Question:

What can I see in Boston?

How many people were aboard?

There were 102 passengers on the Mayflower. It's harder to determine exactly who was on the crew. There appear to be at least 12. There was a captain, four mates, a doctor, a carpenter, a gunner, a boatswain, a cook, and three quartermasters.

How Big Was the Mayflower?

The Mayflower was 106 1/2 feet long. It really only has 3 levels below the deck - one which holds the crew and captain, a "in between level" where the passengers were stuffed, and then a lower level which carried all of the supplies.

Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was on December 16, 1773. Most people at the time drank tea, and the British taxed it heavily. The people of Massachusetts became furious that they were paying such high taxes to a country that didn't seem to care about them. When ships bearing tea arrived in Boston Harbor, Samuel Adams lead a nighttime sneak attack and, dressed as Indians, they poured all of the tea into the harbour.

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell's famous first words on his telephone were, "Watson - come here - I want you" on March 10th, 1876. He did his research and experimentation in Boston.

Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a group of Americans were harassing a troop of British soldiers by throwing ice and snowballs at them. The soldiers retaliated by firing into the crowd, killing 5 people. This infuriated the local population, inciting them to further acts of rebellion.

28th Mass Volunteer Infantry

This civil war unit was involved in quite a bit of fighting - the reenactment group helps keep this knowledge and bravery alive.

http://www.28thmass.org/

Old Sturbridge Village

This gorgeous recreation 1850s village is located about an hour outside of Boston, and offers a full-day look at how life was back in the 1800s. The fully functioning farm and town has churches, merchants, cobblers, tinsmiths, and much more.

http://www.osv.org

The Mayflower

The Mayflower was the ship that the Pilgrims came over to Massachusetts in. The Plimoth Plantation has a full size reproduction of it that you can go aboard and look around. See just what sorts of conditions the pilgrims traveled in!

Mayflower

Bunker Hill Monument

The Battle of Bunker Hill is famous for the phrase, "Don't Fire until you see the Whites of their Eyes", said by Colonel William Prescott. The battle was fought on June 17, 1775. The existing monument was placed on the spot in 1842 to commemorate the battle.

Bunker Hill Monument

Plimoth Plantation

This recreation of a Pilgrim Village from 1627 lets you walk around and talk to the "inhabitants", learning first hand what life was like back then.

Plimoth Plantation

Recreation - Mayflower II

Plimoth Plantation has a life-sized replica of the Mayflower, called the Mayflower II. If you want to see exactly what life was like for the pilgrims, this is the best way to find out!

The Mayflower II

Nathan Hale

Nathan Hale is well known for being hung during the American Revolution, and saying "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." He was born in Coventry, CT and served for a time in Boston before meeting his end in New York.

The Stamp Act

This act was passed by British parliament in 1765. It meant that every single legal document in Massachusetts had to be stamped, and a tax paid, in order for it to truly be legal. Massachusetts citizens were furious because they were now being taxed by a government that didn't ask them if they wanted the tax, and the taxes were being used to pay for the soldiers that were punishing them.

Ship's Bell

The ship had a bell in its center that was used to keep time. It was rung every half hour. The first time it was rung once, then twice, and so on until at 3 1/2 hours it rang 8 times. Then they began again with one ring.

The bell was also used to warn the ship's passengers of an emergency.