Old State House (site of the Boston Massacre)

Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in Boston and served as the seat of colonial and state government until 1798. The Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770, in front of the building on what was then called King Street; a marker on the plaza commemorates the event. The building now operates as a history museum and is a key stop on the Freedom Trail and part of the Boston National Historical Park. Its Georgian brick façade and wooden cupola are well-preserved examples of early 18th-century public architecture.