Boston's Old South Meeting House and the New Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Present: The 241st Anniversary Boston Tea Party & Annual Reenactment

Reenactors Authenticate the Events of December 16, 1773 that Sparked the American Revolution

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Sep 09, 2014, 10:23 ET

BOSTON, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

TAKING LIBERTIES: Historic Boston recreates the infamous Boston Tea Party on Dec. 16, 2014 in celebration of the 241st Anniversary. This annual reenactment is an opportunity for the public to experience one of America's most iconic public protests which sparked the American Revolution. Reenactors theatrically recreate the evening of Dec. 16, 1773 which begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the historic hall where the colonists met 241 years ago, followed by a lively procession to the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and where the Sons of Liberty destroy actual tea in Boston Harbor. (PRNewsFoto/Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum)

WHAT:	The Boston Tea Party comes alive this December! It's December 16th, 1773 and trouble is brewing in Boston. Presented by Boston's famed Old South Meeting House and the new Boston Tea Party Ships^SM & Museum, the 241^st Anniversary Boston Tea Party Reenactment is an opportunity for the public to experience one of America's most iconic public protests. Reenactors from across New England tell the story of the Boston Tea Party and theatrically recreate the evening of December 16, 1773, which sparked the American Revolution. It all begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the actual historic hall where the colonists gathered to protest British rule 241 years ago. Then, the public joins a lively procession to the waterfront, and witnesses as the Sons of Liberty destroy actual tea in Boston Harbor!

WHEN:	TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 - *the Actual Historic Anniversary!*
	6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

TIMELINE:	6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
	The Meeting of the Body of the People – TICKETED EVENT (Ticket includes access to a reserved viewing area along Boston's historic waterfront for the destruction of the tea)
	Old South Meeting House - 310 Washington Street at Milk Street, Boston, MA

	Ticket holders join an authentic, spirited and theatrical colonial debate at Old South Meeting House to protest the tax on tea and demand liberty from the British crown, just as unprecedented numbers of colonists gathered in this very building more than 240 years ago. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and other Patriot leaders join in a heated debate with crown-loving Loyalists in this final attempt to peaceably resolve the crisis before the midnight deadline. Visitors are encouraged to join the debate, letting their voices be heard in the very place where Boston's most famous act of rebellion began.

	7:30 – 8:00 p.m.
	*Huzzah for Griffin's Wharf!* – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
	Procession from Old South Meeting House to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - Milk Street to Congress Street to Pearl Street

	Led by fife and drums and accompanied by colonial reenactors, the public is invited to march from Old South Meeting House to Boston historic waterfront where Griffin's Wharf once stood along the same route the Sons of Liberty took to Boston Harbor to destroy the tea in 1773!

	8:00 – 8:30 p.m.
	Boston Harbor, a Tea Pot Tonight! – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (Ticket holders have access to a reserved viewing area on the Harborwalk)
	Destruction of the Tea at the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - 306 Congress St. on the Congress Street Bridge, Boston, MA

	The public is invited along with the reenactors to line the shores of Boston Harbor and watch as the Sons of Liberty storm aboard the Brig Beaver and destroy chest after chest of East India tea, just as colonists did 241 years before. In this fully narrated program, the Sons of Liberty board the ship, opening the hold and hoisting tea chests on deck. Tea chests are broken open and actual tea from the East India Tea Company (still in existence) is spilled into Boston's historic waters. Viewers are encouraged to cheer "Huzzah" as each chest is dumped into Boston Harbor as they witness the dramatic conclusion of the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution.

TICKETS:	THIS EVENT SELLS OUT ANNUALLY. GREAT DEALS ONLINE!
	AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 early bird ticket prices are $20/per person ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014 ticket prices jump to General Admission pricing - $25/per person
	To purchase tickets go to: http://gottea.bpt.me or visit Old South Meeting House at 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108. General Admission tickets ($25/person) available for sale at the Old South Meeting House as of September 1, 2014.

	Tickets include admission to the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House and access to an exclusive reserved viewing area on Boston's Harborwalk for the Destruction of the Tea. All ticket proceeds help support Old South Meeting House, a non-profit National Historic Landmark. This event takes place rain, sleet, snow or shine.

