Boston: Underground Railroad History Tour of Beacon Hill
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Boston, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the Black Heritage Trail and get to know more about Civil War-era Boston on this small-group walking tour. In the company of a guide, head out into Beacon Hill and hear stories about the Underground Railroad, Boston Brahmins, and other historical facts. Enjoy a focus particularly on the Civil War years.
- Explore Boston on foot
- Learn about the Civil War in Boston from your guide
- Enjoy focused attention on a small-group tour
- Visit landmarks on the Black Heritage Trail
What's Included
- Black Heritage Trail (All 10 landmarks)
- Small Groups (16 guests max)
- Beacon Hill Neighborhood
- Gratuity for Guide (optional)
- Admission inside Museums
- Guides in Period Costume
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02109, USA
Meet your guide at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of Boston Common, steps from the Boston Common Visitors Center at 139 Tremont Street (02108). Look for a white granite column topped by a female figure holding a flag; four bronze statues surround the base of the central column.
End point
- Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial26 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, USA
Your 2.5-hour tour concludes in front of the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, across the street from the Massachusetts State House. This special loop tour of Beacon Hill ends within 0.2 miles of its starting location at the Prescott House.
Itinerary
1
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Boston Common (Pass By)
2
Acorn Street
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Louisburg Square (Pass By)
3
Phillips School
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
John J Smith House
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Charles Street (Pass By)
5
Charles Street Meeting House
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
John Coburn House (Pass By)
6
66 Phillips St
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Otis House
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Old West Church (Pass By)
20 Hancock St (Pass By)
Smith Court Residences (Pass By)
Abiel Smith School (Pass By)
8
African Meeting House
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
9
5 Pinckney St
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Massachusetts State House (Pass By)
10
Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for travelers who have difficulty standing for extended periods
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 179 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Ann_B, Jul 2026
I am a 76 year old black woman born and raised in Boston listening to a young white man telling me about some very important but not very well known history about blacks in Boston. From the moment Will introduced himself and explained the plan for our tour, I knew he was going to provide us with a great tour and he did. Will not only met my expectation but surpassed them. Every person in our group left more enlightened about the history of Boston and the people who shaped it into the city it is today. I never was made to feel uncomfortable, but felt pride in what my ancestors went thru to get us here, and they couldn't have done it without the help of some white people who believed ALL men were born free. Thanks Will for the history lesson I was never taught in school.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Ann, thank you for your wonderful review! We're so honored that you enjoyed our Beacon Hill tour. We're thrilled that you felt the stories we shared were uplifting and enlightening, and that you left the experience with your expectations surpassed. Please join us any time again here at Hub Town!
pastjuel, Jul 2026
Very informative about the abolishment movement in Boston. Our guide was knowledgeable and very considerate.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Well, thank you very much for five stars! Our guides are passionate about sharing the important, fascinating history of the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad, both centered on beautiful, historic Beacon Hill. We are so pleased you enjoyed it.
Anna_R, Jul 2026
Our guide, William, was AMAZING! He was so knowledgeable about the history of Boston and so passionate with his delivery. He has actually befriended the new owners of one of the historical homes on the tour. We highly recommend this presentation to anyone interested in learning more about the Underground Railroad.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Anna, we so appreciate this very kind, detailed review of your tour with Will, and the five stars! Will is a master historian, and he's passionate about sharing the stories of the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad on Beacon Hill. Our tours have found a welcome from the residents of the beautiful, historic neighborhood. We are so pleased you enjoyed Will's great knowledge and irresistible storytelling!
Tami_G, Jun 2026
Dave was an exceptional tour guide. He was knowledgeable, appropriate and kind. The tour was fascinating and we learned so much.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Tami, thank you so much! Dave has a comprehensive knowledge of Boston history, including the Beacon Hill's place in the Underground Railroad, and many years experience sharing that history with guests. We are so pleased you enjoyed the tour and learned a lot!
eula_a, Jun 2026
A great tour if you are interested in a better understanding of the role and relationships between Slaves, former slaves and white abolitionists in Boston and the rest of Massachusetts from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War.
We don’t talk about the this in the detail and specificity that Dave did on the tour. While we only went inside one building the visual aides and storytelling was most effective in giving a good picture of the past.
I really appreciate Dave explaining the statue of Colonel Shaw and the black troops he commanded at the end of the tour. The statue will forever have a more significant meaning to me.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Eula, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience on Dave's tour, and for five stars! We agree that the stories of abolition and the Underground Railroad in Boston have fascinating details and are important to tell. Dave has incredible knowledge of Boston history and years of experience sharing it, and we're happy you enjoyed his stories and images on the tour. And we agree: the memorial to Shaw and the 54th regiment is such a meaningful work of art!
Tangia_D, May 2026
Dave was the best tour guide! He knows the history and his knack for storytelling made the walk through Beacon Hill so enjoyable.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much: we love the "best tour guide" vote for Dave! He has vast experience leading tours through many aspects of Boston's history. We are so glad you enjoyed Beacon Hill and its fascination, important stories.
rachelgulick9, May 2026
Our tour guide, Lin, was absolutely fantastic. The tour was a great pace with times to rest between walking around the sights of Beacon Hill. We appreciated Lin’s connections between the past and current times, use of visuals, and general knowledge of the area and topic. The small group size was an added bonus and we would love to take more Hub Tours in the future.
