade

• Become familiar with Paul Revere, an immensely popular figure in the story of the American Revolution

• Admire the Boston Athenaeum, home to hundreds of thousands of works of art and other rare items, including a large part of George Washington's library

• Trace the footsteps of Samuel Adams: patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Massachusetts, and one of the most radical, outspoken opponents of English rule

• Find out the history behind Merchant's Row, where the sale of enslaved people continued until its abolishment in 1780

• Admire Boston's earliest surviving granite building, the King’s Chapel, built for the colony's first Anglican community

• Take in Old South Meeting House, where the plans for the Boston Tea Party were hatched

By the end of this 90-minute Boston audio tour, you'll have a greater appreciation for the key figures involved in the fight for America's freedom and, ultimately, the formation of the United States.

The route for this audio guide is wheelchair accessible and can be experienced by travelers of all capabilities. Although the are six steps along the route, it is possible to go around these areas as indicated in the directions in case these sites are closed. The total distance of the audio guide tour is 1.5 miles.

Meet Your Expert

Jessica

Dr. Jessica Dello Russo (Ph.D.) is an archaeologist and historian who has also worked as a guide for Context in Rome. Born and raised in the historic North End of Boston, she followed the Bostonian cursus honorem of studies at Boston Latin School and Harvard before earning a Ph.D. in archaeology in Rome. As a MA-certified teacher and guide, she has collaborated with several local cultural institutions on tours of historic sites, including the North End Historical Society, Historic Neighborhoods of Boston, and the Boston Center for Jewish Heritage. Deeply knowledgeable about the history of Boston, she possesses a teacher's gift for framing and contextualizing information. She loves exploring her native city in the company of her son.

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Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?

Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.

How long does each event last?

Our recorded audio guides typically run for 75 minutes.

How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?

You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.

How long does my access to the audio guide last?

Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.

Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?

Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.