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It was on the streets of Boston that colonial patriots first stirred the fires of independence and abolitionists in the nineteenth century called for an end to slavery. These transforming movements can be traced back to two historic places: The Old State House and The African Meeting House. SAVE OUR HISTORY: REVOLUTION IN BOSTON explores the history behind these two notable buildings as they undergo major preservation efforts. Host Steve Thomas dives into the restoration process to give viewers a first-hand look at the rebuilding efforts, while revealing the dramatic role each of these buildings played in our nation’s fight for independence and equality.
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The
Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in Boston. Built
in 1713 to house the government offices of the Massachusetts Bay colony,
it has been referred to as the most important public building in Colonial
America. In the words of John Adams, "There the child independence
was born." Within the walls of this building, stirring speeches
and fervent debates by dedicated patriots took place against the British
crown. Today, the Old State House is operated by The Bostonian Society
and owned by the city of Boston.
Built
in 1806, The African Meeting House is the oldest African-American Church
edifice still standing in the United States and the largest meeting
space owned and controlled by people of color in Boston for much of
the nineteenth century. The African Meeting House played host to several
significant events during the Abolitionist movement. It was here that
William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society
in 1832 and Frederick Douglass gave rousing anti-slavery speeches and
recruited members of the 54th Regiment, the first all black brigade
to fight in the Civil War. The African Meeting House is currently being
restored to its appearance as it stood in 1855.