National Parks of Boston Virtual Programming

"Survivors of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers"

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Interested in having a Ranger virtually speak with your class or group? The National Parks of Boston provides free virtual programs on a variety of topics. Explore the list of talks below. For more information, contact Boston African American National Historic Site or Boston National Historical Park.

Virtual programs are available for groups of 10 people or more, subject to availability and staffing. Please check out Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site's calendar, or the Boston Harbor Islands' calendar, for other scheduled programming.

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Virtual Tours

• Black Heritage Trail

Virtual Town Meetings

• The Woman's Tea Party
• "Vengeance or Justice" Town Meeting
• "Rocking the Cradle" Town Meeting

Other Virtual Talks

Click on the program titles to open a description.

"Equal to the Occasion" Boston's Women and the Underground Railroad

During the first half of the 19^th century, countless men, women, and children escaped from enslavement via the Underground Railroad. This program examines the many ways the women of Boston became critical contributors to the Underground Railroad, forever changing the lives of the freedom seekers who sought refuge in their city.

Lucy Stone: Make the World a Better Place

This program explores the lifelong fight of Massachusetts' own Lucy Stone to win equal voting rights for women and African Americans. Despite leading both the women's rights and abolitionist movements, Stone's name is often absent from the history. Join us in examining why this historical titan's work was so integral to the nation's evolution.

Monuments and Memory: A Confederate Marker in Boston Harbor

In October of 2017, Massachusetts officials removed one of the only markers in the state dedicated to the Confederacy from Fort Warren on Georges Island. This program will explore the history of the marker, the organization that erected it, and the broader national dialogue about how we remember the American Civil War.

Pirate or Patriot

Boston was one of the most important centers in colonial America of sea-borne trade, some legal and some illicit. Not surprisingly, Boston was a hub of piracy in the 18^th Century. This program examines many of those who flourished in the 18^th Century's "Golden Age of Piracy", including Edward Low, "Black" Samuel Bellamy, and Captain William Kidd, and their connection to colonial Boston. Furthermore, this program will pose the provocative question; were these individuals patriots or were they pirates? Did their character and their actions bespeak of only greed and plunder, or might they also be viewed befitting those who sought economic and social revolution? Penetrating the stereotypes of myth and Hollywood, this program delves into the mindset of those who sailed beneath the Jolly Roger and what they might have encountered ashore in colonial Boston.

Safe Harbor: Boston's Maritime Underground Railroad

During the years preceding the American Civil War, Boston served as one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad. Did you know that many of the fugitives escaping from enslavement came to Boston by stowing away on ships from southern ports? This program explores the untold stories of men and women making daring escapes to freedom through Boston Harbor.

Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny; the Woman's Tea Party of 1873

This program will explore the organization, purpose, and execution of the Woman's Tea Party in Faneuil Hall on December 15, 1873. By considering the question "What is the duty of a citizen when facing injustice?" it will examine the ways in which the women of 1873 responded to the injustice of female disenfranchisement.

Those Who Would Be Free Must Strike the Blow: The 54th Massachusetts and Struggle for African American Citizenship

The Boston alliance of African American and Abolitionists activists changed the Civil War into a struggle for black citizenship. Through a series of national and international recruitment speeches and rallies, the 54^th Massachusetts, became a national symbol for black freedom. The assault on Fort Wagner was a step toward equality that continues in the 21^st century United States.

The Woman's Era Club: A Story of Black Women's Activism

In 1893, a group of Boston women founded the Woman’s Era Club, one of the first women’s clubs in the country led by African American women. With its journal, The Woman’s Era, this club’s mission of social activism reached national audiences. What causes were these women fighting for, and how did they view their roles as activists in their communities? In this talk, we will explore the stories of several women behind this little-known, yet influential club and publication.

Details

Duration

45-60 Minutes

Activity

Guided Tours

This is a series of virtual programs.

Age(s)

10 and Older

These programs are best suited for individuals aged 10 and above.

Pets Allowed

Yes

Since these are virtual programs, pets are allowed to watch the program.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Virtual

Reservations

Yes

These programs are for groups of 10 individuals or more. Please contact Boston African American National Historic Site or Boston National Historical Park for more information.

These programs are subject to availability and staffing.

Season

Year Round

These programs are available all-year round depending on availability and staffing.

Time of Day

Day, Night

These programs are typically available during the day and evening and are subject to availability and staffing. Please contact Boston African American National Historic Site or Boston National Historical Park for more information.

Accessibility Information

These programs are live through virtual meeting platforms. The National Parks of Boston provides live captioning for virtual programs. Events can be recorded and audio described.