Boston, MA

African Meeting House
DESCRIPTION: Oldest Black church building still standing in America; Thomas Paul led worship services for blacks in Faneuil Hall for many years; then in 1805, due to discrimination, Paul and 20 church members formed the 1st African Baptist Church; though church funds were raised in all communities, the church was built in 1806 with mostly black craftsmen and laborers; the facade of the building is an adaptation of a townhouse design; the meeting house is historically significant for its anti-slavery and political meetings, as well as celebrations; it was remodeled in the 1850's; the New England Anti-Slavery Society was founded here; although it served as a Jewish synagogue for many interim years, it was acquired by the Museum of African American History in 1972 and restored to its 1854 New England classic design; Museum of Afro American History has the most comprehensive collection of history and contributions of African Americans in Massachusetts, including extensive papers from abolitionists, drawings, photographs and art objects from colonial times to present; it also serves as a community forum in Beacon Hill district

ADDRESS: 8 Smith Court  MAP

PARKING: on street

PHONE: 617-742-1854

WEBSITE: http://www.afroammuseum.org

Charles Street Meeting House
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1807 as Third Street Baptist Church, then renamed the Charles Street Baptist Church; in the beginning seating was according to segregationist rules; by the mid-1830's Timothy Gilbert, one of the church's white abolitionist members, challenged the rules and invited several black friends to his pew, he was expelled from the church; Gilbert and friends went on to found Tremont Temple as the 1st integrated church in America; through the years Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, William Lloyd Garrison, and Wendell Phillips spoke here; in 1876 it became the Charles Street AME Church and remained so until 1939, when it was the last Black congregation to leave Beacon Hill; though fully restored today, this magnificent building is filled with offices and retail shops that do not support the relevance of this historic site

ADDRESS: Mount Vernon Street at Charles Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and lots nearby

May Street Methodist Episcopal Church
DESCRIPTION: Samuel Snowden is listed as preacher in a 19th century directory titled "People of Color"; ~1860, May Street was renamed Revere Street and the 1860 edition of The Boston Almanac lists it under Methodist Episcopal on Revere Street, pastor Jenkins Williams; according to history account, the building on Revere Street had fallen into disrepair and was sold in 1903

ADDRESS: Revere Street, exact location unknown  MAP

PARKING: on street

Peoples Baptist Church of Boston
DESCRIPTION: Organized 1805 with twenty members, the church erect its first three-story building in Beacon Hill called the African Meeting House in 1806; through the ministry of Dr. Owens (1936 to 1979) Peoples Baptist Church became known nationally as a leader among black churches

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:45a

ADDRESS: 134 Camden Street  MAP

PARKING: lots nearby

PHONE: 617-427-0424

WEBSITE: http://www.pbcboston.org

Charles Street AME Church
DESCRIPTION: This historic church was the last Black church to move from Beacon Hill in 1939

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8a and 11:15a

ADDRESS: 551 Warren Street  MAP

PARKING: lots nearby

PHONE: 617-427-1298

WEBSITE: http://www.csame.org

Dorchester, MA

Muhammad's Mosque #11
DESCRIPTION: Boston headquarter mosque for the Nation of Islam; founded by Malcolm X in 1954 after his Islamic studies under Elijah Muhammad; Minister Louis Farrakhan also served a stint of leadership at the mosque before moving on to a national leadership position within the NOI

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10a

ADDRESS: 10 Washington Street  MAP

PARKING: on street

PHONE: 617-442-6082
WEBSITE: http://www.noiboston.org