Boston African American National Historic Site
Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.
About under an hour from Boston and 1 hours from Providence by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Boston African American National Historic Site | Varies by day ▾
|
| Museum of African American History | Varies by day ▾
|
Boston African American National Historic Site: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving | Hours not published |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas | Hours not published |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Hours not published |
Museum of African American History: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hours |
|
| Sep 7, 2026 to May 31, 2027NowWinter Hours |
|
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Faneuil Hall Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located in the heart of downtown on the market floor of the historic 1742 building, the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center is the main visitor center for Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Join a Historic Town Meeting at Faneuil Hall30-45 Minutes
Join National Parks of Boston Rangers as we recreate historic town meetings.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit Historic Faneuil Hall
Visit the Historic Cradle of Liberty's marketplace, Visitor Center, Great Hall, and Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
Opens on the Park Service site - Walk the Black Heritage Trail®60-90 Minutes
Join a Park Ranger from the National Parks of Boston on a Black Heritage Trail® Tour to learn about the Black community of Beacon Hill that thrived before, during, and after the American Civil War.
Opens on the Park Service site - History at Sunset Walking Tours75-90 Minutes
Join a Park Ranger for a special guided tour exploring Boston's rich history as a city of revolutions.
Opens on the Park Service site - National Parks of Boston: Find Your Park Anywhere30-60 Minutes
Find your park anywhere, from your home to your backyard, with activities spanning the National Parks of Boston.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore Boston with a Free Audio Tour
Explore Downtown Boston, Beacon Hill, and Charlestown with a self-guided audio tour!
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site by learning about the sites along the Black Heritage Trail Trail® here in Boston.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park by learning about the sites along the Freedom Trail® here in Boston.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the Black Heritage Trail®60-90 Minutes
Take a self-guided tour of the Black Heritage Trail® and learn about the contributions of Boston's Black Community in Beacon Hill.
Opens on the Park Service site - Watch "Fighting for Freedom: Lewis Hayden and the Underground Railroad"18 Minutes
Watch a film that follows the story of Lewis Hayden and his family as they seek freedom on the Underground Railroad and become activists living in Boston, Massachusetts.
Opens on the Park Service site - Museum of African American History: Explore the Rich History of the 19th-Century Black Community on Beacon Hill
At the Museum of African American History visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history of Beacon Hill's 19th century Black community by exploring this museum's historic buildings and the stories held within.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park!
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
.JPG/960px-Margaret_Fuller_House_(Cambridge%2C_MA).JPG)
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New England
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Weather & climate
Boston African American National Historic Site is located in downtown Boston which can see extreme cold in the winter months, as well as extreme heat and humidity throughout the summer months. Walking tours may be cancelled during severe heat and/or weather events.
Questions people ask
Does Boston African American charge an entrance fee?
No. Boston African American is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Boston African American?
Standard hours are 10:00AM - 4:00PM on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Monday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Boston African American?
365,864 recreation visits in 2025, number 134 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Boston African American?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was Boston African American established?
1980.
Source: Wikipedia
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
More in Massachusetts
