Old South Meeting House facts for kids

Old South Meeting House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
The Old South Meeting House, 1968
Location in Boston Show map of Boston Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts
Location	Corner of Washington and Milk Streets Boston, Massachusetts
Built	1729
Architect	Twelves, Robert
Architectural style	Georgian
NRHP reference No.	66000778
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	October 9, 1960

The Old South Meeting House is a very old and important building in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1729 and looks like a church. This building became famous because it was a key meeting spot for American colonists before the American Revolution. On December 16, 1773, thousands of people gathered here to plan the famous Boston Tea Party. It was the biggest building in Boston at that time!

History of the Old South Meeting House

Building a Community Church (1729–1872)

The Old South Meeting House was finished in 1729. It had a tall steeple that reached 56 meters (183 feet) high. The church group, called a congregation, started in 1669. They broke away from the First Church of Boston, which was founded in 1630. The land for the new church was given by Mrs. Norton. Her husband, John Norton, was a pastor at the First Church. The first pastor of the Old South Meeting House was Rev. Thomas Thacher. He was also a doctor and wrote the first medical book in Massachusetts.

Interior of Old South, 2018

After the Boston Massacre in 1770, people held yearly meetings at the church. These meetings honored those who died and featured important speakers. Speakers included John Hancock and Dr. Joseph Warren. In 1773, about 5,000 people met at the Meeting House. They debated new taxes from Britain. After this meeting, a group of colonists went to Boston Harbor. They raided three tea ships, which led to the famous Boston Tea Party.

Lt Col Samuel Birch leading British soldiers in the Old South Meeting House, Boston

In October 1775, British soldiers took over the Meeting House. They were led by Lt Col Samuel Birch. The British used the building because it was linked to the American Revolution. They emptied the inside and filled it with dirt. Then, they used the building to practice horse riding. They destroyed much of the inside and stole many items. One stolen item was a rare Pilgrim manuscript called Of Plymouth Plantation (1620). This book was written by William Bradford and hidden in the church's tower. After the British left Boston, Thomas Dawes drew plans to rebuild the church's interior.

The Old South Meeting House almost burned down in the Great Boston Fire of 1872. As the fire got close, Boston firefighters worked very hard to save it. Fire crews from all over New England came to help. After a twelve-hour fight, they put out the flames. They saved Old South and stopped the fire from reaching other historic buildings. As Boston rebuilt, the church group decided to move. They built a new church, the "New" Old South Church, in a quieter area. This new church is still used today.

In 1877, a group of twenty women helped save the Meeting House. One of them was Mary Hemenway, who gave $100,000 of her own money. They raised money and passed laws to protect the building. By 1910, the Old South Association took over the preservation work. The original church group still returns to the Old South Meeting House once a year. They hold a service there on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The steeple of the Old South Meeting House

Old South Meeting House as a Museum (1877–Present)

The Old South Meeting House has been an important meeting place for almost 300 years. It became famous for the protest meetings held here before the American Revolution. People even called it a mouth-house because so many ideas were spoken here. This building is a National Historic Landmark. It has always been a place for people to share their thoughts freely.

Today, the Old South Meeting House is a museum. It is open every day. It continues to be a place where people can meet, talk, and act on important issues. The stories of the people connected to Old South show why it is so important in American history.

The museum is located where Washington and Milk Streets meet. You can visit for a small fee. It is easy to get to by subway using the State Street, Downtown Crossing, or Park Street MBTA stations.

The Old South Meeting House is thought to be the second oldest building still standing in the United States. It is also being considered for special local landmark status by the Boston Landmarks Commission.

In 2020, the group that cared for the Old South Meeting House joined with the Bostonian Society. They formed a new group called Revolutionary Spaces. This group now manages both the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House.

Gallery

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  Joseph Sewall, minister ca.1713–1769

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  Thomas Prince, minister ca.1718–1758; portrait by Joseph Badger (courtesy American Antiquarian Society)

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  View of Old South from Congress Street in 1808 (conjectural illustration)

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  1835

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  Jacob Manning, minister ca.1857–1872

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  After the fire (Old South at left), 1872

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  After the fire, 1872

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  Old South Meeting House, ca. 1877

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  ca.1898

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  Washington & Milk St., 1900

See also

• New Old South Church, Copley Square, Back Bay, Boston
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Boston
• National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Boston, Massachusetts