Visit Options for School Groups
Old North invites your class or school group to visit and learn about the church, its role in the American Revolution, and its 300 years of fascinating history. Groups from Boston Public Schools and Title I schools receive free admission.
Basic Group Tours
Explore Old North Church with a history talk and a self-guided tour.
When your class visits our campus, students will start their experience with a brief talk about the history of Old North Church in our scenic courtyard. Then, your group will enter the sanctuary for a self-guided tour of the oldest surviving church building in the city of Boston. Students will learn the true story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, admire the 17th-century angels flanking the church’s 1759 organ, and see a bust of George Washington that the Marquis de Lafayette praised for its accuracy.
Old North’s knowledgeable Educators are stationed around the sanctuary to answer questions, and visitors can refer to informational materials that are available as a handout or on their smartphones, via a QR code.
Capacity
Our self-guided tours work well for groups of up to 25 – 30 people. Larger groups will need to be divided into smaller sections.
Pricing
Admission is $5 per person. Groups from Boston Public Schools and Title I schools receive free admission.
Booking
For reservations, please fill out this form. For questions, contact our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to create a tailored experience for your class. We are happy to work with you to create the perfect visit for your students!
Special Monday Packages
When you book a Monday visit from November through June, you’ll have the church to yourself!
Old North invites your class to join us for a field trip on an upcoming Monday! Students will have an opportunity to learn about the church and its role in the American Revolution and to hear stories about the people who have been part of the Old North community over the past 300 years.
Since the church is closed to the public on Mondays during the school year, we can offer special field trip packages that are ideal for groups. Keep reading for a list of activities we offer for our Monday field trips.
Monday Field Trips are available November through June.
The Balcony: Hidden Histories Tour (Grades 3 – 12)
The balcony tour takes students to the sanctuary’s gallery and focuses on the experiences of early Black congregation members, on some of its most remarkable artifacts, and on the people who built the church. Steep stairs.
Bell Chamber Tour (Grades 3 – 12)
The bell tower tour brings students to the archive room and then the bell ringing chamber where they learn the history of Old North’s change ringing bells and its steeple. Steep stairs.
Crypt Tour (Grades 4 – 12)
The crypt tour leads students below the historic church to experience the crypt where 1,100 people are interred. Students learn about burial practices in the 18th and 19th centuries and the differing beliefs of Anglicans and Puritans. Stairs and confined spaces.
Prince’s Pew Pursuit Scavenger Hunt (Grades 2 – 4)
Students solve clues, learn history, and have a chance to better understand Old North through a scavenger hunt experience “led” by Prince the Cat, the friendly black cat who used to frequent the church.
Old North History Hunt (Grades 5 – 12)
Students complete 10 challenge questions by hunting through the church for the answers. This activity encourages students to read signage, ask questions, and think outside the box.
Chocolate Spotlight Experience (Grades 9 – 12)
This is a standalone field trip that takes 90 – 120 minutes. In this activity, students use primary sources to take a deeper look at the colonial chocolate industry in Boston and how some Old North congregation members were connected to this industry. They will interpret recipes from the past to learn about urban slavery and how to write inclusive histories.
All groups will enjoy a seated talk within the church and a wrap-up conversation. Groups from Boston Public Schools and Title I schools receive free admission.
Groups of 10 to 25 (including chaperones)
We recommend:
- Choose one activity from the Activities By Age Group list
- Groups can add another activity for an additional charge
- Approximately 45 minutes
Groups of 25 to 40 (including chaperones)
We recommend:
- Choose one activity from the Activities By Age Group list
- Groups of up to 40 can add a third activity for an additional charge
- Approximately 75 minutes
Groups of 40 to 65 (including chaperones)
We recommend:
- Choose three activities from the above list.
- Approximately 90 minutes
Groups of over 65 (including chaperones)
Please contact Old North to customize your experience
Booking
For reservations and pricing information, please fill out this form. For questions, contact our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com.
Group Crypt Tours
See the crypt, where 1,100 people were laid to rest.
See what lies beneath Old North! This 25 minute guided tour takes visitors through the church’s historic crypt, where more than 1,100 bodies are interred. Walk amongst the 37 tombs constructed below the sanctuary floors between 1732 and 1860. Learn about the construction of the crypt, view artifacts found in the crypt, and learn how and why crypts were used in colonial Boston.
Participants should be comfortable in a basement setting and navigating tight spaces. The crypt has low lighting, uneven surfaces, and is not wheelchair accessible. Historical topics discussed include death, burials, and human remains.
Age Level
Recommended for grades 4 – 12.
Capacity
20-25 people per tour MAXIMUM. Due to the physical space within the crypt, we cannot accommodate more than 20-25 people per tour. However, we can accommodate more visitors by breaking large groups into smaller tour groups and starting in different sections of the church. Please speak to our Operations Manager for more details.
Pricing and Booking
A crypt tour can be added to our basic self-guided tour for an additional $5 per person. For reservations, please fill out this form. For questions, contact our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com. Please note we are especially busy with school groups from April – June.
