Finding Boston’s Hidden History

The city of Boston is well-known for its role in American history and abounds with architectural artifacts from some of the country’s most significant periods.

In this two-part session, learn how Boston’s City Archaeologist and author of Boston’s Oldest Buildings and Where to Find Them, Joe Bagley tracks down the city’s oldest buildings and important historic spaces. Travel through the city streets, discover the history that hides in plain sight, and follow Bagley’s adventures including literal dead ends, strange bricks, vague deeds, and tragic wills that ultimately reveal the diverse stories of these rare survivors. Discover the oral and unwritten histories key to investigating LGBTQIA history, the underground railroad, and Native spaces.

Bagley reveals the methods and techniques for researching old buildings and properties throughout the United States and addresses the prioritization of more inclusive and diverse historic preservation resources. Attendees will come away with a stronger understanding of how and why determining what’s “historic” is so important to telling all of our country’s stories.

This program will be recorded and available for late viewing by those who register.