WALKING TOUR! 1630: From Shawmut to Boston
Schedule
Thu May 21 2026 at 05:30 pm to 07:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Outside of Park Street Station | Boston, MA
About this Event
Stroll through history with our original walking tour, 1630: From Shawmut to Boston! Meet the people, places and ideas of 1630s Boston - built on the Native land but created in a Puritan English image. Places are limited, so register now! Price: $10/person.
RAIN DATE: Tuesday, June 9, 5:30-7pm
Join us on PHB’s exciting and original walking tour for a story of foundations: the founding on Native land of the English colony centered in Boston; 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
Does it cost to take this walking tour? 1630: From Shawmut to Boston is free. We are an all-volunteer organization whose mission is providing the public with accurate history of 17th-century Massachusetts, particularly Boston. We suggest a donation of $10.
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]
Image: Boston as it was likely to have been in 1630, compiled by George Lamb from Massachusetts Bay Colony records, Boston town records, Suffolk County deeds and other documents. Noman B. Leventhal Map Center
Where is it happening?
Outside of Park Street Station, Park Street Station, Boston, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 12.51
