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Tours/Field Trips

The Sons of Liberty Tour
Paul Revere's North End Tour
The Combination Tour

Classroom Presentations

School Reservation Form

Free Audio Book

MP3 Download

Bonus Materials for School Groups

Testimonials

"Many of the teachers and chaperones who went have told me this was the best field trip they have ever been on..."

Ellen Horton
Freeman-Centennial School

Bonus Materials for School Groups

"I have to say that in my 15 years of teaching, this was one of the best field trips ever! One can see the passion you have for history. Your props and different ways of getting the students engaged demonstrated a real talent of interpersonal communication skills..." Read more

Stephanie Syre-Hager
Applewild School

"Your book and your tour are phenomenal! The kids loved your visuals and the spyglass was a big hit! The students wrote you thank you cards and they are enclosed. Thanks again, we had a great time..." Read more

Melissa Fleishman
Cohen Hillel Academy

School Programs

Children's book author and tour guide Ben L. Edwards offers unique programs for schools including both tours/field trips and classroom presentations. His extensive knowledge of Boston's history, enthusiasm and sense of humor make his programs highly educational and fun!

Ben's ancestors arrived in Boston over 300 years ago. His book, One April in Boston, tells of his family's connection to the Sons of Liberty and Paul Revere and provides children with valuable lessons in goal setting and patriotism.

Teachers: View a Summary (PDF) of our School Programs.

Listen to the Learn About the Tour audio!

What makes this tour different?
No other Boston walking tour offers school groups greater value.

Tours/Field Trips

Imagine an educational field trip that enables your students to stand where history actually happened. Add a private tour guide with a personal connection to Boston's past and a special ability for conveying its rich history to children of all ages. Walking Tours of Historic Boston provides your school with this opportunity and so much more.

Ben Edwards is the only tour guide in Boston who shares original colonial-era documents and newspapers, and reveals fascinating, little-known stories about early Boston life passed down in his family for over 200 years.

Two tours are offered for school groups and they may be combined together (at substantial savings) with a lunch break in between at historic Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market.

The Sons of Liberty Tour

On this tour you will be introduced to early Boston and walk in the footsteps of some of its most distinguished citizens including Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. You'll learn more about the patriot cause, the story of their secret organization, and the events that lead up to the American Revolution.

Along the route, you will see the Massachusetts State House, Boston Common, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel Burying Ground, King's Chapel, Old Corner Bookstore Building, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of the Boston Massacre, and Faneuil Hall. Learn more about these sites.

Tour length: 90 minutes (10 am - 11:30 am)

Rates

Children (12 & under) $8
Adults $10
(One free chaperone for every 10 students)

Meet at the Park Street T stop, corner of Park and Tremont streets on Boston Common.

Teachers receive a free copy of the One April in Boston audio book on 3 CDs, a $20 value. Also, free access to our exclusive educational materials that support the walking tour.

Students receive free access to download the MP3 version of the One April in Boston audio book, a $14 value. The MP3 audio files can be played on a home computer, burned on 3 CDs or transferred to an iPod. Also, students can read the book for free, a $10 value, with online access to the print version in PDF format.

Use our convenient school reservation form to book your tour today. You may also contact Ben Edwards directly at 617-670-1888, ext. 1 (Write Marketing Group) for further information.

Paul Revere's North End Tour

On this tour you will retrace the footsteps of 10-year-old Ben Edwards, your guide's direct ancestor, and many of the other people in One April in Boston. Young Ben lived just down the street from the Old North Church (Christ Church) in April 1775. You will learn more about the events of April 18-19, 1775 including the lantern signal from the steeple of Old North and Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. Longfellow's poem that made Revere famous will also be discussed.

You will see Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church and Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Learn more about these sites.

Tour length: 90 minutes (12:30 pm - 2 pm)

Rates

Children (12 & under) $8
Adults $10
(One free chaperone for every 10 students)

Meet at the Sam Adams statue at Faneuil Hall.

