This Halloween season, Boston's Old North Church offers visitors an in-depth exploration of history through after-hours crypt tours according to Masslive. These tours stem from an expanded version of their regular crypt visits and provide a fresh way to delve into the past.
The Old North Church resumed these tours in August following a thorough nine-month restoration of their crypt as reported by Masslive. Running from October 26th to October 31st, these after-hours events promise to deliver a unique, spine-tingling experience steeped in the crypt's 1700s atmosphere as stated in Old North Church article.
Well-known for Paul Revere's famed lantern signal, the Old North Church, established in 1723, retains an essential part in U.S. history according to Masslive. Originally leading to a graveyard, it started to convert underground space into tombs in 1732. This site became the final resting place for over 1,100 individuals, with burials occurring from 1732 to 1860 according to Old North Church.
In urging visitors to embark on the tour, Old North Illuminated's Executive Director, Nikki Stewart posed the chilling scenario of entering the 1820s crypt armed only with a candle and surrounded by decomposing bodies as stated in Masslive article. The crypt's inhabitants included Reverend Timothy Cutler, the church's first and longest-serving minister; Captain Samuel Nicholson, the first commander of the USS Constitution; and Major John Pitcairn, a British officer who fell at the Battle of Bunker Hill according to Masslive .
Recent archaeological discoveries made during the restoration also add intriguing dimension to the crypt tours. Notable examples include deteriorating caskets and various stages of decay according to Masslive. Specialist in human osteology and archaeology, Jane Rousseau, pointed out the crypt provides insights into pre-embalming era burial rituals, offering visitors a literal glimpse into the "ashes to ashes" aspect of interment as stated in Masslive report .
As tour-goers delve into the stories behind these remains, the after-hours occasions prompt reflection on our shared human history. Participants will gain not just a detailed understanding of the history of the crypt and its occupants, but also an appreciation for the archaeological treasures unearthed in recent times, fueling their imagination of a time when darkness, mystery, and reverence held sway as reported by Masslive.
