After we ate we went downstairs to the gift shop. Unfortunately, the photo below is the only photo I took of the shop, but it had tea, china, linens, books, American Revolutionary War memorabilia, and so much more. Because we flew to Boston, space for purchases was limited, but I made room for a tea towel, a spiced mug mat, a Sandy Lynam Clough book [Sharing a Cup of Friendship], and a tin of tea - Abigail's Blend.
After the gift shop, our three-part museum tour began in a replica of the "Old South Meeting House" where we were transported back to Colonial Boston. Each person was given a feather for their "mohawk disguise". [The keepsake was stamped "Boston Tea Party" December 16, 1773.] In the photo below the Meeting House was just beginning to fill with people.
Each person received a card bearing the name of a person from the Revolutionary War period. I was Francis Akeley, a self-employed wheelwright, but I didn't have to speak in the re-enactment. Jerry was William Scott, and he was a vocal participant in the re-enactment of the Dec. 16, 1773 town meeting.
~ Costumed interpreters. ~
From the Meeting House we toured the Beaver ship, then we went through the museum and viewed artifacts including the tea chest known as "Robinson's Half Chest" - one of only two known tea chests that still exists from the 1773 Boston Tea Party, and one of Boston's oldest museum artifacts.
The tour concluded with a multi-sensory, action packed film in Minuteman Theater titled "Let it Begin Here." The 15-minute film, shown on a giant wrap-around screen, recounted the first day of the American Revolution.
From the museum we made our way back to stop #1 where the trolley departed at 5:30 to take us back to our hotel.
Our first day touring Boston was interesting and enjoyable. Coming up, day #2.
