The vanished history of black people in Boston is visible again to anybody with a smartphone, thanks to Arizona State University journalism professor Retha Hill. Her free “augmented reality” Black History app offers a video tour of the city’s African-American history. There are several sites throughout greater Boston, but a good number of them are between Beacon Hill and downtown:
- 1
- Charles Street Meeting House
- Built by the Third Baptist Church, the Charles Street Meeting House was later sold and become The Charles Street A.M.E. Church. After the Civil War, it became the largest of Boston’s then five black churches.
- 2
- John J. Smith House
- This black barber's shop served as a base for community organizing and abolitionist activities.
- 3
- Lewis and Harriet Hayden House
- This house was a stop along the Underground Railroad.
- 4
- The Phillips School
- The school became one of the first integrated schools in Boston.
- 5
- John Coburn House
- John Coburn was a clothes dealer and community activist who assisted fugitive slaves.
- 6
- Smith Court Residences
- Black historian William C. Nell lived in one of the historic homes on Smith Court.
- 7
- George Middleton House
- This house was built by a black Revolutionary War veteran and Mason.
- 8
- Granary Burying Ground
- Crispus Attucks, who was killed in the Boston Massacre, is buried here.
- 9
- Quock Walker
- Three cases involving Quock Walker, a slave, led to Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice William Cushing saying that slavery was incompatible with the new Massachusetts constitution.
- 10
- Old Massachusetts State House
- Many important events occurred at the Old Sate House, including discussion of bills to end slavery in the state.
- 11
- Boston Massacre
- Crispus Attucks, who had been a slave, died here.
Patrick Garvin, Javier Zarracina / Globe Staff
Sources: Arizona State University journalism professor Retha Hill; Mass.gov; City of Boston; National Park Service