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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
★4.6(9,213 reviews)$$Museum
🕑 1.5-2 hours (including the 60-minute guided tour and time in the tea room and gift shop)👶 Best for ages 6-14. Elementary and middle schoolers will appreciate the interactive elements and connect with the history they're learning in school, while the theatrical performances and hands-on activities keep them engaged. Younger children (4-5) can enjoy it but may not grasp the historical significance, though they'll love throwing tea overboard.🧡 Saved by 38 families
About
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum transforms American history into an unforgettable interactive adventure where kids become patriots themselves. Children get to throw actual tea chests overboard into Boston Harbor, explore authentically restored 18th-century tall ships, and interact with live colonial actors who bring the Revolutionary War era to life through engaging storytelling and period costumes.
Highlights
- ✓Throwing replica tea chests overboard into Boston Harbor,the highlight every kid talks about
- ✓Boarding and exploring the authentically restored tall ships Eleanor and Beaver
- ✓Interactive performances with costumed actors who stay in character as patriots and loyalists
- ✓Meeting 'Samuel Adams' and other historical figures who engage directly with children
- ✓The multi-sensory documentary film with special effects that recreate the night of December 16, 1773
Pro Tips
- 1.Book tickets online in advance,tours run every 30 minutes and can sell out, especially during school vacation weeks and summer months.
- 2.Arrive 15 minutes early to browse the gift shop and use restrooms before your tour begins, as the 60-minute experience moves continuously through different areas.
- 3.Let kids know they'll be called on to participate,encourage shy children beforehand that it's fun to interact with the actors and volunteer for activities.
- 4.The tea-throwing portion happens outside on the ship deck, so dress appropriately for weather and bring jackets in cooler months.
- 5.End your visit at Abigail's Tea Room where kids can try the same kind of tea that was thrown overboard (it's included with admission on some ticket packages).
Best Time to Visit
Visit on weekday mornings (10:00-11:00 AM slots) during the school year for the smallest crowds and most interactive experience with actors. Summer weekends get extremely busy, so if visiting then, book the earliest or latest tour times available.
What to Know
Admission is $36 for adults and $24 for children (ages 5-12), with tickets required and timed for specific tour slots. The museum is located on the Fort Point Channel waterfront with paid parking garages nearby; strollers must be left at the entrance as you'll be boarding ships with stairs.
Seasonal Notes
Open year-round with consistent hours. The museum offers special programming during February school vacation week and Patriots' Day weekend in April. Summer (June-August) is the busiest season. The outdoor ship portions can be cold in winter, so bundle up from November through March.
Nearby Eats
The nearby Seaport District offers numerous family options including Legal Sea Foods (0.2 miles away) with a kids' menu and waterfront views, or head to the more casual Flour Bakery + Cafe (0.3 miles) for sandwiches, pizza, and amazing pastries that kids love.
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