In Italian
In Boston for the celebrations and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the spark of the American Revolution. The history, places, events and paths to follow to retrace one of the most important and representative moments of the birth of the United States of America. Information, curiosities, experiences to live and useful tips.
Boston Tea Party: 250 years since the spark of the American Revolution!
On December 16, 2023, the city of Boston commemorated and honored with great celebrations the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, recreating – thanks to professional actors, passionate citizens, sets cared in details and locations strictly original – the atmosphere, characters and real events that led to the Tea Party.
Or the spark that gave the decisive push to the American Revolution and allowed the first 13 colonies in the following years to free themselves from the oppression of the British empire and give life to the original core of The United States of America.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
A milestone in the history of the USA, a unique and very important event that also kicked off – “The Boston Tea party was just the beginning of the start of the American Revolution” (quote) – the official countdown for America 250.
That means the celebrations for the 250 years of the birth of the United States of America, which will reach its highlight on July 4, 2026, the Independence Day, 250 years since the exact day when the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America – with which the 13 colonies proclaimed themselves fully-fledged autonomous and independent from the British Empire – was read in public, after being approved and signed two days prior by the Founding Fathers.
A special event I had the honor to personally take part into telling live the highlights, and that anyone can experience any moment during a travel to Boston, retracing the places and visiting the most representative sites of its history.
Boston Tea Party, history, places and paths: 250 years since the spark of the American Revolution!
“The Boston Tea Party; this is the most magnificent Movement of all.”
(John Adams, Founding Father and second President of the United States of America)
But what are we talking about exactly?
It is an episode gone down in history as the first and most vivid and representative spark of freedom that gave rise to the United States of America.
Boston: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
Tired of the continuous taxations and harassment perpetrated by England, and especially without any representation at Westminster, it will go down in history John Hancock’s quote “No taxation without representation”. After several meetings and consultations, on December 16, 1773 a large number of representatives of the 13 British colonies – later known as “The Sons of Liberty” – as an extreme act of protest to the Tea Act (a measure eliminating duties to the British India Company granting it de facto the exclusivity in the tea trade) decided to board the brigantines Beaver and Dartmouth and the cargo Eleanor, docked at Griffin’s Wharf (the old Boston pier), and to throw the 342 tea cases of East Indian Company tea overboard.
About that, a curiosity!
Have you ever wondered why even today the favorite hot drink for Americans is coffee?
It all began with the protest of the settlers who, to support the cause of the Tea Party, instigated by Founding Father John Adams who considered drinking tea to be an antipatriotic act, started to replace tea with coffee in daily use, as well as other herbal infusions.
So, about 45 tons of very valuable tea ended up in the water within 3 hours, unleashing the wreath of the British resulting in restrictions and impositions even harder and unbearable. This only motivated even more the rebel colonists to pursue their efforts and provoked a series of clashes and revolts leading to the breakout of the American Revolution in 1775.
Boston Tea Party 250th Anniversary
Three years later in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776, the Founding Fathers – a delegation of prominent men of politics and culture of the 13 British colonies – signed the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America during the Second Continental Congress.
Seven years later, in 1783, General George Washington led the 13 colonies to victory and independence from the British Empire.
Six years later, on April 30, 1789, it was George Washington himself who swore on the stairs of the Federal Hall in New York City as First President of the rising United States of America.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
“Friends! Brethren! Countrymen! The worst of all Plagues, the detested tea shipped for this port
by the East India Company is now arrived in Boston harbor!”
(Letter of The Sons of Liberty, November 29, 1773)
On December 16, 1773, to the unmistakable cry of “Huzzah” (a patriotic way to incite the population, very popular at the time, forerunner of our “Hurrah”), the Sons of Liberty supported by many “rebel” Bostonians, with an act of protest destined to remain in history, threw into the sea 45 tons of the East India Company tea, thus beginning the process of independence of the first 13 American colonies.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
Exactly 250 years after, on December 16, 2023, just as it had happened in 1773, the heirs of that epic act of rebellion that effectively led to the breakout of the American Revolution and the consequent birth of the United States of America, today proud and free American citizens, with the same passion, love for their country and infinite gratitude, have recalled the highlights, in an exciting and unforgettable commemoration of that gesture and those heroic days.
