Boston's Old South Meeting House and the New Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Present: The 241st Anniversary Boston Tea Party & Annual Reenactment

WHAT: 

The Boston Tea Party comes alive this December!  It's December 16th, 1773 and trouble is brewing in Boston.  Presented by Boston's famed Old South Meeting House and the new Boston Tea Party Ships^SM & Museum, the 241^st Anniversary Boston Tea Party Reenactment is an opportunity for the public to experience one of America's most iconic public protests.  Reenactors from across New England tell the story of the Boston Tea Party and theatrically recreate the evening of December 16, 1773, which sparked the American Revolution. It all begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the actual historic hall where the colonists gathered to protest British rule 241 years ago. Then, the public joins a lively procession to the waterfront, and witnesses as the Sons of Liberty destroy actual tea in Boston Harbor!   

WHEN:     

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 - the Actual Historic Anniversary!

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

TIMELINE: 

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Meeting of the Body of the People – TICKETED EVENT (Ticket includes access to a reserved viewing area along Boston's historic waterfront for the destruction of the tea)

Old South Meeting House - 310 Washington Street at Milk Street, Boston, MA

Ticket holders join an authentic, spirited and theatrical colonial debate at Old South Meeting House to protest the tax on tea and demand liberty from the British crown, just as unprecedented numbers of colonists gathered in this very building more than 240 years ago. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and other Patriot leaders join in a heated debate with crown-loving Loyalists in this final attempt to peaceably resolve the crisis before the midnight deadline.  Visitors are encouraged to join the debate, letting their voices be heard in the very place where Boston's most famous act of rebellion began.

7:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Huzzah for Griffin's Wharf! – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Procession from Old South Meeting House to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - Milk Street to Congress Street to Pearl Street

Led by fife and drums and accompanied by colonial reenactors, the public is invited to march from Old South Meeting House to Boston historic waterfront where Griffin's Wharf once stood along the same route the Sons of Liberty took to Boston Harbor to destroy the tea in 1773!

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.         

Boston Harbor, a Tea Pot Tonight! – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (Ticket holders have access to a reserved viewing area on the Harborwalk)

Destruction of the Tea at the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - 306 Congress St. on the Congress Street Bridge, Boston, MA

The public is invited along with the reenactors to line the shores of Boston Harbor and watch as the Sons of Liberty storm aboard the Brig Beaver and destroy chest after chest of East India tea, just as colonists did 241 years before.  In this fully narrated program, the Sons of Liberty board the ship, opening the hold and hoisting tea chests on deck.  Tea chests are broken open and actual tea from the East India Tea Company (still in existence) is spilled into Boston's historic waters.   Viewers are encouraged to cheer "Huzzah" as each chest is dumped into Boston Harbor as they witness the dramatic conclusion of the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution.

TICKETS:

THIS EVENT SELLS OUT ANNUALLY.  GREAT DEALS ONLINE!

• AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 early bird ticket prices are $20/per person
• ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014 ticket prices jump to General Admission pricing - $25/per person

To purchase tickets go to: http://gottea.bpt.me or visit Old South Meeting House at 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108.   General Admission tickets ($25/person) available for sale at the Old South Meeting House as of September 1, 2014.

Tickets include admission to the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House and access to an exclusive reserved viewing area on Boston's Harborwalk for the Destruction of the Tea. All ticket proceeds help support Old South Meeting House, a non-profit National Historic Landmark.  This event takes place rain, sleet, snow or shine.

NOTE:  Both Old South Meeting House and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will be free and open to the public on Tues., December 16, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

HOTEL 
INFO:

INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON, a 424-room luxury hotel located closest and adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, is offering its REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY: BOSTON TEA PARTY PACKAGE starting from only $299.00. This package is valid year-round and includes:

• Deluxe accommodations overlooking Boston's historic waterfront and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
• Two (2) adult (age 13+) combo tickets with access to both the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Old South Meeting House
• Two (2) tea infused beverages – choice of RumBa's hard tea rum cocktails (Life & LiberTea or The Tea Act) or hot tea
• Tea Amenity - Boston Tea Company Connoisseur's Mini Wooden Tea Chest which includes 20 tea bags in five gourmet blends: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Oriental Treasure Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea and Lemon Honey Chamomile Herbal
• Tickets for two (2) to the 241^st Anniversary Boston Tea Party Reenactment -valid Tues., Dec. 16, 2014 ONLY. Also includes VIP waterfront viewing in front of the InterContinental Boston kiosk along the Fort Point Channel overlooking the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

NOTES: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open daily and tickets are date specific and include a 1hr show. Shows run daily, every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Fall/Winter Hours) and every 15 minutes 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Spring/Summer Hours).  Old South Meeting House is open daily.  Spring/Summer/Fall Hours - 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Winter Hours (Nov. 1-March 31) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

InterContinental Boston will contact guest(s) who booked the package prior to arrival secure ticket dates. Additional tickets can be purchased separately. Package is based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call InterContinental Boston directly at 617-217-5033 or 877-747-BOSTON.  The hotel is located at 510 Atlantic Ave.

MEDIA CONTACTS:    

Stephanie Loeber

Lauren Reddy

Loeber Communications

Old South Meeting House

Ph: 617-510-0577

Ph: 617-482-6439  ext. 15

E-mail:  [email protected]

E-mail: [email protected]