Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay

Boston’s leading role in the American fight for women’s suffrage is found on the tree-lined streets of its elegant Back Bay neighborhood. This masterpiece of Victorian-era architecture is best experienced on foot, in a small group, with a local guide! Your 2.5-hour tour travels from Boston Common into historic Back Bay, visiting must-see landmarks such as the Public Garden, Newbury Street, and iconic Copley Square. Our walking tour delves deeply into the years 1870 to 1920, tumultuous decades culminating in women earning the right to vote in the United States. Walk in the footsteps of prolific activists and financiers, visiting the political battleground for pro- and anti-suffrage groups. With a captivating storytelling approach, Hub Town Tours provides the perfect introduction to Boston's role in the advancement of women’s rights. As we travel past key landmarks and historic homes, your guide shares captivating stories of the Bostonians who assembled the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

1. 1

   Make Way for Ducklings Statues

   10 min

   Meet your guide inside the Boston Public Garden, in the northwest corner of the park opposite 67 Beacon Street (02108). Bronze sculptures by Nancy Schön, based on Robert McCloskey's classic children's book (1941), depict a mama duck proudly leading her band of ducklings.

2. 2

   George Washington Statue

   Pass by

   Iconic equestrian statue of George Washington (1859).

3. 3

   Boston Public Garden

   15 min

   First public botanical garden in the United States (1837).

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Pass by

   Site of school founded in 1887 by Pauline A. Shaw, financier of the women's suffrage movement in Boston and founder of Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   5 min

   Originally established in 1630, this church later became a center of the Transcendentalist movement.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Home of Elizabeth Putnam, anti-suffragist and first woman to preside over a state electoral college.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   5 min

   Home of Julia Ward Howe, who authored "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1861) and co-founded the American Woman Suffrage Association (1869).

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   Home of Blanche Ames, pro-suffrage cartoonist and early advocate for birth control.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Pass by

   Ames-Webster Mansion (1872) was centerpiece of the Ames family fortune and political involvement, including anti-suffragist Mary Shreve Ames and suffragist Blanche Ames.

10. 10

    Commonwealth Avenue Mall

    15 min

    Wide central boulevard with greenspace and statuary at the heart of Back Bay development plan.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    Pass by

    Home of Mary Shreve Ames, president of the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    Pass by

    First women's college club in the United States (1890).

13. 13

    Stop 13

    10 min

    Former site of Museum of Natural History (1864-1951).

14. 14

    Stop 14

    Pass by

    Former MIT chemistry lab, where Katherine McCormick protested against popular fashion as part of the suffrage movement.

15. 15

    Copley Square

    15 min

    Central public square designed to be the new cultural center of Boston (1883).

16. 16

    Trinity Church In The City Of Boston

    Pass by

    Iconic church (1877) recognized by American Association of Architects as one of the top 10 buildings in the United States.

17. 17

    Boston Public Library

    10 min

    Third-largest public library in the United States (1848).

18. 18

    Stop 18

    Pass by

    Formerly Chauncy Hall, office site of multiple pro-suffrage organizations including Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and The Women's Journal.

19. 19

    Stop 19

    5 min

    Finish line of the iconic Boston Marathon.

20. 20

    Stop 20

    Pass by

    Hotel Kensington (1884-1967) housed offices of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to Further Extension of Suffrage to Women.

21. 21

    Newbury Street

    10 min

    Popular Boston outdoor attraction lined with shopping, dining, and numerous luxury brands.

22. 22

    Stop 22

    Pass by

    Former Spiritualist Temple (1885), where women were allowed to lead public meetings.

23. 23

    Stop 23

    10 min

    Memorial honoring three famous Bostonians: Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.