An intense day that, starting from early in the morning, surprised the visitors who came to the town for the big event, giving them unforgettable moments.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
Proud Bostonians and guides in period costumes around the town, ready to tell episodes and highlights of the Boston Tea Party, groups of redcoats of the British Empire happy to be photographed and answer the questions of onlookers and a series of events divided in “acts” in which all have had the chance to take part into with great enthusiasm and sharing.
From Act I at Faneuil Hall, where 250 years ago the Bostonians decided to “prevent the discharge, the reception or the distribution of the detestable tea shipped by the East India Company”, with a moving representation of the 1773 Tea Party and the commemorations of the Centenary and Bicentenary which followed, to Act II at the Old South Meeting House with a lively re-enactment of the debate that then led to the destruction of the tea and the people in the square ready to march to the Griffin’s Wharf.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
Boston: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
And from Act III to IV at Griffin’s Wharf, where thousands of people after parading together towards the Harborwalk, have supported and spurred the Sons of Liberty crying “Huzzah!” aboard the brigantine Beaver and the cargo Eleanor in destroying the tea, pouring it into the water, crate after crate.
Find here the exciting video of the event.
Boston preserves in an exemplary way the historical sites linked to the most representative moments of its “revolutionary” history, and not only
During your stay in town this will allow you to relive much of this incredible historical moment through the paths and the places where it took place, also carrying out some particular experience connected to the event.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
You will visit the Boston Tea Party & Ships Museum which tells, thanks to original documents, historical relics and perfect reconstructions, of the history and the characters of the Boston Tea Party.
And board the brigantine Beaver and the cargo Eleanor to throw the English tea in the waters of the old port of Boston, and of course enjoy tea at the Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace, always in the museum complex.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
And you can also follow the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Monument with an expert guide, discovering not only the most iconic places of the Tea Party.
But also the deeds of the brave women who made a difference during the American revolution and in the following decades.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
If you are history lovers, researchers or simply you want to learn more about the historical documents and the genealogic lineage of the Sons of Liberty and the participants in the Tea Party, you can visit the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program online.
A program created in collaboration with the New England Historic Genealogical Society to research and share information about Tea Party participants and their descendants to this day.
In this regard, did you know that the US former presidents George HW Bush and George W Bush are direct descendants of Samuel Howard, the actress Claire Danes is a direct descendant of David Decker and that the actor John Lithgow is a direct descendant of Nathaniel Prentiss? All historical characters really existed who actually attended the Boston Tea Party.
For further information about the events and the programs related to the Boston Tea Party, please visit the official website of the event December16.org. To learn more about extra ideas, tips and hints on what to do in Boston, please, visit the official Meet Boston tourism website.
The Boston Tea Party today: places, itineraries, programs and experiences
The InterContinental Boston is a IHG Hotel located at 510, Atlantic Avenue in the most iconic area of the Boston Harbor Walk, directly on the port of Boston and literally a stone’s throw from Boston Tea Party & Ships Museum.
One more tip to experience the best Boston: stay at the InterContinental Boston, IHG Hotel
A strategic location, perfect to move comfortably on foot to discover the town, and a level architectural structure that is inspired, in perfect connection with the history of the old port of Boston, by the shape of the Clipper Ships, the historic sailing ships icons of maritime New England and the romantic voyages to discover the seas of the world.
One more tip to experience the best Boston: stay at the InterContinental Boston, IHG Hotel
“The winds that once filled the magnificent sails are remembered in the ever changing reflections of the sky moving across glass façades; the window grids reminiscent of the rigging; and the curved podium evocative of Boston’s maritime trade”.
These are the words of Howard Elkus, the architect who designed the hotel.
One more tip to experience the best Boston: stay at the InterContinental Boston, IHG Hotel
The Intercontinental Boston has large and elegant common areas, spacious rooms equipped with all amenities, a wonderful SPA and several options for a perfect breakfast, aperitifs, lunch and dinner.
The optimal choice for a “5 star “stay in Boston!
Experience and article written in collaboration with Meet Boston and December16.org.
Traveling to the United States
