Winter Hours: Tours begin at 10a, last tour 4p. Tea Room and Gift Shop open to 5p. Plan Visit >
Crew members, in colonial-times costumes, aboard the restored vessel at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Museum FAQs

What are the museum’s hours of operation?

Click here for our hours.
Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving day.

What is the cost of tickets?

Click here to view our prices.

Can guests tour the museum on their own?

Guests must purchase a ticket for a timed entry to explore the museum. You will move throughout the museum with your colonial host as you learn about the Boston Tea Party.

How much time should I plan for the tour?

All tickets purchased will be purchased for a specific tour time. The tour is one hour in length and doors for each tour open 15 minutes before stated tour time. All guests must check in between 15 minutes and 5 minutes before their stated tour. Guests late for that window may have their tickets re-allocated and we will try and get them in on another tour depending on availability.

If some tour times are unavailable on-line, we DO hold tickets on tours for walk-ups. Just a reminder that during busy summer days, and especially on holiday week(end)s that does not guarantee that walk-up guests will be able to get into the museum right when they arrive. There could be a wait of an hour or more.

If I pay admission and take the tour, can I take it again on the same day without paying another admission fee?

No, each ticket is only good for one tour.

Is the Tour available in other languages?

We offer translation guide booklets of the museum experience by request in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.  The guides are also available as a PDF to your mobile device, Click Here.

Are pictures and video permitted on the tour?

Pictures and videos are permitted during the museum tour experience in the meeting rooms, on the ships and open air decks, but not in the museum interior. Thank you.

Is the museum handicapped accessible?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is handicapped accessible. Our Retail Shop and Abigail’s Tea Room are accessible and available without purchase of a museum experience ticket. 

Tours: The BTPSM is a rather unique design including various gangways and full-scale restored 18th-century sailing vessels. The ship Eleanor is ADA accessible with ramp-access to the top deck (Unless we are experiencing ship maintenance, all “Eleanor” tours start either at the top or bottom of the hour. For better wheelchair access, please book one of these tours to be more accessible for your party). Our museum building includes an elevator for your convenience. The tour experience involves walking to each area with limited seating throughout. Wheelchairs are available upon request. 

Hearing Impaired: We offer English-language guides to assist you on your tour experience. We are happy to provide ASL interpreters with advance notice of 2 weeks.

What is your refund policy?

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee!  

If a guest is dissatisfied with their experience at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, they are guaranteed a 100% refund.

Can I purchase my tickets with a credit card?

Yes, that is the best way to purchase tickets.

What is your stroller & carriage policy?

Due to the unique nature of our site, strollers and carriages are not allowed on the museum tour experience, in our gift shop, or Abigail’s Tea Room.  We have a designated stroller and carriage parking area adjacent to our ticket booth that is easily accessible at any time. Staff will be on hand to assist you.

 Please Note: The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum nor its employees assume any responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, personal property.

What is your baggage policy?

For security reasons, we cannot hold or check any bags or luggage. Additionally, unattended bags are not allowed at any time. Purses, backpacks, and bags of standard carry-on size are permitted on tours provided that they are carried and attended at all times.

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