On the 252nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston’s Office of Historic Preservation have designated three Freedom Trail sites as Boston Landmarks. The Old North Church and Campus, the Old South Meeting House, and the Old Corner Bookstore and Cunningham House have been given a place among the city’s most protected historic buildings, ensuring their stories remain a part of Boston’s living history. These sites, up until now hosting millions of footsteps of tourists and locals alike, will be preserved under the watchful eye of the Boston Landmarks Commission.
Announced by Mayor Wu, these designations honor the role of these sites in shaping the nation’s democracy. The active oversight by the Landmarks Commission, involved in all future changes or improvements, marks a turning point for preservation in Boston. Each landmark initiation came from Boston residents, upholding the democratic process in the very act of valuing its historic locations. The Mayor emphasized the significance, stating, “These designations mark a powerful moment in our city’s ongoing commitment to honoring the full story of Boston’s past,” according to the City of Boston’s official announcement.
Revered for its connection to pivotal events leading to American independence, the Old South Meeting House is where colonists congregated following the Boston Massacre and before the historic Tea Party. The site now operates under Revolutionary Spaces, which seeks to ignite modern civic discourse, a testament to its foundational role in the country’s early civil actions. “The Old South Meeting House has long been a beacon of civic action and free expression,” Revolutionary Spaces’ President and CEO Nat Sheidley told the City of Boston…