Black Heritage Trail

historical path, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

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The Black Heritage Trail is a historical path in Boston, Massachusetts, that highlights the history of the city's African American community. A key site on the trail is the African Meeting House, built in 1806. It is the oldest standing church for African Americans in the United States and served not only as a place of worship but also as a school and a meeting place for abolitionist movements. It was a center for community life, where significant historical events were planned and discussed. The trail showcases important locations that tell the story of Black Bostonians and their contributions to American history.1

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African Meeting House
Late 19th century to the present
…a stop on the museum’s Black Heritage Trail, a walking tour of Boston that highlights the history of the city’s African American community. Together with the Abiel Smith School, the African Meeting House was declared a National Historic Site in 1974.
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…a stop on the museum’s Black Heritage Trail, a walking tour of Boston that highlights the history of the city’s African American community. Together with the Abiel Smith School, the African Meeting House was declared a National Historic Site in 1974.
Read More