Teachers receive a free copy of the One April in Boston audio book on 3 CDs, a $20 value. Also, free access to our exclusive educational materials that support the walking tour.

Use our convenient school reservation form to book your tour today. You may also contact Ben Edwards directly at 617-670-1888, ext. 1 (Write Marketing Group) for further information.

The Combination Tour

This economical tour is our most popular. It combines the Sons of Liberty Tour and Paul Revere's North End Tour with a lunch break in between at historic Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. Tour Route (PDF)

Tour length: 3 hours with a break for lunch (10 am - 2 pm)

Rates

Children (12 & under) $10
Adults $12
(One free chaperone for every 10 students)

Student Testimonials

Meet at the Park Street T stop, corner of Park and Tremont streets on Boston Common.

Teachers receive a free copy of the One April in Boston audio book on 3 CDs, a $20 value. Also, free access to our exclusive educational materials that support the walking tour.

New for 2009 All Combination Tour participants receive free access to download the MP3 audio version of "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and a 13-page PDF "Paul Revere's Ride - The Real Story".

School Field Trips for 2009 are almost Sold Out! Only 5 spots remain. Reserve your date(s) today.

Use our convenient school reservation form to book your tour today. You may also contact Ben Edwards directly at 617-670-1888, ext. 1 (Write Marketing Group) for further information.

Teachers: Experience the Children's Book Now

Take a closer look.
There's no cost or obligation.
Just register here.

You'll get immediate access to:

Hear or download one full chapter of the audio book One April in Boston (over
11 minutes).
View pages & illustrations from the book in PDF format.
Discover the fascinating tale behind the story.
Read a copy of Ben's first book written at age 10.

Click to enlarge.

Ben's First Book

Classroom Presentations

Children's book author and Boston tour guide Ben L. Edwards offers classroom presentations that are interactive, educational, inspirational, and fun! Teachers and students alike appreciate his knowledge, passion for history and sense of humor.

Ben discusses his book One April in Boston and shares a copy of the print version with every student. He introduces children to colonial Boston with the aid of photos, engravings, maps, and original period newspapers.

Ben is the only children's book author in New England who gives away the audio version of his book for free to every student in your grade, at your school! See details below.

Students meet the characters in the story including 10-year-old Ben Edwards, the author's direct ancestor, learn about their lives and the events that lead up to the American Revolution. Special focus is given to the Sons of Liberty and their fight against British taxation, and Paul Revere's Midnight Ride.

One April in Boston is the story of an American family and a very special gift that was passed down from generation to generation. This "gift of the spyglass" is given to each child who reads the book and listens to Ben's presentation. Through the story, children learn the value of setting a goal for the future, developing a plan, working hard and never giving up on their dreams. Just like the main character in the book, each child realizes that by utilizing this strategy they can truly be "anything they set their minds to be."

Students learn about the goals Ben had when he was their age and read the first book he wrote about Boston history at age 10. They see how taking small steps, even at a young age, can move them closer to their own goals.

Read Press Coverage of a Recent School Visit (PDF).

Rates

Price: $160 for one-hour classroom presentation
Minimum of 4 classroom presentations per school visit
Travel fees (40 cents per mile) apply to schools outside a 30-mile radius of Boston

Pre Visit Materials:

Teachers are mailed a free copy of the One April in Boston audio book on 3 CDs, a $20 value. Chapter breaks make it ideal for classroom use.

Day of Visit Materials:

New for 2009 All Classroom Presentation participants receive free access to download the MP3 audio version of "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and a 13-page PDF "Paul Revere's Ride - The Real Story".

Testimonials - Learn what teachers are saying about our school visits!

Now accepting school author visit bookings for January-March 2009. Grades three-six. Limited availability.

Use our convenient school reservation form below to book your tour or school visit today. You may also contact Ben Edwards directly at 617-670-1888, ext. 1 (Write Marketing Group) for further information.

School Reservation Form

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