Response from Host, May 2026
Wow, Rachel, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience of the Underground Railroad tour on Beacon Hill! And thank you for five stars for Lin, who loves this tour. Our guides work to weave together place and stories and images, to share this important, fascinating part of Boston's history. We would love to see you again on another tour!
Robert_W, May 2026
Best tour I have experienced. Joe the guide was excellent. He is knowledgeable and does a great job of teaching the history of the tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Gosh, we love the "best tour" vote for Joe, so thank you very much! He has many years of experience as both an educator and a guide, and he loves what he does and the history he shares.
Clifford_H, May 2026
Dana did a great job walking us through Boston history and was able to tie different groups and classes that were not always working toward a common goal together. History is never linear and has fits and stops and he brilliantly explained both the influences and actions and the eventual success of the movement.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much for this detailed, five-star review for Dana! Abolitionist history is complex and fascinating, and Dana brings years of experience as educator and guide to telling it. It seems as if you really felt engaged with those stories and his storytelling, and we appreciate your sharing that here!
Colin_L, Apr 2026
Great intro to the history of Boston, slavery, and abolition with lots of interesting stops starting and ending at Boston Commons.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Colin, thank you so much for five stars and this kind review! Our guides love to share that fascinating history and beautiful Beacon Hill. We are so glad you enjoyed it.
Julie_A, Apr 2026
Lots of fantastic information about Boston’s connection to the Underground Railroad, plus the scenery in Beacon Hill is spectacular.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Julie, thank you so much for five stars! We are delighted you enjoyed that important history, which means a lot to us to share, and beautiful, historic Beacon Hill, as well. We love sharing both with guests!
Alexandria_J, Mar 2026
Our guide was great. She was extremely knowledgeable and kept us in the sun as much as possible for some relief from the cold!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for five stars and this review! Our guides want tours to be informative and engaging, but also as comfortable as possible. We will look out for sun, shade, seats, or indoor breaks wherever we can!
Janelle_E, Mar 2026
Good tour of Beacon Hill. Not entirely about the Underground Railroad. More like the history of abolitionists in Boston.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review, and we're glad you had a good tour with your guide! Our tour does try to set the activities of the Underground Railroad into the abolitionist story it's a part of, and we're sorry if it missed the mark for you. We want to earn five stars from all guests, and hope you'll give us the chance to earn that fifth star another time.
Nadiyah_T, Nov 2025
Dana was my tour guide, and they provided such an informed and comprehensive history of African American and Boston Brahmin history on Beacon Hill and beyond while also being a great human! I would recommend this tour to any travelers to Boston, as I was not aware of the influence Black Bostonians had on the Civil War and society in America.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Well, thank you for taking the time to leave this awesome review! Dana is so skilled and experienced as a guide, as well as deeply passionate about sharing this part of Boston's history. Beacon Hill's holds layers of communities, people, and important history.
Allie_M, Nov 2025
Amazing tour given by Meghan! My favorite thing we did during our Boston trip. So much fascinating local history to absorb. Not only do I recommend it but I hope to go again the next time I’m in town.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Allie, thank you: we're thrilled to be the favorite thing on a trip to Boston! We agree that Boston history is fascinating, and we love to share it. We appreciate your enthusiastic recommendation, and we look forward to seeing you on another tour!
Tina_C, Nov 2025
Book this tour!! Don't hesitate! Will masterfully and passionately delivered the best explanation of the workings of the underground railroad that I've ever heard. He is a true history buff. I cant wait to come back with my daughters. There is a good bit of walking so wear comfy shoes.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Tina, thank you so much! Will is indeed a passionate master historian to whom this tour means a lot. We would love to see you again with your family! And also, great advice: comfy shoes really help on Beacon Hill.
MaryAnn_H, Oct 2025
very knowledgeable guide
good background in history
clear and organized
pleasant, friendly demeanor
answered questions with clarity
Response from Host, Oct 2025
MaryAnn, thank you so much for your 5-star review of the Beacon Hill tour! Our guides are very passionate about sharing the history of the neighborhood and people who lived there. Safe travels!
Debbie_H, Oct 2025
Lots of walking! Meghan explained everything so well and made it interesting to learn about the Underground Railroad. We enjoyed going through the old neighborhoods and seeing the buildings. Meghan was easy to understand and she kept a good pace for us to follow.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks for the great review, Kathy! Meghan is an incredible guide, her background in the National Parks Service gives her the insight and extensive knowledge to bring the history of Boston's Abolitionist movement to life! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with us on the Freedom Trail!
Mary_D, Oct 2025
Great tour. Well informed guide. Enjoyed walking through Beacon Hill and hearing about how the neighborhood came about
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Mary, we appreciate the compliments for this tour and your guide! It's lovely neighborhood, and it's has some fascinating, important stories in its history.
