Boston Freedom Trail AR Tour: Relive 1776 in Augmented Reality

You operate a Revolutionary War field cannon using hand-tracking technology.

Relive 1776 is a 5-part augmented reality tour along Boston's Freedom Trail where a live English-speaking guide walks you through key historical moments from 1765 to 1775. Historical figures and artifacts appear in the real world in front of you using AR headsets and tablets. Three major events include interactive hand-tracking, letting you try on colonial fashion and fire a historically accurate cannon. The tour lasts around 2 hours and ends at Bunker Hill.

The experience

What does it mean to see history happen in front of you? On this tour, you meet Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams under the Great Elm Tree in Boston Common, then follow a series of events that led to the founding of America. The AR technology overlays historical figures and artifacts onto the real Freedom Trail, so you're walking through actual Boston streets while the past unfolds around you. Because it uses augmented reality instead of virtual reality, you see the world at all times: no headset nausea, no safety concerns.

Each of the five experiences lasts 5 to 15 minutes and includes a 1-minute video. Three of them put you in an AR headset with hand-tracking: you'll try on colonial fashion, interact with historical moments, and operate a field cannon the way a Revolutionary soldier would have. The other stops use tablets provided by the tour company, so everyone gets the full AR experience without needing a headset the whole time. A live guide walks the entire route with you, explaining the context and keeping the group moving together.

The tour ends at Bunker Hill, the final stop on the Freedom Trail. You'll receive a reusable tea bag souvenir with a discount card: a nod to the Boston Tea Party. Strollers and prams work fine for families with infants or small children, and service animals are welcome. The meeting point is Boston Common, where public transportation options are nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• Meta Quest AR headsets and tablets for all AR experiences.
• live guide in English walking the entire route.
• five interactive AR experiences including hand-tracking cannon operation and colonial fashion.
• reusable tea bag souvenir with discount card.

Options for this experience

2 options

Without walking, AR only (lasts 30 min)Guide in English · Available from 1 Jun 2027Lasts 30 minutes: This choice lets you bypass the walking route and instead take part in our virtual experiences at one location, led by a guide.

Full Freedom Trail: Relive 1776 with an Immersive Augmented Reality TourGuide in English · Available from 1 May 2027

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h, from US$ 30 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 202711 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 8 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by See Reality Boston

Is this one for you?Choose the full Freedom Trail tour if you want to walk the historic route itself and understand how each AR moment connects to the actual landscape. Pick the AR Only option if you're short on time or prefer to focus on the interactive experiences without the longer walk.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if I don't want to wear the AR headset the whole time?

Three of the five experiences require an AR headset for hand-tracking interactivity, but the other two stops use tablets instead. The tour guide will hand you a tablet at those points so you still see the AR content without the headset.

How long is the Relive 1776 tour?

The full Freedom Trail tour takes around 2 hours. Each individual AR experience lasts 5 to 15 minutes, with walking and guide commentary between stops.

Can I do just the AR experiences without walking the whole Freedom Trail?

Yes. The AR Only option runs 30 minutes and focuses on the AR experiences without the full walking tour of the Freedom Trail.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the AR headsets, tablets for AR experiences, a live English-speaking guide for the full 2 hours, and a reusable tea bag souvenir with a discount card. You'll need to get yourself to the meeting point at Boston Common.