Black History Boston: Black Heritage Trail
Today, we take a look at the historical significance of the Black Heritage Trail.
The Black Heritage Trail is a 1.6 mile path with locations along the trail that are important in depicting Boston’s Black history. The train is located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. The trail links more than 15 pre-Civil War structures and historical sites. More than half the City’s 2,000 blacks lived on Beacon Hill during the 19th century. The historic buildings along today’s Black Heritage Trail were the homes, business, schools, and churches of Boston’s black community.
The Black Heritage Trail sites include:- 54th Regiment Memorial
- African Meeting House, a.k.a. Black Faneuil Hall - The oldest surviving black church in the United States (8 Smith Court)
- John J. Smith House
- Abiel Smith School - The Museum of African American History (46 Joy Street)
- Charles Street Meeting House
- George Middleton House
- Lewis and Harriet Hayden House - A safe haven of the Underground Railroad (66 Phillips Street)
- Phillips School
- John Coburn House
- Smith Court Residences