Group Balcony Tours
Tour the balcony, where people of color sat.
Explore Old North’s balcony (also known as “the gallery”), a paradoxical space that is home to both the church’s undesirable seating and some of the sanctuary’s most costly and ornate items. In this 25 minute guided tour, you’ll learn about the experiences of early Black congregants, both free and enslaved, who historically sat in the gallery. You’ll also get an up-close look at Old North’s beautiful 1759 pipe organ and the 17th century carved angels flanking it. The tour weaves together the stories of the many people whose labor and contributions shaped Old North into the place it is today.
Participants should be comfortable climbing stairs.
Age Level
Recommended for grades 3 – 12.
Capacity
20-25 people per tour MAXIMUM. However, we can accommodate more visitors by breaking large groups into smaller tour groups and starting in different sections of the church. Please speak to our Operations Manager for more details.
Pricing and Booking
A balcony tour can be added to our basic self-guided tour for an additional $5 per person. For reservations, please fill out this form. For questions, contact our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com. Please note we are especially busy with school groups from April – June.
Group Bell Chamber Tours
Tour the bell chamber, where Paul Revere rang bells as a teenager.
Join us for a guided tour of the church’s bell tower! Visitors will explore the archive room and the bell ringing chamber: two behind-the-scenes areas that aren’t typically open to guests. Along the way, you’ll learn about Old North’s famous bells, notable bell ringers, and the art of change ringing. Visitors will also hear the story of the church’s three steeples and consider the paradox that the steeple represents.
Participants should be comfortable climbing stairs.
Age Level
Recommended for grades 3 – 12.
Capacity
20-25 people per tour MAXIMUM. However, we can accommodate more visitors by breaking large groups into smaller tour groups and starting in different sections of the church. Please speak to our Operations Manager for more details.
Pricing and Booking
A bell chamber tour can be added to our basic self-guided tour for an additional $5 per person. For reservations, please fill out this form. For questions, contact our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com. Please note we are especially busy with school groups from April – June.
School Group Guidelines
Given Old North’s status as both a historic landmark and a church, we have a few guidelines for our student visitors for while they are on site.
While at Old North, we encourage students to:
- Reflect on what they have learned
- Be open to new information and experiences
- Actively participate in tours and discussions
- Make observations about the space
- Draw connections between the past and the present
- Be respectful of other people, their ideas, and their culture
- Ask questions
- Consider other people’s perspectives and opinions
Share their ideas and collaborate with others
We are excited to partner with you to make your students’ visit to Old North a positive experience! We require at least one chaperone for every ten students for all school programs. While at Old North, the role of a chaperone includes:
- Modeling engaged listening. Unless there is an emergency, please avoid using your phone.
- Evenly distributing chaperones between groups. Once chaperones are assigned to that group, we ask that they remain with their group.
- Actively watching students and redirecting students’ attention if they become distracted.
- Familiarizing themselves with our site’s expectations and reminding students of those expectations.
Old North Church is more than 300 years old and an active Episcopal church. Please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Please treat the church building and its furnishings with care. Do not destroy, damage, draw on, or remove anything from the church. For example, each of our box pews contains kneelers, prayer books, and hymnals; some even contain artifacts like antique foot warmers. We ask that these religious and historic items be treated with respect. Kneelers should not be used as seats or step-stools, and pews are not for climbing.
- We love to see students enthusiastically learning! When in the church, we ask that students maintain “indoor voices” and are mindful of other visitors when moving through the space.
- In an effort to preserve what lies above and below the floorboards, we ask that all food and drink stay stowed during visits. Bottles with caps may be carried throughout the church provided the caps stay on (including water bottles). Gum is not allowed.
- Old North is a smoke-free/tobacco-free campus.
- Flash photography is welcome inside the church sanctuary. Photography without flash is allowed on all tours. Video is not allowed.
- We strive to create a positive learning environment where all can feel comfortable. If any of your students require specific accommodations, please contact our Education Department so we can discuss how we can best meet their needs.
Visitor Information
All are welcome at Old North Church, with plenty to see and do for visitors of all ages.
Old North Church is available for school field trips or private group visits. For bookings or questions, please email our Operations Manager, Kaitlin R. Jencks, at tours@oldnorth.com.
Explore Old North Church With Bloomberg Connects
Tourism
Tuesday – Saturday
10am – 5pm
Sunday
12:30pm – 5pm
Address
We offer a Discovery Pass, which includes self-guided experiences in the sanctuary and crypt, and a Discovery Pass + Bell Chamber Tour, which also includes a guided experience in the bell ringing chamber.
We aim to create experiences that are welcoming and accessible for our visitors. We invite you to contact us to discuss your individual access needs.
Learn more about our accommodations.
Old North Church & Historic Site is a place to learn, engage, and reflect. We welcome conversation and invite you to ask questions and talk with our knowledgeable staff! We want all of our visitors to have a positive and memorable experience.
Learn more about our policies and guidelines.
Have a question? We might already have an answer!
Check out our FAQ page.
