Old State House, Boston (must see)

As the oldest surviving public building in Boston, this colonial-era landmark has one of the most easily recognizable facades in the city. Its gable is adorned with a brightly gilded lion and silver unicorn, symbols representing British imperial power. From 1713 until the Revolutionary period, this structure served as the seat of colonial government. After the British evacuated Boston in 1776, it continued to function as the center of the independent Commonwealth until its replacement on Beacon Hill was constructed.

An impassioned speech delivered by James Otis in the Council Chamber on the second floor ignited the pursuit of independence from Britain. Otis, initially a Crown appointee who later aligned with the colonial cause, vehemently opposed the Writs of Assistance, which granted the British the authority to inspect private property without restriction. Legend has it that, on certain nights, one can still hear echoes of his anti-British rhetoric, accompanied by the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd he galvanized.

The balcony overlooking State Street is as renowned as Otis's speech, as it was from here on July 18, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was first publicly read in Boston, just after its arrival from Philadelphia. That very night, the lion and unicorn figures symbolizing British rule, which were mounted above the balcony, were torn down and burned in front of the Bunch of Grapes tavern; the current ones on display are replicas. In a gesture of goodwill, Queen Elizabeth II, the first British monarch to visit Boston since the Revolution, delivered a speech from the balcony during the American bicentennial celebrations in 1976.

Today, the site hosts a small yet comprehensive museum. The ground-level permanent exhibit, titled "Colony to Commonwealth", features a series of well-curated displays that chronicle Boston's pivotal role in inciting the Revolutionary War. Among the exhibits are remnants from Boston's infamous tea party, the royal arms plaque that once adorned Province House (the official residence of colonial governors), the flag used by the Sons of Liberty to announce their gatherings, a stylish jacket owned by (Founding Father) John Hancock, and Paul Revere's stirring engraving of the Boston Massacre, one of the most evocative images of the Revolutionary era. Additionally, every half-hour, a colonial "guest speaker" in character provides insights into early Boston life and answers questions for the audience.