Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about?This highly immersive museum brings history to life—quite literally—as actors in period costumes perform historic reenactments of one of the most iconic events of revolutionary New England (the Boston Tea Party, of course), and they get you in on the act, too. The museum itself consists largely of a wharf and two recreations of eighteenth-century merchant ships, all floating off the Congress Street bridge in Fort Point Channel, very close to where the original Boston Tea Party happened on December 16, 1773. We've got our ticket, now what happens inside?The experience combines elements of Colonial Williamsburg, Disneyworld, and Hogwarts. Tours last a bit over 60 minutes, and they start every half hour in fall and winter, and every 15 minutes the rest of the year. You’ll start by participating in a meeting of the Body of the People, where you’ll be assigned a Revolutionary-era role based on a historic figure. (Don’t worry; your participation can be largely passive.) You’ll then head down the wharf to board one of two recreations of the tea-carrying ships berthed in Boston Harbor in December 1773. Your guide will explain the setting and the situation, and you’ll have your chance to dump some faux tea chests. From there, you’ll guide yourself through alfresco wharf-side exhibits that delve deeper into the period and the people involved. Back inside, there’s a diorama with holographic figures debating the propriety of the Tea Party protest from American Patriot and British Loyalist perspectives. The next-to-last stop is a gallery showing off historic artifacts, including a vial of tea, the only known tea chest from the event still in existence, and some impressive talking portraits of King George III and Samuel Adams. The tour closes with a dramatic short film, reenacting elements of Paul Revere’s April 1775 ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord that followed eighteen months later and officially started the Revolutionary War. Who else is joining this reenactment with us?The crowd tends to be families with kids (those from about 9 to 14 will likely get the most out of it), as well as older couples, more from out of town than locals; though on weekdays during the school year, you may see some Boston-area school groups, too. On the practical tip, how were the facilities?After the initial town meeting, when you'll get to sit in a pew, you’ll be on your feet for most of the tour until the gallery at the end, which has a bench, and then the theater with short film, which has seating. So you should plan for a fairly active visit. Those that would rather avoid the stairs down to see the lower deck of the ships can view a video that will show it to them virtually though. This has the feel of a place with an in-your-face gift shop. Is it?This is a classic exit-through-the-gift-shop, souvenirs-for-days spot, and you’ll find a little bit of everything here. Tea fans will be impressed by the range of varieties on offer, as well as the assorted accoutrement: pots, cups, saucers, spoon rests, towels. Beyond the tea-centric wares, there are plenty of Colonial and Revolutionary Era–inspired items—bells and flags and coins and jewelry and key chains and mugs and more—plus general Boston goods, including T-shirts and sweatshirts and saltwater taffy. Is there a café on site that's worth a stop?With its long tables and Windsor chairs, Abigail’s Tea Room aims to further the period experience. Order-at-the-counter offerings include cookies and scones; soups, salads, and sandwiches; plus the same five varieties of tea as those dumped in Boston Harbor nearly 250 years ago. Want something more potent? There are dark and stormys, red and white wine, and beer from Samuel Adams. The chance to taste the tea varieties provides a nice touch, and you can’t beat Abigail’s for extreme convenience after you’ve finished your tour, but the museum’s position right next to the Seaport means there's lots more to choose from just a short walk away." - Andrew Sessa