Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, but please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your needs.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children are welcome, but the content is best suited for teens and adults interested in LGBTQ history.

How large are the private groups?

Private tours typically accommodate up to 12 participants for a comfortable, personalized experience.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Tours proceed rain or shine; please dress appropriately. In extreme weather, we may reschedule or offer a refund.

Can I take photos during the tour?

Photography is encouraged, but please be respectful of other guests and private properties.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts and ends at centrally located, easily accessible points in downtown Boston.

Explore Boston’s Vibrant LGBTQ Past Walking Tour

Discover the compelling stories of Boston's LGBTQ+ community on this private walking tour hosted by Boston By Foot. Journey through neighborhoods and landmarks that trace a history of activism, resilience, and celebration spanning decades. You'll hear about key events and influential figures whose courage helped shape the city’s inclusive spirit. This experience offers a unique way to understand Boston's evolving social landscape through firsthand narratives and visits to sites often overlooked in traditional tours. Whether you’re a local or visiting for the first time, the tour invites you to engage with Boston’s diverse cultural fabric while walking comfortably through historic streets. Along the way, your knowledgeable guide shares insights into the struggles and victories that have defined queer life here, highlighting the ongoing importance of community and acceptance. This private tour focuses on personal storytelling, inclusivity, and uncovering the city’s LGBTQ+ past in a respectful, engaging manner. It’s a meaningful way to connect with Boston beyond its well-known landmarks while supporting a local company passionate about preserving and celebrating local history.

About Boston By Foot

Boston By Foot presents guided walking tours across Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods and hidden corners. The organization offers a diverse calendar of small-group, interpretive walks that interpret local architecture, social history, and urban change. Tours range from neighborhood explorations—Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fort Point and Seaport, East Boston—to thematic programs on Art Deco design, the Gilded Age, and literary and revolutionary-era stories.

Many tours run about 1.5 hours and focus on primary sources, built environment, and human stories. Highlights include an in-depth look at the Back Bay land reclamation and Victorian townhouses; a Fort Point and Seaport walk tracing industrial waterfront change; a Beacon Hill series that covers dramatic social history and seasonal Boo! tours; and specialized walks such as Johnny Tremain’s Colonial route and a Black Voices program centering nineteenth‑century writers.

Guides prioritize historical accuracy, site-based interpretation, and respectful treatment of difficult subjects. Public programs accommodate adults, families, and students and are suitable for visitors seeking cultural context and local insight. The organization’s tours serve as an accessible introduction to Boston’s layered past, from Indigenous Shawmut Peninsula history through immigration, reform movements, and urban redevelopment. For travelers and residents alike, these guided walks offer structured storytelling, architectural observation, and connections between past and present.

Tours are updated regularly to reflect new research and changing city landscapes. Interpretive materials and route notes emphasize primary sources, archival research, and on-site evidence to give visitors a grounded, evidence-based experience. Many guides are local historians and long-term residents who know the neighborhoods intimately.