	NOTE: Both Old South Meeting House and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will be free and open to the public on Tues., December 16, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOTEL INFO:	INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON, a 424-room luxury hotel located closest and adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, is offering its REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY: BOSTON TEA PARTY PACKAGE starting from only $299.00. This package is valid year-round and includes:

	Deluxe accommodations overlooking Boston's historic waterfront and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Two (2) adult (age 13+) combo tickets with access to both the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Old South Meeting House Two (2) tea infused beverages – choice of RumBa's hard tea rum cocktails (Life & LiberTea or The Tea Act) or hot tea Tea Amenity - Boston Tea Company Connoisseur's Mini Wooden Tea Chest which includes 20 tea bags in five gourmet blends: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Oriental Treasure Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea and Lemon Honey Chamomile Herbal Tickets for two (2) to the 241^st Anniversary Boston Tea Party Reenactment -valid Tues., Dec. 16, 2014 ONLY. Also includes VIP waterfront viewing in front of the InterContinental Boston kiosk along the Fort Point Channel overlooking the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
	NOTES: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open daily and tickets are date specific and include a 1hr show. Shows run daily, every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Fall/Winter Hours) and every 15 minutes 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Spring/Summer Hours). Old South Meeting House is open daily. Spring/Summer/Fall Hours - 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Winter Hours (Nov. 1-March 31) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

	InterContinental Boston will contact guest(s) who booked the package prior to arrival secure ticket dates. Additional tickets can be purchased separately. Package is based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call InterContinental Boston directly at 617-217-5033 or 877-747-BOSTON. The hotel is located at 510 Atlantic Ave.

BOSTON RESTAURANT & BAR SPECIALS (all within easy walking distance to/from the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum):

OFFERED THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2014 -

BARLOW'S, located at 241 A St., will be offering the HARD TEATINI - Sweet Tea Vodka, Cointreau and lemonade - $11
HARPOON BREWERY, located at 306 Northern Ave., will be launching a new Boston Tea Party craft beer in December 2014
RUMBA, a popular and award-winning rum bar located in the InterContinental Boston at 510 Atlantic Ave adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, will be offering:
- LIFE & LIBERTEA - Rum steeped with Earl Grey tea, honey syrup and fresh muddled lemons - $14
- TEA ACT - Rum, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Mathilde Peche, fresh brewed iced tea, fresh muddled ginger and fresh lemon juice - $14

OFFERED THE EVENING OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY ANNIVERSARY/REENACTMENT ON TUES., DECEMBER 16, 2014 -

BARKING CRAB, located at 88 Sleeper St., will be offering THE CRABBY TEA PARTY - one cup of clam chowder, one entree of Harpoon IPA battered fish & chips and a pint of Harpoon IPA - $25
INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON, located at 510 Atlantic Ave, will be opening a heated outdoor bar on the waterfront patio overlooking the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum open from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. offering an array of cocktails and hot toddies such as:
- 1773 - Grand Marnier, Zacapa, Benedictine & Brandy, Khalua, half and half, vanilla extract and hot water - $14
TAVERN ROAD, located at 343 Congress St., will be offering the ROWE'S REVOLUTION - Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Blackberry Syrup and Red Rooibos Tea- $11
SMITH & WOLLENSKY, located at 294 Congress St. adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, will be offering a special BOSTON TEA PARTY REENACTMENT PRIX FIXE DINNER featuring Samuel Adams Boston Lager™ and a multi-course selection of hearty braised dishes from the fall menu- $30

ABOUT OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE:
Old South Meeting House is a non-profit museum and National Historic Landmark dedicated to continuing its proud tradition of free speech and assembly. Built in 1729 as a Puritan meetinghouse, this historic site is a living symbol of our country's quest for freedom and justice. It was here, in this famed National Historic Landmark that liberty found its allies and the American Revolution gained its voice. Within the walls of Old South Meeting House, meeting by meeting, vote by vote, a revolution began. Explore the rich history of the Meeting House through rare artifacts, such as a vial of tea from the Boston Tea Party and a 3-D historic model of colonial Boston. Open seven days a week, the museum's hours are 9:30 am to 5 pm from April 1 - Oct. 31, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Nov. 1 - March 31. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For more information, visit www.osmh.org or call 617-482-6439. Old South Meeting House is located at 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk Street, Boston, MA 02108.

ABOUT BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM:
The Boston Tea Party, "the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution, occurred the night of Dec. 16, 1773. With the grand opening in June 2012, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, owned and operated by Historic Tours of America, is dedicated to accurately reliving and representing a key time in history (1773 to 1775). Through actors, tea throwing reenactments, high-tech interactive exhibits, authentic replica ships: the Beaver and the Eleanor and an award-winning multisensory film, Let it Begin Here. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open 7 day/week from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Summer/Spring) and from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Fall/Winter). Tours run every 30 minutes in the fall/winter and every 15 minutes in the spring/summer and last 1 hr. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum was voted 'Best New Museum' by Yankee magazine in the '2012 Best of New England Issue' and 'Best of the New 2012' by Boston Globe Magazine. To learn more visit www.bostonteapartyship.com or call 1-855-(TEA)-1773. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located at 306 Congress St. on the Congress St. Bridge, Boston, MA 02210.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Stephanie Loeber	Lauren Reddy
Loeber Communications	Old South Meeting House
Ph: 617-510-0577	Ph: 617-482-6439 ext. 15
E-mail: [email protected]	E-mail: [email protected]