In one and a half miles our immigration walking tour covers four-hundred years of migration and political controversy. You will relive the events that made Boston the “Beacon on the Hill”.
In the 17th Century immigration was encouraged with lucrative land grants. These early settlers will become the brahmans of the 18th and 19th Century intent on restricting immigration.
The influx of the Irish Famine from 1845-1863 intensified the debate. Our own Henry Cabot Lodge Sr., with an ear to Theordore Roosevelt will lead the anti-immigration effort of the second half of the 19th Century. His successes were unraveled by the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy leading to the current debate in the 21st Century.
We will highlight specific events that will catch your breath; the orphanage fire, the fireman’s riot, the immigrants effort to save the union during the Civil War and the economic and demographic conflict between the poor.
The Immigration Story 