Boston Civil War and Abolition Movement: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Are you looking for a way to discover Boston without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this self-guided walking tour. • Find out how the city ignited the American Revolution, led the country in the fight to abolish slavery and, ultimately, saved the Union • Hear from producer Mitch Lapin, a local tour guide and history expert • Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, pop in your headphones, and just tap start. The app has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

1. 1

   Faneuil Hall Marketplace

   10 min

   Starting in front of Faneuil Hall, you’ll learn about Daniel Webster’s tireless 30-year effort to save the Union.

2. 2

   Old State House

   10 min

   From there, you’ll pass by a number of examples of rich Georgian architecture, including the Old State House, the Old Court House, the New State House, and the Old City Hall. With each building you pass, I’ll reveal a new piece of the Civil War puzzle.

3. 3

   Old Corner Bookstore

   10 min

   Outside the Old Corner Bookstore, you'll learn the reason Harriet Beecher Stowe marched from Ohio to Boston to publish her book Uncle Tom's Cabin.

4. 4

   Old South Meeting House

   10 min

   On this tour, you'll pass by the Old South Meeting House. You'll learn about the historical building while you walk.

5. 5

   Boston Irish Famine Memorial

   10 min

   Along with various monuments and memorials, you'll see the Boston Irish Famine Memorial and hear the history of the Irish in Boston.

6. 6

   Tremont Temple Baptist Church

   10 min

   Outside Tremont Temple Baptist Church, you’ll hear the story of Frederick Douglass, a freed slave who once explained to a mostly white congregation that the 4th of July wasn’t a celebration of freedom to people who’d experienced slavery.

7. 7

   Granary Burying Ground

   10 min

   You’ll wander through Granary Burial Ground, seeing John Hancock's and Paul Revere’s graves.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   10 min

   On this walking tour, you’ll step back in time and explore three hundred years of history. You'll hear about Paul Revere and his role in the American Revolution.

9. 9

   Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial

   10 min

   On this tour, you'll relive the 54th Colored Regiment’s struggle to gain respect and cement the way for 180,000 additional recruits during the Civil War.

10. 10

    Louisburg Square

    10 min

    On this tour, you'll follow the end of Louisa May Alcott’s life at Louisburg Square, the most expensive real estate in Boston while walking through Louisburg Square.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    10 min

    The tour wraps up in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, dedicated to the 120 regiments from Massachusetts that fought in the Civil War.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.