Financial District in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The Boston Massacre

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, August 16, 2014

1. The Boston Massacre Marker

Inscription.
On March 5, 1770, in the street before you, nine British soldiers were confronted by an angry mob.

"The soldiers did fire without orders and killed five of his Majesty's good subjects...How fatal are the effects of posting a standing army among a free people!"

Samuel Adams' description of the Boston massacre and Paul Revere's engraving of the scene fueled public outrage, and helped arouse revolutionary fervor of colonists all over America.

Diagram showing where bodies fell, after a sketch by Paul Revere made at the time. (The Old State House is at the bottom.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1712.

Location. 42° 21.528′ N, 71° 3.424′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in the Financial District. It is at the intersection of Devonshire Street and State Street on Devonshire Street. Marker is near the Old State House. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boston MA 02109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Historic Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of the First Meeting House in Boston Built A.D. 1632 (a few steps from this marker); The Old State House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Old State House (a few steps

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from this marker); The Freedom Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Magoun Counting-House Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Norman B. Leventhal Walk to the Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); John Winthrop - First House in Boston Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain Robert Keayne (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.

Also see . . . Boston Massacre. “Amid ongoing tense relations between the population and the soldiers, a mob formed around a British sentry, who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. He was eventually supported by eight additional soldiers, who were subjected to verbal threats and repeatedly hit by clubs, stones and snowballs. They fired into the crowd, without orders, instantly killing three people and wounding others. Two more people died later of wounds sustained in the incident.” (Submitted on March 4, 2017.)

Site of The Boston Massacre image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, August 16, 2014

2. Site of The Boston Massacre

The Old State House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, August 16, 2014

3. The Old State House

Engraving of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere image. Click for full size.

Via Wikipedia Commons, circa March 28, 1770

4. Engraving of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere

Wikipedia: This famous depiction of the event was engraved by Paul Revere (copied from an engraving by Henry Pelham), colored by Christian Remick, and printed by Benjamin Edes. The Old State House is depicted in the background. “Engrav'd Printed & Sold by Paul Revere Boston.”

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,523 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 28, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on May 23, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.