Old South Meeting House — Attraction in Boston

Summary: Inadequate propagandistic museum; beautiful building. Take pictures from the outside but don't waste your money on the museum.

This review discusses the value of the price for admission to the museum on site, not the historic building. If you want to see the building, just look at it from the outside. The museum cost my family of two children, a teenager, two adults and a senior $70+. This included both the Old South meeting house, and the Old State House, but that didn't add to the value significantly.

The Old South Meeting House museum consists of a single church sanctuary with displays that celebrate a wide range of individuals bundled together in an amorphous and historically unnuanced label of "Protesters." That group includes such opposing voices as George Whitfield and Margaret Sanger.

The displays provide less historical information than a bad Wikipedia article, and completely ignore the history of the building as a Puritan meeting house, not to mention the worldview and morality taught there.

Most egregious is the statue and display bemoaning the censoring of the blatant racist and proponent of eugenics, Margaret Sanger. While admitting that the Klan was also prohibited from the space, they apparently did not feel that a monument to the Klan was appropriate, although it would have been at least consistent with their sadness over censored racists.

The museum has an agenda and is not interested in sharing history accurately. It was a total waste of money, not only because it was a disappointment but because I know that my money will be misused to spread...

We visited on a Wednesday morning in mid-June 2025. We were doing this as part of the Freedom Trail. They did not open until 10AM and we planned out our hike so that we would arrive here just around 10AM. We got here a little early and walked across the street to hang out at the small little park and then did some last min Walgreens shopping as well.

We did not have plans to pay to explore the church itself because we had already decided we wanted to do the Old North Church instead. But this was the first site on the trail (if you're doing it in order) that had a National Park Service Passport Cancellation Stamp. You do not have to pay to get access to the stamp.

We talked for a couple minutes with the staff here at the front as they were a bit on the shorter side and needed some help getting the large tall doors opened for the day.

They were really nice and look like a ton of resources here. Unfortunately we just didn't have the time so we had to pick and choose which place we were going to go in and explore and which places would just be a quick stop to check the box.

The cost here was $10 for adult, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for children 12 & under. Also FREE admission to US military and veterans, Massachusetts Teachers and EBT cardholders. They offered Gallery Talks and Walking tours...

The Old South Meeting House (US$6 per adult) is one of the important stops on the Freedom Trail in Boston. Built in 1729, this attraction offers a nice stop to see Georgian period architecture. We particularly liked the modest red brick facade and building steeple.

Inside the Old South Meeting House, you can visit the meeting hall, where debates were heard regarding British taxation on the colonies as well as protests and outcries regarding the events of the infamous Boston Massacre.

Within the main hall you can see pew boxes (two of which are original found on the sides of the hall) where parties would have sat and debated local affairs. There are also a collection of displays regarding social and political issues deliberated at the Old South Meeting Hall. These help provide context on events which took place here that lead to the American Revolution as well as shaping the country during its early days.

Overall, a nice stop for those with interest in early American history. There is also a good gift shop in the basement of the Old South Meeting House, which find near the building exit.

Note: At the Old South Meeting House, you can buy a combo ticket that includes entrance into the Old State House and the Paul Revere House, giving you a $3 savings compared to buying each ticket...