Boston Bucket List: Throw tea into the harbor at the Boston Tea Party Museum
BOSTON — Want to throw a crate into Boston Harbor without worrying about treason? Want to take a spin at the helm of a ship and then drink all the tea you want? I've got just the place for you.
The Boston Tea Party Museum is the ideal blend of informative, immersive and fun. For $35, you get an hour-long experience that invites you to be part of a rowdy mob, tour the Tea Party Ships and throw a crate of tea into the harbor.
That's before even setting foot in the museum itself and seeing one of the actual crates thrown overboard during the event.
This museum bamboozled me in the best way. In the moment, I was highly entertained. As I left, I realized that they'd tricked me and actually taught me a lot of stuff.
Two guides perform in character at the Boston Tea Party Museum.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
Boston Bucket List: The Boston Tea Party Museum
A trip to the Boston Tea Party Museum starts with you being sneakily ushered into "The Meeting House." There, you're invited to be part of a rowdy mob that has had it with the tyranny of King George III.
The entire 60-minute tour is done in-character. That includes the ever-changing roster of tour guides and you, the visitor. Most of the visitor's job involves yelling "Here, here!" and "Huzzah!" You also get to boo King George a lot.
Upon entry, each visitor is handed a card that assigns them to a participant of the Boston Tea Party. Except for a couple of roles, you don't have to do anything.
I was given the role of John Crane. I was later informed that a 400-pound crate of tea fell on my (Mr. Crane's) head. My co-conspirators thought I'd died. So they dragged me to a carpenter's shop and covered me with woodchips to stage my death as an accident. They were in for a surprise when I woke up later.
The majority of my tour was led by a guide playing the role of William Burbeck, a member of the Sons of Liberty whose historically accurate grudge against Paul Revere was a recurring source of entertainment.
After a scene explaining the circumstances that led to the Tea Party, we were aboard the Eleanor, one of the two replica ships sitting in the harbor.
Visitors throw "tea" into the harbor during a visit to the Boston Tea Party Museum.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
Your chance to reenact the Boston Tea Party
It was aboard the Eleanor that we learned about the actual circumstances of the Boston Tea Party. The tea was stale and tightly packed into 400-pound crates, so it took hours to throw it overboard. It was frigid that December night, so all the participants were bundled up to protect themselves from the cold and from being identified (and not dressed as Native Americans , as some reports claimed).
It was then that our group was offered the chance to join in on the tea party by throwing a crate bearing the East India Company crest over the railing and into Boston Harbor.
Of course, the crates are tied to a rope so they can be pulled back onboard.
The experience is cathartic. I highly recommend it. I was still buzzing from it as we toured the ship. Visitors are guided through the lower decks and are offered a chance to explore the top deck. You can even head to the helm and spin the ship's wheel.
A look around the Boston Tea Party Museum.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
Don't forget: There's an actual museum
The trip aboard the Tea Party Ships was the highlight of the tour. But there was still more to the tour.
Back on the docks, we learned a bit about the fallout of the Tea Party and the participants.
We then entered the actual museum, which featured some videos of reenactments and a room with some fantastic artifacts.
The most prominent item in the museum is the " Robinson Tea Chest ," a crate from the Tea Party that later washed up on shore. For generations, the chest was passed around families in Massachusetts. That was until 2004, when it was offered and sold to Historic Tours of America and eventually became the centerpiece of the museum.
A look around Abigail's Tea Room at the Boston Tea Party Museum.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
Save time for tea at Abigail's
At the end of the 60-minute tour, you're invited to check out Abigail's Tea Room, the beautifully appointed cafe that sits on top of the museum.
Abigail's serves a basic breakfast and lunch menu that includes pastries, salads, sandwiches and drinks. But the main draw is the tea.
For $4.50, you get a bottomless mug of tea, giving you access to the five self-serve canisters of tea in the seating area.
Abigail's serves the five types of tea that were thrown overboard during the Boston Tea Party. That includes three types of black tea Souchong, Congou and Bohea. There are also two types of green tea, Young Hyson and Singlo.
Of the five, my top recommendation is the Congou. It's balanced and flavorful. The two green teas are pretty similar, light and easy drinking.
The most unusual of the bunch is the Souchong, which the tea room describes as "perhaps the most controversial." It's a surprisingly smoky tea that's reminiscent of a peated scotch. You'll either love it or hate it.
A look around the Boston Tea Party Museum.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
More info about the Boston Tea Party Museum
Tours at the museum start every 30 minutes and alternate between the two ships, which sit in the water on each side. The last tour of the day starts at 4 p.m.
Tours at the top of the hour will go aboard the Eleanor, which is on the right side. Tours aboard the Eleanor are accessible. If you have mobility limitations, it's recommended that you book at the top of the hour.
Tours at every half-hour mark will go aboard the Beaver, which is on the left side of the museum.
Abigail's Tea Room and the gift shop do not require admission to enter.
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Where are they located?— The museum is located at 306 Congress St., Boston, MA, 02210. The museum sits on a raised platform in the middle of the Fort Point Channel.
How to get there/is there parking?— There is no dedicated parking lot for the museum. Atlantic Wharf Garage is located a short walk away. Visitors can get parking validated for a discounted rate. The museum has more expansive info about parking and directions on its website.
The museum is a 0.25-mile walk from South Station, making it accessible by the Red Line, Commuter Rail and bus.
How do you get tickets?— Museum tickets are available on the museum website for $35 . Tickets are also available at the door. The museum says it leaves some tickets available for walk-ins.
When are they open?— The Boston Tea Party Museum has different hours throughout the year.
From April 1 to Oct. 31 (in season), the first tour starts at 10 a.m. while the final tour starts at 5 p.m.
From Nov. 1 to March 31 (off season), the first tour starts at 10 a.m. while the final tour starts at 4 p.m.
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