Darla_S, Oct 2025
This tour was incredible!! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Dana our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge and great at providing interesting stories and history that was fascinating and intriguing. I learned so much on this tour and enjoyed every minute of it. I plan to come back and take this tour again. I literally couldn't ask for a better tour or tour guide.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Darla, thank you so much for the "best tour" vote and your kind, enthusiastic review! Dana loves doing this tour and has years of experience sharing history to bring to these important stories. We would love to see you again, and again, thank you for this wonderful review of the Underground Railroad/Beacon Hill tour.
Elizabeth_P, Oct 2025
Joe was an Excellent and informative tour guide. We highly recommend this tour. Great history tour of Beacon Hill
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We're grateful for your recommendation and five stars! Joe is a lifelong educator and very experienced guide, and we're delighted you enjoyed the important abolitionist history of Beacon Hill with him.
Carol_T, Oct 2025
Lots of walking up hills and on uneven surfaces If you’re OK with that, Lin did a fabulous job. She had so much information to share and did it beautifully.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Carol, thank you for using "fabulous" to describe Lin's tour! It's so important to her to engage guests with this part of Boston's history and to tell the Hill's fascinating stories. Beacon Hill is an old, historic district, and it is a hill, and we work to make the stories worth the trickier bits of walking. We sincerely hope you will let us try to earn that fifth star another time, perhaps on one of our other, flatter tours.
Rob_M, Oct 2025
The tour is about 2.5 hours of walking, and Beacon Hill is pretty, well, hilly, but the pace is measured and there are frequent stops. So wear comfortable shoes and bring water - it's worth it! Our guide Lin N. from Hub Town Tours was extremely knowledgeable and she presented the remarkable history of slavery and abolition in Boston (and on Beacon Hill in particular) in an engaging and relatable manner. The beautiful old neighborhood and historic homes made for a unique experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We truly cannot thank you enough for this spectacular review of Lin's Beacon Hill tour, Rob! Lin is a passionate historian dedicated to sharing Boston's diverse history and this tour is a shining example of her brilliance as a storyteller. We're so glad you found this experience enlightening and relatable--it is truly the best compliment to get as a historical guide. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her!
Mary_E, Sep 2025
We learned about how much we were never taught in school! Dana was truly wonderful and engaging....it is clear he loves the subject and he inspired us to really get involved and ask questions. Loved this activity!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Wow, Mary, thank you for this enthusiastic review for Dana, who is passionate about sharing this history! We're glad you felt engaged and ready to ask questions. And that you felt you got a valuable history lesson along the way.
Irum_Z, Sep 2025
Amazing tour guide, learned so much from him, and you can tell he is passionate about often neglected parts of history; bonus that we were able to see a bit of the African American museum as well. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you very much, Irum, for these kinds words for your guide! Our Beacon Hill guides are passionate about these important and fascinating parts of Boston history. Appreciate your recommendation!
Nancy_H, Sep 2025
There is a lot of walking but it was well worth it. Will brought history to life. I recommend to every one
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Nancy, we really appreciate your "must see" vote and recommendation! Our Underground Railroad tour does have some steep walking and is 2.5 hours long, with a break. But we love to share the important, fascinating history on beautiful Beacon Hill. Will, our Research Manager, is a master historian and superlative storyteller, and we're so glad you felt it was time and steps well spent.
Renita_N, Sep 2025
Awesome tour guide. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I wish the tour ran more in time though because it went 2 hours over. But it was captivating.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you very much for this 5-star review for Dana, who is deeply enthusiastic about sharing history. There is so much, it's easy to run over, but we will alert him to your feedback and appreciate it. Thank you for sharing that you found it captivating and enjoyed.
Marjorie_C, Aug 2025
Very informative! The subject matter is not pretty, slavery and those trying to escape it from the South! But we thought it was very well done! History is what it is and learning is important!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Marjorie, thank you for this review of our Beacon Hill Tour! We are so happy to hear that your guide's knowledge brought the story of the Underground Railroad and fight for Abolition to life in a compassionate way. At Hub Town Tours we recognize the complexity of our city's past, and our goal is to create an inclusive and diverse narrative of Boston's rich Black History.
Michaela_M, Jul 2025
We had a really informative and powerful morning with our guide Lin. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the the Black history of Boston. We had our 15 year old and 12 year old with us and we all learned so much. Highlights were the secret passages and learning about the people (like the women) that are not listed on the plaques. Great morning! Thank you Lin!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Michaela, we cannot thank you enough for this fantastic review of Lin's tour Beacon Hill! On our Underground Railroad tour we strive to bring Black history to life, focusing on lesser known historical figures to paint an inclusive picture of the past. We're glad that we hit the mark and that all ages were invested in this important story of freedom that takes place in Beacon Hill.
Kelly_S, Jul 2025
Dana's knowledge and enthusiasm for the tour made it highly enjoyable. He's a great educator, presenter and historian. I would recommend this toward anyone.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Kelly, thank you for all these kind words for Dana and his tour! He is an experienced educator and love to share history with guests. We're so happy you enjoyed, and we appreciate your recommending us our small business.
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