The Pierce-Hichborn House is located in the heart of Boston's historic north end. It is a national landmark. The Pierce-Hichborn House is shown by appointment only.
Built in 1833, the Forbes House Museum chronicles the history of an entrepreneurial American family. This Greek Revival mansion was constructed for Margaret Perkins Forbes by her sons Captain Robert Bennet Forbes (1804-1889) and John Murray Forbes (1813-1898). Today, the Museum holds the treasures of four generations of the Forbes family.
Built in 1737, the Royall House and Slave Quarters, now a national historic landmark, was once home to one of the richest New England families and enslaved Africans. It exhibits furnishings, artifacts, and architecture from that period.
A National Historic Landmark, and ranked as one of the top 10 most important buildings in the country by the American Institute of Architects, Trinity Church, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and built in 1877, is still a sight to behold with magnificent steeples and stained glass windows overlooking Copley Square. It's a major draw for tourists, especially in the summer, and self-guided tours of the interior are available daily for $6. The price is worth it, but you can also see the inside for free on Sundays at 12:15pm.
Heavy rounded arches, rough stone and the use of many colors propelled Richardson and Trinity Church to international fame, and it's considered the start of the "Richardsonian Romanesque" architectural style.
Trinity Church is also known for its collection of stained glass windows, including 19th-century work by John La Farge, one of the first to use a layering technique that brought new colors, shadings, and a three dimensional look to stained glass.
Downstairs from the sanctuary, visit the Shop at Trinity Church, where you can purchase a tour or pick up a unique spiritual gift. Religious and secular items include books recommended by the clergy, stationary, jewelry, postcards and other souvenirs. Much of it is designed by local artists.
The Lyman Estate is located on Lyman Street at the rotary near Bentley University. It was built in 1793. The estate (also known as "The Vale") is a beautiful home designed by Samuel McIntire. It has been remodeled several times over its 150-year history and is now Colonial Revival style.
It takes up 37 acres and has several outbuildings, including a huge greenhouse. Plants maybe purchased from the greenhouse and a small gift shop is also located there. The mansion itself is not open to the public for "drop-in" tours. Group guided tours can be arranged in advance. The house is primarily used for weddings, parties and corporate events.
The Lyman Estate is owned and operated by the non-profit Historic New England organization.
The Buckman Tavern is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue at the Battle Green in Lexington Center. Built around 1710, Buckman Tavern is a historic landmark operated by the Lexington Historical Society. It was famous for being the gathering place for many of the minutemen who would later fight the British on the Lexington Battle Green. It is open for tours on a seasonal basis and also has a gift shop.
Built by the famous architect Samuel McIntire and named for Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton Hall has been a gathering place and function hall since 1805. Today, the hall is commonly rented for weddings and corporate functions. In addition to the beauty of the soaring columns and detailed mirrors, one of the most innovative features of the hall is the spring floor which lets partygoers keep dancing through the long hours of the night. The ballroom can be used for both wedding ceremonies and receptions, and the neutral tones fit in perfectly with any event's décor.
Walk through many of the residential streets in the Back Bay and it's clear that the buildings have stood there for a considerable amount of time. The Gibson House, a National Historic Landmark, gives visitors a chance to explore the inside of one of these classic residences, with original possessions dating from the late 18th to the early 20th century. It's a piece of history that's still picture-perfect.
Built in 1737, the Hancock-Clarke Parsonage is a historic landmark operated by the Lexington Historical Society. It is one of the several sites the society is responsible for. The Hancock-Clarke House is famously the location where John Hancock and Samuel Adams stayed when Paul Revere arrived on his famous ride to warn them of the British troops on the way to Lexington.
With natural light streaming through the 15th-century English-style stained glass windows, the sanctuary of Old South Church is free and open to the public during the day. Donations are welcome. There's a steady stream of people walking in from off the street to learn more about the history and services, or to sit in one of the pews to pray.
Built in 1875, the church is an important historical structure of Boston. The progressive congregation was founded in 1669.
Every Sunday, services include a morning prayer and communion at 9am and a festival worship at 11am. There's also a healing worship at 10am on the second Sunday of the month, and a jazz worship at 6pm every Thursday. You can download sermon podcasts online, and sign up for the e-newsletter.
Old South Church also provides Christian education programs for children, youth and adults; community outreach and mission trips; a strong music program; and the Old South Preschool, a non-religious preschool for children ages 2 to 5-years-old.
New members are welcome and the congregation is LGBT friendly.
The birthplace of John Fitzgerald Kennedy looks more residential than presidential, but still holds many ties to the country's 35th commander in chief. It's now in the condition in which you would have found it when JFK was born in 1917, thanks to a restoration undertaken by the President's mother after his death. JFK lived in the Brookline house for 10 years before his family moved to New York City.
Founded in 1737, the Old West Church sits on the corner of Cambridge and Staniford streets, set back on a leafy, peaceful lot of land. The current federal-style church was built in 1806.
The church was active for 150 years, even counting Louisa May Alcott among its famous Sunday school pupils. But when the congregation disbanded it escaped demolition and was converted into the West End Library in 1894. The library is now right next door.
Since 1962, it has been a United Methodist Church. Services are held every Sunday at 11 a.m., with prayer beginning at 10 a.m. A community prayer is held every Wednesday at noon.
Old West Church also has an impressive organ and the director of music is the former head of the organ department at the New England Conservatory of Music.
