{"id":"nps-boaf","slug":"boston-african-american-national-historic-site","name":"Boston African American National Historic Site","designation":"National Historic Site","category":"historic-site","categoryLabel":"Historic Site and Historical Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"BOAF","designation":"National Historic Site","sourceId":"nps-boaf"}],"states":["MA"],"stateNames":["Massachusetts"],"location":{"lat":42.35908295,"lon":-71.06764181},"bbox":[-71.0709,42.3574,-71.0632,42.3603],"acres":{"value":0,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/boaf/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=42.3603&b_tl_lng=-71.0709&b_br_lat=42.3574&b_br_lng=-71.0632","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Boston%20African%20American%20National%20Historic%20Site","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/boaf/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5AE1B4A0-955B-EA11-BBFA4D921C07CBC8.jpg","title":"The African Meeting House","alt":"View from the pulpit at the African Meeting House, which has rows of benches and an upper gallery","credit":"NPS Photo / M. Bozio","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/boaf/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5AE1B4A0-955B-EA11-BBFA4D921C07CBC8.jpg","title":"The African Meeting House","alt":"View from the pulpit at the African Meeting House, which has rows of benches and an upper gallery","credit":"NPS Photo / M. Bozio","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/boaf/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5B1F8D62-0F28-AEC1-31F33B58C8B7063A.jpg","title":"Museum of African American History","alt":"A sign hanging from a lightpost that is attached to a brick wall.","caption":"The Museum of African American History stewards the African Meeting House and the Abiel Smith School.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5B359DDD-A5B4-C84B-A6D4955FA66E8116.jpg","title":"Lewis and Harriet Hayden House","alt":"Close up of a plaque on the brick facade of the Hayden House, which has green shutters","caption":"Lewis and Harriet Hayden's home served as an active center for the Underground Railroad and abolitionist movement in Boston.","credit":"NPS Photo/ M. Bozio","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5B3F9740-AE69-4A78-0DF379F10D96E01C.jpg","title":"African Meeting House","alt":"View from the gallery overlooking the","caption":"The African Meeting House served as the religious, educational, and political center of Boston's Black community in the 1800s.","credit":"NPS Photo / M. Bozio","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5B6890D9-95F6-D706-C1B25125048856D0.jpg","title":"Faces of the 54th Regiment","alt":"Close up of a bronze relief of a young soldier carrying a rifle.","caption":"Bostonians commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create the memorial to the 54th Regiment and its colonel. Dedicated in 1897, the memorial has served as a powerful reminder of sacrifice for the cause of liberty.","credit":"NPS Photo/ M. Bozio","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/5C379305-F3C8-0F18-27BE07B5CDD58ACC.jpg","title":"George Middleton House","alt":"Small gray wood building in between two brick buildings","caption":"Built in 1787, this structure is one of the oldest standing homes on Beacon Hill. George Middleton (1735-1815) served in the American Revolution and became a Prince Hall Mason.","credit":"NPS Photo/ M. Bozio","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Walking","Junior Ranger Program","Museum Exhibits"],"topics":["African American Heritage","Enslavement","LGB American Heritage","Military","US Army","Monuments and Memorials","Religion and Spirituality","Churches","Social Movements","Abolition Movement","Wars and Conflicts","Civil War","Climate Change"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Boston African American National Historic Site","description":"Boston African American National Historic Site rangers offer tours of the Black Heritage Trail seasonally. Please check the park calendar for available tours and programs.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","monday":"Closed","thursday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","sunday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","tuesday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","friday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","saturday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Thanksgiving","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{}},{"name":"Christmas","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{}},{"name":"New Year's Day","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{}}]},{"name":"Museum of African American History","description":"The Museum of African American History is a partner of Boston African American National Historic Site. They operate the Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House in conjunction with the National Park Service.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","monday":"Closed","thursday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","sunday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","tuesday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","friday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","saturday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Winter Hours","start":"2026-09-07","end":"2027-05-31","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","sunday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM","saturday":"10:00AM - 4:00PM"}}]}],"directions":"Site administrative offices are located at Faneuil Hall and the Charlestown Navy Yard. Seasonal ranger programs begin at either the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Beacon Street, or at the Museum of African American History at 46 Joy Street on Beacon Hill.","weatherInfo":"Boston African American National Historic Site is located in downtown Boston which can see extreme cold in the winter months, as well as extreme heat and humidity throughout the summer months. Walking tours may be cancelled during severe heat and/or weather events.","contacts":{"phone":"6174296760","email":"boaf_mail@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Faneuil Hall Visitor Center","description":"Located in the heart of downtown on the market floor of the historic 1742 building, the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center is the main visitor center for Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site. Maps and information for the Freedom Trail® and Black Heritage Trail® are available here. Tours begin here seasonally.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/fh.htm","lat":42.36005778533481,"lon":-71.05625188347403}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"boston-national-historical-park","km":2},{"slug":"john-fitzgerald-kennedy-national-historic-site","km":5},{"slug":"longfellow-house-washingtons-headquarters-national-historic-site","km":5},{"slug":"frederick-law-olmsted-national-historic-site","km":7},{"slug":"adams-national-historical-park","km":12},{"slug":"boston-harbor-islands-national-recreation-area","km":12}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=boaf"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.608Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/boston-african-american-national-historic-site/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/boston-african-american-national-historic-site.geojson"}