True Crime Tour of Boston: Serial Killers & Bombing History

Follow the dark chapters written into Boston's streets

This adults-only true crime tour of Boston traces serial killers, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and other criminal history across downtown landmarks with a professional local guide. The tour lasts two hours and covers multiple sites including Boston Public Garden, Copley Square, and the Massachusetts State House. Minimum age is 18; the tour requires moderate physical fitness and involves walking between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Boston's true crime history

• Visit Ether monument in Boston Public Garden
• Learn about Boston Marathon Bombing
• Discover Craigslist Killer haunt at Copley Square
• Explore grave robbing history at graveyard
• Learn about Hitchhiker Killer
• Visit Parkman family bandstand
• Investigate suicide attempt location
• View Charles Ponzi's fraud start site
• See courthouse of youngest serial killer trial
• Explore Mary Dyer statue story

The Experience

The Ether monument in Boston Public Garden opens the tour with the story of the first female serial killer, then moves through downtown to Copley Square and the haunts of the Craigslist Killer. Along the way, the guide walks you through the terror and aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing, grounding the history in the actual streets where it unfolded. You'll hear about the Hitchhiker Killer, who terrorized Boston for eight months in the 1970s, and learn how grave robbing in the 18th and 19th centuries shaped the city's cemeteries.

The tour connects crime to the buildings themselves: the courthouse where the youngest serial killer in American history was tried, the structure where Charles Ponzi launched the fraud that bears his name, the bandstand named after the Parkman family's tale of debt and death. At the Massachusetts State House, you'll stand at the Mary Dyer statue and hear about the woman executed for violating anti-Quaker laws. Each stop is a location, not a lecture hall, so the history lives in the place you're standing.

A professional, knowledgeable local guide leads the two-hour walk and handles the research—the stories are thoroughly vetted. The route stays on public streets and surfaces that are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you need them. This tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, as the pace involves walking between multiple downtown sites.

What’s included

Professional and knowledgeable local guide who leads the two-hour walk; thoroughly researched and accurate history of each site and crime covered.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Boston Ghosts By Us Ghost Adventures

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace across downtown Boston with two hours of walking between stops, so it suits travelers with moderate fitness who want the full story without needing to research it themselves beforehand.

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Top questions

What was the Boston Marathon Bombing and why is it part of this tour?

The Boston Marathon Bombing occurred in 2013 and is included because it is a significant event in Boston's recent criminal history. The tour explores the terror of those days and weeks, along with the bravery that followed.

Who was the Craigslist Killer and where on the tour do you learn about him?

The Craigslist Killer was a notorious criminal whose story is told at Copley Square, one of his known haunts, as part of the tour's exploration of Boston's serial killers.

What is the Ether monument and why does the tour start there?

The Ether monument in Boston Public Garden tells the story of the first female serial killer and serves as the opening stop for the tour's exploration of Boston's criminal past.

How long does the tour take and how much walking is involved?

The tour lasts two hours and involves walking between multiple downtown Boston landmarks, including Boston Public Garden, Copley Square, and the Massachusetts State House. The route is on public streets and wheelchair-accessible surfaces.

Is there a minimum age requirement for this tour?

Yes, this is an adults-only tour with a minimum age of 18, as the content covers mature true crime history including serial killers and executions.

What does the tour say about grave robbing in Boston?

The tour includes a stop at a graveyard where the guide reveals the truth about grave robbing in the 18th and 19th centuries, when cemeteries were frequently raided for less sinister purposes than the name suggests.