Boston African American National Historic Site • Massachusetts

View from the pulpit at the African Meeting House, which has rows of benches and an upper gallery

A large bronze statue showing a man on horseback and soldiers walking alongside him

A sign hanging from a lightpost that is attached to a brick wall.

Close up of a plaque on the brick facade of the Hayden House, which has green shutters

View from the gallery overlooking the

Close up of a bronze relief of a young soldier carrying a rifle.

Small gray wood building in between two brick buildings

A two-story brick building on the corner of a street.

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.

Many notable Black and White leaders spoke at the African Meeting House, including Maria Stewart, Frederick Douglass, and William Lloyd Garrison.
NPS Photo / M. Bozio

The Robert Gould Shaw/Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial honors one of the first Black regiments from the North to fight in the U.S. Civil War.
Arlan Fonseca

The Museum of African American History stewards the African Meeting House and the Abiel Smith School.
NPS Photo

Lewis and Harriet Hayden's home served as an active center for the Underground Railroad and abolitionist movement in Boston.
NPS Photo/ M. Bozio

The African Meeting House served as the religious, educational, and political center of Boston's Black community in the 1800s.
NPS Photo / M. Bozio

Bostonians commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create the memorial to the 54th Regiment and its colonel. Dedicated in 1897, the memorial has served as a powerful reminder of sacrifice for the cause of liberty.
NPS Photo/ M. Bozio

Built in 1787, this structure is one of the oldest standing homes on Beacon Hill. George Middleton (1735-1815) served in the American Revolution and became a Prince Hall Mason.
NPS Photo/ M. Bozio

Opened in 1835, the Abiel Smith School served as a segregated public school for Black American students in Boston.
Matt Teuten

View of the bronze 54th Regiment and Robert Gould Shawn Monument on a sunny day

Walk the Black Heritage Trail®

Join a Park Ranger from the National Parks of Boston to explore the rich history of the Black community in 1800s Beacon Hill.

Digital map pins overlaid on an old map titled The City of Boston an Underground Railroad Hub

Boston: An Underground Railroad Hub

Discover Boston’s long history as a center of Underground Railroad activity.

Print of Union soldiers storming the walls of Fort Wagner and fighting Confederate soldiers.

A Brave Black Regiment

Learn the stories of the men who served in the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment, a brave Black regiment of the Civil War.

Silhouettes against a bird's eye map of 19th century city buildings

🔊 Women of Beacon Hill Audio Tour

Explore and listen to the stories of the inspiring women who lived and made a difference in the Beacon Hill community.

Map with cameo images in sepia tone of individuals and buildings

🔊 Underground Railroad in Boston Tour

Through this self-guided audio tour, hear about Boston's role in the Underground Railroad.

Last updated: July 17, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

21 Second Avenue
Boston African American National Historical Site
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone:

617 429-6760

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected

Reconstruction Era

American Revolution