- by Jay Arr
On December 16th, 1773, the Sons Of Liberty led the colonists against British rule and threw the unfairly taxed British tea into the Boston Harbor. This “Boston Tea Party” led to the great American Revolution.
re-enactors and joyous rebels aboard ship on Sunday
On December 16th, 2012, I was lucky enough to witness its re-enactment. It started at about 4pm at the Old South Meeting House. There I watched a portrayal of the discussions of British rule, the unfairly taxed tea, colonial sedition, and colonists’ rights as free women and men. It was an impressive show, well acted, and very entertaining. All of the actresses and actors (volunteer thespians) were well dressed, very historic, and very engaging – especially for the children, who were present in abundance! It was a lot of fun to watch.
The discussions were led by the re-enactors who provoked audience participation; and after about one hour, the historic meeting was adjourned, and we marched all together from the Old South Meeting House and paraded happily down Congress Street to Fort Point Channel. Many a “Huzzah” was sung and laughter was heard all around.
From Griffin’s Wharf (aka Russia Wharf), I watched several speeches from the Sons of Liberty, as they cast the tea and boxes into the harbor. I almost dropped my camera into the harbor from laughter and surprise when I heard a young child yell “America! Heck Yah!” (except that “h” and “e” were not the first two letter in “heck”).
All in all, this was a great event! “Huzzah!” I say, and “Good Show!” to all of the producers, cast, and guests of the Boston Tea Party Reenactment. As a Boston Tour Guide I was proud to feel part of both the Old South Meeting House and the newly rebuilt Boston Tea Party Museum. When I took the tour of the Tea Party Museum a week ago with fellow tour guide Jon Cotton, I was very impressed, and at the end of the tour, I felt very proud of my American Heritage.
Despite controversy over the museum’s rebuilding, like the “Big Dig,” I’m glad it’s built. I think it’s a great addition to our Boston Tourism Community. One may complain about the price of these tours ($25 and under), but I spent more money in less time for dinner immediately afterward at a nearby restaurant.
In the tour guide world there’s always competition between different companies. Such is the nature of American Capitalism. Like I say about all the trolley companies (of which I have no personal affiliation with any), “They are all good for Boston tourism. However, some reviews are better than others.”
Reporting from the tour guide trenches,
Boston Jay Arr