Schedule of Special Events

Celebrate and learn the life of Benjamin Franklin by walking among the sites of his homes and haunts in Colonial Boston.

In his day, Benjamin Franklin was America's greatest scientist, inventor, diplomat, humorist, statesman, and entrepreneur. Ben was born in Boston, came of age in Philadelphia, and was the darling of Paris.

Join us on an exploration of the North Slope of Beacon Hill and experience the history, cultures, and eclectic architecture of this ever-changing neighborhood.

While your friends are waiting around in Hopkinton, join us on a guided run of the entire Freedom Trail from the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill to the U.S.S. Constitution in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Get ready for the Boston marathon and Patriots' Day with this 3-hour walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill to the U.S.S. Constitution in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

The Boston Waterfront was the epicenter of the maritime economy in the New World. From Quincy Market to Rowes Wharf, this walk through Boston's mercantile history features tales of the colonial shoreline, the lore of clipper ships, and the vibrant revitalized waterfront of today's shops and restaurants.

This tour through the downtown Financial District traces the city's evolution from its depressed state in the 1960's to a thriving hub of Boston's commerce today. We will examine the history and effects of the rise of the skyscraper as steel-frame construction supplanted masonry and see a variety of approaches to revitalizing an urban environment.

Boston can claim examples of Art Deco rivaling New York's finest. Walk through Boston's financial district to see examples of opulent and eclectic Art Deco buildings built from a time of economic and technological optimism through the Great Depression and World War II.

Discover the downtown you often see but rarely notice.

The Cambridge Public Library is a masterful blend of a 1887 Romanesque treasure and a contemporary glass edifice completed in 2009. The LEED Silver-certified extension, designed by William Rawn Associates with Ann Beha Architects, received the 2010 Harleston Parker Medal for the "Single Most Beautiful Building" built in the last 10 years exhibiting "formal beauty as well as beauty of purpose."

Adjacent to the original Richardsonian Romanesque building designed by Van Brunt & Howe, the Cambridge Public Library buildings present a striking contrast of old and new, each the cutting edge library building of its time.

Join us for a slide presentation of the project and a tour through the library.

Stroll through Boston's two great parks for the people. Learn about the history of this green and precious heritage: a struggle for beauty and preservation against daunting odds. Experience the sculpture, ornamental plantings, ponds, and wildlife all within the heart of a bustling city.

Suburban touring at its best! Explore the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill and walk among the Victorian estates while learning the history of this hidden streetcar suburb alongside the campus of Boston College and the historic Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

On September 9, 1774, Suffolk County adopted a set of measures drafted by Dr. Joseph Warren in response to the Coercive Acts. The Suffolk Resolves called for a further boycott, withholding public funds from the Crown, and the establishment of a provincial congress. Paul Revere delivered this document to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia and became an important milestone leading to the Declaration of Independence.

The meeting to adopt the Suffolk Resolves occurred at the home of Daniel Vose. Moved from its original location, the Suffolk Resolves House is now the headquarters of the Milton Historical Society and the home of two esteemed Boston By Foot docents.

Visit the "Birthplace of American Liberty" on this exclusive event.

Walk Boston's jewel of parkland along the Charles River. The Esplanade is the culmination of a vision of accessible outdoor recreational space in and around the Charles River that features sculpted landscaping, sporting facilities, and entertainment at the Hatch Shell.

In the 1960s, buildings and houses along a 4.6 mile strip between the South End and Jamaica Plain were razed to make way for an 12-lane highway Although the highway was never constructed, the land was reused for commuter rail, the new Orange line, and the 52-acre Southwest Corridor Park.

Considered the new strand of the Emerald Necklace, the award-winning Southwest Corridor Park provides various recreational facilities features gardens, grass plantings, basketball courts, tennis courts and is a haven for walkers, joggers, and bikers.

Architect David Lee will discuss how community and designers worked over two decades to stitch this park together into a lively connector through the South End, Back Bay, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain.

Charlestown was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the Puritans crossed over to Boston in 1630. In 1775, Paul Revere crossed over to Charlestown to begin his famous Midnight Ride, the colonists stood up to the British army at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Charlestown was burned to the ground.

Tour this urban village founded in 1628 that focuses on the early Puritan settlement, the Bunker Hill monument, and many of its distinguished citizens which have included John Harvard and Samuel Morse.

A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems.

The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times.

Find that rebel inside you as you walk through four centuries of riots and rebellions in Boston.

A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems.

The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times.

A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems.

The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times.

Relive the adventures of Johnny Tremain in Colonial Boston based on Esther Forbes' prize-winning novel about a young boy who gets caught up in the whirlwind of events that lead up to the American Revolution.

Celebrate and learn the life of Benjamin Franklin by walking among the sites of his homes and haunts in Colonial Boston.

In his day, Benjamin Franklin was America's greatest scientist, inventor, diplomat, humorist, statesman, and entrepreneur. Ben was born in Boston, came of age in Philadelphia, and was the darling of Paris.

Discover the things that move in, around, and over the Charles River Basin. From the Boston Garden along the Bulfinch Triangle, over the Charles, and to U.S.S. Constitution, you will experience the art, technology, and nature of this historic area.

Examine Boston's new cable-stayed landmark, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, the locks of the Charles River Dam, and the revitalization of the lower basin.

A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems.

The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times.

