2025 and 2026 are big years for commemorating the beginning of the American Revolution. If you live in the Boston or Philadelphia areas, many reenactment events dot the calendar. Here in Boston, one event in particular is faithfully revisited every year, not just in the round number years.
Door Number 16 spills the tea.
December 16, 2025
252 years ago, a feisty group of American colonists dumped an obscene amount of tea from the cargo holds of docked ships into the icy water of Boston Harbor. Revolution was officially brewing. The grievances of the colonies were many and varied, but that’s not the story I want to tell today. A guy named Ken just released a documentary that covers all that.
Every year the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum partners with Revolutionary Spaces to reenact the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House on December 16, 1773. That’s the night when the resolution not to accept the tea that waited on ships in the harbor was passed. Upon entering the Meeting House, audience members are given a slip of paper that reads “loyalist” or “patriot.” Everyone is encouraged to join in the haranguing of the speakers according to the party they were assigned. It’s a blast!
After the resolution is passed, a chorus of “To the harbor!” erupts, with periodic interjections of “Huzzah!” The assembled body then follows the cry to the street and begins walking in a parade of sorts from the corner of Washington and Milk Streets to Congress Street which leads straight to the harbor. Huzzah!
The walk is a little more than a half mile, which is one way to keep warm on a cold night. The route is peppered with reenactors dressed as groups of Red Coats, patriots, and loyalists. Barbs are thrown back and forth along with more cheers and further encouragement to get to the harbor.
Once the crowd reaches the Harborwalk area across the channel from the museum where the replica ships are docked, the second part of the reenactment begins: the destruction of the tea! 116 men tossed 342 chests into the harbor on that fateful night. The reenactors do make it look like a lot more fun than it probably was the first time.
As you go through your day today, keep the spirit of 1773 in the back of your mind. Make a big deal out of not drinking tea. Shout “Huzzah!” periodically. If asked where you’re going, reply “To the harbor!” Propose a toast to revolting Bostonians. Explain yourself if you must, but it’s a lot more fun if you don’t.
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