Boston Freedom Trail

9. Old State House

Boston, MA

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The Old State House is one stop on the Freedom Trail. Originally a wooden building known as the Town House of 1657, after a fire in 1711, it was rebuilt as a brick building in 1712- 1713. The first building featured seven-foot wooden sculptures of a lion and a unicorn, two symbols of the British monarchy. From its completion in 1713-1776 it served as the Massachusetts Town House, the seat of colonial government. The Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, happened in front of the brick building on Devonshire Street. On July 18, 1776, Colonel Thomas Crafts, one of the Sons of Liberty, read the Declaration of Independence from the East side balcony, after which the lion and the unicorn emblems were removed and burned in King Street. After the American Revolution, the Old State House served as the seat of the Massachusetts State government until 1798. From 1830 to 1841, the building functioned as Boston's City Hall before it moved to the former Suffolk County Courthouse, found on School Street. Before this, the Boston Post office and local business shared the State house with Boston City Hall. After it was used for civic purposes, the Old State House hosted merchants and trades people. George A. Clough conducted restorations of the building during 1881-1882, upon investment of The Bostonian Society, a group that preserved the Old State House. Replicas of the lion and the unicorn statues were erected on the East side of the building. Facing the West, the building exhibits an eagle to recognize the Old State House's role in American History.