About this Event
The third offering in our fabulous collection of Puritan scholarship and knowledge, the PHB walking tour 1630: From Shawmut to Boston takes you on the byways and to the sites of early Puritans. Places are limited, so sign up now!
FREE TO ATTENDEES OF THE PURITANS IN THE 21ST CENTURY SYMPOSIUM! (Please register using the 'donate' ticket.)
Our walking tour, 1630: From Shawmut to Boston, is a story of foundations: the founding of the English colony on Native land, starting in what was Shawmut; the Puritan women and men who founded the Massachusetts colony; and the foundations laid for American government, religion and society.
We start in 1630 on the slopes of the Shawmut peninsula. The English Puritan founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony looked to create an ideal society as seen through their own – and no one else’s – eyes. Boston, as they renamed the place, became its center. Meet the people, places and ideas that turned Shawmut into Boston.
Among them are John Winthrop, first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; his rival, John Endicott; Anne Hutchinson, who followed her mentor, the Rev. John Cotton, over the Atlantic; and William Blackstone, owner of an enormous library, Cambridge University alumni along with John Winthrop, and the first white colonizer of the Shawmut peninsula. Why did Blackstone flee the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay? Find the answers in the society, religion and politics of the 1630s.
You'll be led by PHB board member and educator, Roxanne Reddington-Wilde, and a new PHB volunteer who is an early American history aficionado.
The tour lasts approximate 1½ hours.
Due to ongoing construction by the city, the tour route is sadly not wheelchair-friendly.
Meet at Park St. Station Plaza, at the corner of Park and Tremont streets, downtown Boston. Nearest T stop: Park Street Station
Don't forget to bring water and wear comfy shoes!
If you need to cancel, please let us know ASAP at [email protected] so that we can let someone on the waitlist take your place.
Meeting place: Park Street Plaza, next to Park Street T station, corner of Tremont and Park Streets, downtown Boston
The Partnership of Historic Bostons is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to telling the story of everyone in early New England, from rebellious women to Native people enslaved during King Philip's War to English Puritans. We believe the 17th century is the foundational moment in American history.
FAQs
What are my transport/parking options? Parking in Boston is difficult, so we recommend public transportation to Park Street, either by T or bus. If you need to drive, there is a parking lot under the Boston Common.
What should I bring? We advise that you wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes for Boston’s uneven pavements. And bring some water to make sure you stay hydrated!
How can I contact the organizer with any questions? Email Roxanne or Andy at [email protected]
Event venue & nearby stays
Outside of Park Street Station, Park Street Station, Boston, United States
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