Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay

Explore Boston's Back Bay and hear untold stories of Lucy Stone and the women's suffrage movement

Listen along as an expert, local historian transports you to the fight to win votes for women (1870–1920)

Duration2h 30m

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 15 travelers

Overview

Boston’s leading role in the American fight for women’s suffrage is found on the tree-lined streets of its elegant Back Bay neighborhood. This masterpiece of Victorian-era architecture is best experienced on foot, in a small group, with a local guide! Your 2.5-hour tour travels from Boston Common into historic Back Bay, visiting must-see landmarks such as the Public Garden, Newbury Street, and iconic Copley Square.

Our walking tour delves deeply into the years 1870 to 1920, tumultuous decades culminating in women earning the right to vote in the United States. Walk in the footsteps of prolific activists and financiers, visiting the political battleground for pro- and anti-suffrage groups.

With a captivating storytelling approach, Hub Town Tours provides the perfect introduction to Boston's role in the advancement of women’s rights. As we travel past key landmarks and historic homes, your guide shares captivating stories of the Bostonians who assembled the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Options

Back Bay – Small Group

Back Bay + Trinity & Gibson

Tour (2.5hr) + Church & Museum: Guided tour of Gibson House (Thu - Sun, 1PM-3PM, 45min) and self guided/audio tour of Trinity Church (Wed - Sat, 10AM-4:30PM)

Back Bay + Trinity Church

Tour (2.5hr) + Historic Church: Guided/Audio tour of Trinity Church, open Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 4:30pm (valid for 7 days after tour date)

Back Bay + Gibson House

Tour (2.5 Hours) + 1 Museum: Guided tour of Gibson House Museum, open Thursday - Sunday, 1PM - 3PM (~45min, valid for 7 days after tour date)

What's included

Small Groups (15 guests max)
Women's Rights Landmarks
Back Bay Neighborhood

Gratuity for Guide (optional)
Admission inside Museums
Guides in Period Costume

What to expect

Make Way for Ducklings Statues
10m

Meet your guide inside the Boston Public Garden, in the northwest corner of the park opposite 67 Beacon Street (02108). Bronze sculptures by Nancy Schön, based on Robert McCloskey's classic children's book (1941), depict a mama duck proudly leading her band of ducklings.
George Washington Statue
Pass by

Iconic equestrian statue of George Washington (1859).
Boston Public Garden
15m

First public botanical garden in the United States (1837).
Pass by

Site of school founded in 1887 by Pauline A. Shaw, financier of the women's suffrage movement in Boston and founder of Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government.
5m

Originally established in 1630, this church later became a center of the Transcendentalist movement.
Pass by

Home of Elizabeth Putnam, anti-suffragist and first woman to preside over a state electoral college.
5m

Home of Julia Ward Howe, who authored "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1861) and co-founded the American Woman Suffrage Association (1869).
Pass by

Home of Blanche Ames, pro-suffrage cartoonist and early advocate for birth control.
Pass by

Ames-Webster Mansion (1872) was centerpiece of the Ames family fortune and political involvement, including anti-suffragist Mary Shreve Ames and suffragist Blanche Ames.
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
15m

Wide central boulevard with greenspace and statuary at the heart of Back Bay development plan.
Pass by

Home of Mary Shreve Ames, president of the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association.
Pass by

First women's college club in the United States (1890).
10m

Former site of Museum of Natural History (1864-1951).
Pass by

Former MIT chemistry lab, where Katherine McCormick protested against popular fashion as part of the suffrage movement.
Copley Square
15m

Central public square designed to be the new cultural center of Boston (1883).
Trinity Church In The City Of Boston
Pass by

Iconic church (1877) recognized by American Association of Architects as one of the top 10 buildings in the United States.
Boston Public Library
10m

Third-largest public library in the United States (1848).
Pass by

Formerly Chauncy Hall, office site of multiple pro-suffrage organizations including Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and The Women's Journal.
5m

Finish line of the iconic Boston Marathon.
Pass by

Hotel Kensington (1884-1967) housed offices of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to Further Extension of Suffrage to Women.
Newbury Street
10m

Popular Boston outdoor attraction lined with shopping, dining, and numerous luxury brands.
Pass by

Former Spiritualist Temple (1885), where women were allowed to lead public meetings.
10m

Memorial honoring three famous Bostonians: Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The tour gathers inside the Boston Public Garden—opposite 67 Beacon Street (02108)—beside the Make Way for Ducklings statues, which are located in the northeast corner of the park.

End point

The tour ends on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall beside the Boston Women's Memorial, approximately 0.8 miles from the tour start. The statues are in the center of Boston's Back Bay, a short walk from the Fenway neighborhood (west) and Downtown Boston (east).

Additional information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travelers that have trouble standing for extended periods of time.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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