978 Historical Boston Illustrations

Vintage engraving of Boston, Massachusetts, from Bunker's Hill, 19th Century

Illustration of a The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773

Antique illustration

Illustration of a Boston, Massachusetts

Crowd of people reading about the Stamp Act in Boston, Massachusetts (circa 1765), USA. Vintage etching circa 19th century.

"Vintage engraving of showing the Darthmouth in Boston Harbour, which was one of the ships involved with the Boston Tea Party, a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, a city in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the tax policy of the British government and the East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies."

Vintage engraving of Faneuil Hall, Boston, USA, 19th Century.

Vintage illustration of Washington Street, Boston, USA, 1850s, 19th Century

From Peculiarities of American Cities 1883

Steel engraving Boston Massachusetts State House USA Graveur : Kilburn Original edition from my own archives Source : "Kings Handbook of Boston" 1883

The Old Corner Bookstore in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Vintage etching circa late 19th century. At this time it was the home of Ticknor and Fields, one of the most important publishers in American history.

Vintage illustration of Old Elm Tree on Boston Common, USA, 1872, Victorian 19th Century

This illustration of Boston Harbor, a view looking out to sea, appeared in a German encyclopaedia. At the time of publication the population of Boston was 250,000, which dates this view to 1880 at the latest. Mention of a Newsletter that ceased publication in 1879 confirms this date. Title: Nr. 1721 Boston (This title includes the illustration number.) The features shown include the Bunker Hill Monument (obelisk on the left hand side) with, close by, two of the railway lines that were built to ferry granite to the monument as it was built (1827 - 1843). Amongst the multitude of three-masted sailing ships is one steamship, suggesting (perhaps) a date later than 1870.

Portrait of Edwin Upton Curtis (May 26, 1861 – March 28, 1922), mayor (1895–1896) and Police Commissioner of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Photograph published 1896. Original edition is from my own archives. Copyright has expired and is in Public Domain.

Engraving of the The Funeral Cortege at Boston, Massachusetts of the Soldiers Killed at Baltimore Civil War Engraving from "Famous Leaders and Battle Scenes of the Civil War," Published in 1864. Copyright has expired on this artwork. Digitally restored.

Vintage engraving of map of a victorian cycle route around Boston and the surrounding area, 19th Century

Vintage illustration of Tremont Street and Park Street Church, Boston, USA, 1850s, 19th Century

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775 by John Trumbull (circa 18th century). Vintage etching circa 19th century.

Image from 1896 showing the Boston Massacre in 1770 which was part of the American Revolutionary War.

Warren's Common School Geography 1877

Illustration from 19th century.

Historical view of the Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the New State House, is the state capitol and seat of government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. The building houses the Massachusetts General Court (state legislature) and the offices of the Governor of Massachusetts. The building, designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, was completed in January 1798, and has repeatedly been enlarged since. It is considered a masterpiece of Federal architecture and among Bulfinch's finest works, and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural significance. Steel engraving, published in 1836.

Hand drawn buildings of Boston USA

British soldiers shot and killed American colonists March 5, 1770, who rebelled against English rule in Boston, Massachusetts. Illustration published in The New Eclectic History of the United States by M. E. Thalheimer (American Book Company; New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago) in 1881 and 1890. Copyright expired; artwork is in Public Domain.

"Vintage engraving from 1861 showing Colonists under the Liberty Tree. The Liberty Tree (1646aa1775) was a famous elm tree that stood in Boston, near Boston Common, in the days before the American Revolution. The tree was a rallying point for the growing resistance to the rule of Britain over the American colonies."

Boston Harbor has been an important port in American history. It was the site of the Boston Tea Party, as well as almost continuous building of wharves, piers, and new filled land into the harbor until the 19th century.

Vintage engraving of the Boston Tea Party. A political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The demonstrators, some disguised as Native Americans, in defiance of the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company.

The Green Dragon Tavern was a public house located on Union Street (then known as Green Dragon Lane) in Boston in the 1800’s. The Boston Tea Party was planned there and Paul Revere a Mason was sent from there to Lexington on his famous ride.

"A print by Geo. Virtue of London, a publisher who specialised in engravings of a very high standard, using some of the best artists of the day. The series was published c1839 and featured American scenes. This scene is of Boston and Boston Harbour from the fortifications on Dorchester Heights."

Historical aerial view of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Wood engraving, published in 1893.

Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere's Ride sketch of a sculpture by artist James E Kelly, Trenton, New Jersey. Illustration engraving published 1896. Original edition is from my own archives. Copyright has expired and is in Public Domain.

A set of Boston themed icons. See below for more travel images and other city and country icon sets. If you can't see a set you require, message me I take requests!