Old State House (Boston) Museum

Address: Old State House, 206 Washington St, Boston, MA 02109, USA

Website: https://www.bostonhistory.org/old-state-house

The Old State House in Boston is an early 18th-century brick building completed in 1713 and one of the oldest public buildings in the United States. It served as the seat of colonial and state government and is a key site in Revolutionary-era history.

Interior museum galleries present artifacts and exhibits on colonial government and the events surrounding the American Revolution, including the Boston Massacre. The building retains period rooms such as the council chamber and features interpretive signage and objects across multiple floors. Outside, a circle of cobblestones marks the Boston Massacre site directly in front of the building and the balcony is noted for historic public proclamations.

Built in 1713, the Old State House housed the colonial Massachusetts government and later the state legislature until the state government moved to the new State House on Beacon Hill in 1798. It was the scene of key events in the run-up to the American Revolution, most notably the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

The building sits at the intersection of State and Washington Streets in downtown Boston, on the route of the Freedom Trail and within easy walking distance of Faneuil Hall and the waterfront.

• Boston Massacre marker: Look for the ring of cobblestones on the pavement in front of the building marking the Boston Massacre site.
• Historic balcony: The building’s balcony is historically significant as the platform from which public proclamations were read, including a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.

What to See#

• Council Chamber: Located on the building’s second floor, this restored 18th-century council chamber shows period joinery, a raised dais for speakers, and interpretive panels on colonial government.
• Museum galleries: A series of museum galleries on the ground and upper floors present artifacts, documents, and displays about the Boston Massacre, colonial politics, and the building’s role on the Freedom Trail.
• Balcony and Boston Massacre site: A marked circle of cobblestones in front of the building identifies the site of the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, and the building’s balcony is noted for public proclamations including a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The Old State House sits on Washington Street at the junction with State Street in downtown Boston. Take the MBTA Orange Line to Downtown Crossing (about a 3-4 minute walk) or the Blue Line to State Street station (about a 1-2 minute walk); Government Center and Park Street stations are also within a 5-10 minute walk. By car/from the airport: Logan International Airport is roughly 4-5 miles away - expect about 15-30 minutes by taxi or rideshare depending on traffic.

• Aim for first thing on a weekday morning-before tour buses and Freedom Trail groups arrive-to get clear exterior photos and a quieter look inside the small museum.
• Enter from State Street and step onto the cobblestones in front of the building to see the marked Boston Massacre site and stand where the 1776 public reading from the balcony took place.
• Ask at the ticket desk about the upstairs Council Chamber and period interior features-these original rooms are compact but contain much of the building's historic fabric that many passersby miss.