Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay Discount Tickets

Get your discount tickets for the Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay, save up to 12% !

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.

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

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).

Language Offered

English-GUIDE

Itinerary

1. Make Way for Ducklings Statues
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.
Duration: 10 mins
2. George Washington Statue
Iconic equestrian statue of George Washington (1859).
3. Boston Public Garden
First public botanical garden in the United States (1837).
Duration: 15 mins
4. 6 Marlborough St
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.
5. First Church in Boston
Originally established in 1630, this church later became a center of the Transcendentalist movement.
Duration: 5 mins
6. 67 Marlborough St
Home of Elizabeth Putnam, anti-suffragist and first woman to preside over a state electoral college.
7. 241 Beacon St
Home of Julia Ward Howe, who authored "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1861) and co-founded the American Woman Suffrage Association (1869).
Duration: 5 mins
8. 260 Beacon St
Home of Blanche Ames, pro-suffrage cartoonist and early advocate for birth control.
9. 306 Dartmouth St
Ames-Webster Mansion (1872) was centerpiece of the Ames family fortune and political involvement, including anti-suffragist Mary Shreve Ames and suffragist Blanche Ames.
10. Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Wide central boulevard with greenspace and statuary at the heart of Back Bay development plan.
Duration: 15 mins
11. 25 Commonwealth Ave
Home of Mary Shreve Ames, president of the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association.
12. The College Club of Boston
First women's college club in the United States (1890).
13. RH Boston | The Gallery at the Historic Museum of Natural History
Former site of Museum of Natural History (1864-1951).
Duration: 10 mins
14. 501 Boylston St
Former MIT chemistry lab, where Katherine McCormick protested against popular fashion as part of the suffrage movement.
15. Copley Square
Central public square designed to be the new cultural center of Boston (1883).
Duration: 15 mins
16. Trinity Church In The City Of Boston
Iconic church (1877) recognized by American Association of Architects as one of the top 10 buildings in the United States.
17. Boston Public Library
Third-largest public library in the United States (1848).
Duration: 10 mins
18. 585 Boylston St
Formerly Chauncy Hall, office site of multiple pro-suffrage organizations including Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and The Women's Journal.
19. Boston Marathon Finish Line
Finish line of the iconic Boston Marathon.
Duration: 5 mins
20. 687 Boylston St
Hotel Kensington (1884-1967) housed offices of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to Further Extension of Suffrage to Women.
21. Newbury Street
Popular Boston outdoor attraction lined with shopping, dining, and numerous luxury brands.
Duration: 10 mins
22. 26 Exeter St
Former Spiritualist Temple (1885), where women were allowed to lead public meetings.
23. Boston Women's Memorial
Memorial honoring three famous Bostonians: Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone.
Duration: 10 mins

Inclusion

Small Groups (15 guests max)

Women's Rights Landmarks

Back Bay Neighborhood

Exclusion

Gratuity for Guide (optional)

Admission inside Museums

Guides in Period Costume

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

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

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

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.

Supplied by Hub Town Tours

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