Commemorating the 250th Anniversary: Boston Set to Recreate the Historic Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party 250th anniversary: Witness a historic re-enactment of the iconic act of defiance that ignited the American Revolution Immerse yourself in the fascinating event, experience diverse tea flavors, and discover intriguing tidbits about this pivotal moment in history
Tired of British taxation on tea and authority in general, a group of rebellious colonial Americans known as the Sons of Liberty took action on the night of December 16, 1773. They boarded ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of imported Chinese tea into the water. This act impressed future US President John Adams.
"This act of destroying the tea is bold, daring, firm, intrepid, and inflexible. Its important consequences and lasting impact lead me to consider it a significant moment in history," he expressed in his diary.
Adams' prediction that this event would leave a lasting mark in history was certainly accurate. Now, the city is preparing to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party with a re-enactment. Here's what they have in store:
What will happen at the Tea Party re-enactments
The December 16th 1773 organization is hosting live, historical re-enactments starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 16th at Faneuil Hall. While tickets for viewing inside the hall are sold out, spectators can still gather outside and watch live screenings of the re-enactments taking place inside.
Join us at 6 p.m. at Downtown Crossing (Readers Park at Milk and Washington streets) as a town crier shares news with the gathered crowds of Patriots and Loyalists, outside the re-enacted events inside the Old South Meeting House (which is sold out).
Following this, at 7:30 p.m., a lively rolling rally led by a fife and drum corps will march towards Harborwalk. This procession is free and open to the public.
At 8 p.m., reenactors will be aboard two replica ships, preparing to toss tea overboard. The December 16th organization reported that they have received over 2,000 donations of loose tea from every state and numerous countries, along with 250 pounds from London's East India Company, the very same company that provided the tea 250 years ago.
Bleachers will be set up at the waterfront on a first-come, first-served basis for spectators to watch the tea destruction. Certain parts of the reenactment will be live-streamed.
Crowds will be able to follow re-enactors down to the harbor.
Caroline Talbot
Is this tea dump going to be safe for the harbor and the animals in it?
The organizing team of the 250th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Reenactment has always aimed to minimize the environmental impact on the Fort Point Channel. According to a statement to CNN Travel, they emphasized that the tea used is biodegradable, being made only of dried leaves, and all other materials are retrieved from the harbor. The chests themselves are recovered from the water, leaving no additional substances behind.
Furthermore, despite a significant participation in the tea donation project, the amount of tea being thrown is far less than the 92,000 pounds thrown during the original event in 1773.
Types of tea at the Party and other tidbits
The December 16th group claims that during the Boston Tea Party, five distinct tea blends were tossed into the water. These blends have not been forgotten - they are still available for tasting and purchase if you prefer enjoying your tea rather than throwing it.
Check them out at Abigails Tea Room at Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. They are:
Some of the best places to visit in the United States
- The museum showcases the Robinson Tea Chest, which is the only tea chest known to still exist from the Boston Tea Party, as well as a vial of tea on loan from the Old North Foundation of Boston, believed to be from the event.
