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.
At Historic Tours of America, we pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service to all people, including individuals with disabilities. In order to provide the proper accommodations, all we ask is that we are given due notice in order to select the proper services. Our selection process involves the use of the ADA information line to vet and secure local interpreter services. As a title III entity, our number one goal is to provide an effective accommodation that will ensure you have a memorable time with us.

Closed Captioning: We offer closed captioning on our interactive exhibits.

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.

Does the museum participate in the Mass EBT card discount program?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum DOES NOT participate in the Mass EBT Card to Culture discount program. The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and Massachusetts Cultural Council offer a program called EBT Card to Culture that provides discounted or free admission to cultural institutions for EBT (food stamp) cardholders. This program also extends to WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders. Participating organizations offer various discounts, including free admission for a certain number of people, discounted tickets or free admission for children.

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.

Will I see the actual Boston Tea Party site?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located in the very same body of water where the Boston Tea Party occurred over 250 years ago. The original location of Griffin’s Wharf lies approximately 100 yards from the museum, roughly at the current location of the InterContinental Hotel and the adjacent Independence Wharf on Atlantic Avenue and Boston’s Harborwalk.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Advance ticket purchase is recommended, especially during peak travel seasons and school holidays. Walk-up tickets may be available based on capacity.

How long does the Boston Tea Party tour last?

The tour experience at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum lasts 1 hour. We encourage you to spend additional time in our museum gift shop and Abigail’s Tea Room.

Is the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum tour suitable for children?

Yes. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum offers a family-friendly, interactive experience that engages visitors of all ages, including children. The guided tour features live historical reenactments, interactive exhibits, fully restored vessels, and opportunities for children to participate, learn, and throw tea into Boston Harbor! Our gift shop also features gifts and souvenirs for guests of all ages.

What private tours and group tours are available?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum offers a range of options beyond standard admission for group tours and private events. Museum visitors can book group tour rates for large parties. The museum is also a highly popular destination for school groups. For more information regarding group tours and school visits, email us.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Abigail’s Tea Room are also spectacular settings for private functions. The historical ambience and waterfront views transform any event, cocktail reception, or meeting into a truly memorable experience.

What are the best photo spots at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is one of the most photogenic locations in all of Boston. Whether you’re throwing tea into Boston Harbor, exploring the wharf, or sipping tea in Abigail’s Tea Room, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum offers the chance to take some truly incredible shots. We recommend snapping some photos at the Samuel Adams statue on the museum’s front plaza and, of course, taking iconic shots while throwing tea from one of our ships. During your visit, photos may be taken in the Meeting Houses, ships, open-air decks, gift shop, and tea room. Please note that no photography or video recording may take place inside the museum.

What are the most popular exhibits at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum?

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum boasts a robust collection of historical artifacts and interactive exhibits. The highlight of our collection is the Robinson Tea Chest — the only known surviving tea chest from the Boston Tea Party. The museum experience also features a series of interactive displays, talking portraits, and films, helping to educate, engage, and entertain.

What historical figures will I meet at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum?

Throughout the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum tour experience, you will meet several historical figures of colonial Boston. In addition to several Sons & Daughters of Liberty, you will meet patriot leader, Samuel Adams, and may even hear from King George III!

What is Abigail’s Tea Room, and can I visit it without a ticket?

Abigail’s Tea Room is a delightful café and tea room that offers visitors a place to eat, drink, and relax during their visit to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. No museum ticket is required to visit Abigail’s Tea Room, making it a great stop for both museum guests and visitors exploring the area.  Abigail’s Tea Room offers a wide assortment of food and beverage options, including a tea tasting experience where visitors can drink the 5 teas involved in the Boston Tea Party. Guests hoping to continue their learning after finishing their interactive museum tour will be thrilled to find that Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace also holds several historical exhibits, artifacts, and text panels, as well as historic table games to play as you sip your tea.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The museum is wheelchair accessible, including exhibit spaces and restrooms. Please note that given our unique nautical environment, movement through the site involves gangways, ramps, and some tight spaces. Our museum building includes an elevator for your convenience. While we have two ships on-site, only 1 is fully ADA- accessible. Our ship Eleanor is fully ADA accessible with ramp access to the top deck and video displays to convey content and information regarding the spaces below decks. Tours that board the Eleanor begin at either the top or bottom of the hour. For better wheelchair access and accessibility please book a tour at one of these times.

Guests with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact the museum ahead of their visit for specific accommodations.