Charlestown was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the Puritans crossed over to Boston in 1630. In 1775, Paul Revere crossed over to Charlestown to begin his famous Midnight Ride, the colonists stood up to the British army at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Charlestown was burned to the ground.

Tour this urban village founded in 1628 that focuses on the early Puritan settlement, the Bunker Hill monument, and many of its distinguished citizens which have included John Harvard and Samuel Morse.

The Boston Waterfront was the epicenter of the maritime economy in the New World. From Quincy Market to Rowes Wharf, this walk through Boston's mercantile history features tales of the colonial shoreline, the lore of clipper ships, and the vibrant revitalized waterfront of today's shops and restaurants.

Footloose on the Freedom Trail is a 3-hour walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the State House to the U.S.S. Constitution offered every Independence Day.

Walk the 2.5-mile route with us on this patriotic tour through 16 historic sites, as it winds its way through the various special events. There's no better time to do it than on the Fourth of July, no better way to start off the day, and no better way to celebrate America's birthday!

A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems.

The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times.

Celebrate and learn the life of Benjamin Franklin by walking among the sites of his homes and haunts in Colonial Boston.

In his day, Benjamin Franklin was America's greatest scientist, inventor, diplomat, humorist, statesman, and entrepreneur. Ben was born in Boston, came of age in Philadelphia, and was the darling of Paris.

On this evening stroll take a close up look at the extraordinary but often overlooked ornamental ironwork gracing the Victorian architecture of the Back Bay. Nineteenth century architects lavished ornamental details on residences and public buildings as the art of ironwork on fences, gates, window grilles, and doorways flourished.

Along the route of tree-lined streets examine splendid iron fences and their immense variety of patterns and motifs as well as the elaborate entranceways and stonework on the facades of these Victorian treasures. We'll discuss the French influence on these mansions and enjoy peeks into charming pocket gardens in full summer bloom.

See a world-renown community of hospitals, academic institutions, and biomedical research centers including the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Celebrate 35 years of exploring Boston on Boston By Foot tours.

Lowell's history began in the early nineteenth century when Boston area industrialists sought a location along the Merrimack River to expand their textile businesses and grew to be the largest industrial complex in the United States.

Today, Lowell is once again on the rise, from an "industrial desert" to a flourishing city. Sparked by a rebound in both economy and culture, Lowell is attracting both companies and families back to its urban center as well as visitors to the Lowell National Historical Park.

On our tour of the Massachusetts Miracle, we will walk past significant buildings that tell the story of America's Industrial Revolution, along the canals that fed the mills, and through the downtown with its fine old structures now repurposed for many contemporary uses.

Plan your stay in Lowell for the afternoon to include a tour on a canal boat, an exploration of a mill exhibit, or visit to a museum.

From streetcar suburb to urban decline to one of the hippest places to live, Davis Square has withstood it all. Learn all about the history and architecture of the diverse neighborhood that serves as West Somerville's hub or commerce, transportation, and the arts.

The Back Bay is the premier example of neighborhood planning adorned with unparalleled Victorian architecture. Starting at the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, walk with us through the years from 1861 to 1901 and experience Boston's prominence as an American city during the Victorian era.

From 1630 people have been dying in Boston. Walk among the dead through Boston's historic burying grounds and learn of religious views, practices, and traditions of death in Boston.

See the revival architectures of churches in Boston's Back Bay. The 19th century movement into the Back Bay created protestant churches in the Romanesque and Gothic revival styles, many of which remain in pristine condition today. Learn about notable residents and the Victorian culture of one of Boston's most prestigious neighborhoods.

Explore the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on this special walking tour offered by Boston By Foot. The Greenway is Boston's new mixed-use public space that once housed the elevated highway since replaced by the Big Dig. Learn the history of the neighborhoods that once occupied this space and the present day urban planning that is knitting Boston back together.

From streetcar suburb to urban decline to one of the hippest places to live, Davis Square has withstood it all. Learn all about the history and architecture of the diverse neighborhood that serves as West Somerville's hub or commerce, transportation, and the arts.

Amidst the debate over bringing casino gambling into the Commonwealth, this tour examines the four centuries of gaming in Boston. From colonial horse racing to the feats of Seabiscuit, and from the reconstruction of Faneuil Hall to Megabucks, we'll look at gaming history in all of its forms and the generations of Bostonians who have embraced and despised the practice.

Find that rebel inside you as you walk through four centuries of riots and rebellions in Boston.

From 1630 people have been dying in Boston. Walk among the dead through Boston's historic burying grounds and learn of religious views, practices, and traditions of death in Boston.

From 1630 people have been dying in Boston. Walk among the dead through Boston's historic burying grounds and learn of religious views, practices, and traditions of death in Boston.

Along a half-mile stretch of Huntington Avenue stands a dense concentration of Boston's most venerable cultural institutions. Walk with us through this corridor to learn about the establishments dedicated to the fine arts, music, theater, education, religion, sports and much more.

Beacon Hill With a BOO! is the Halloween walking tour of Beacon Hill featuring the murders, executions, ghosts and politicians of this seemingly quaint neighborhood.

Discover the new 19th century neighborhood of Beacon Hill. From the early carriage houses to Victorian row houses, the Flat is a charming neighborhood with colorful history and architecture with notable landmarks such as the Church of the Advent and the Charles Street Meeting House.