Old State House

Dating to 1713, the Old State House is Boston’s oldest surviving public building, where the Massachusetts Assembly used to debate the issues of the day before the revolution. It occupies a once prominent spot at the top of State St (then known as King St), which was Boston’s main thoroughfare. The building is best known for its balcony, where the Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians in 1776. The rooftop is graced with lions and unicorns, which were symbols of the British crown. These are replicas, as the originals were torn down in a fit of patriotism after the reading of the Declaration. Inside, the Old State House contains a small museum of revolutionary memorabilia, with videos and multimedia presentations about the Boston Massacre. You can also learn more about the preservation of the Old State House, which now contains a T station in its basement. Admission is included in the Freedom Trail ticket.