Boston Literary History Walking Tours
Walk in the footsteps of literary history…
Boston has a such a rich literary history, from the first printing press in the Colonies to fostering authors and literary movements that changed the world.
Our history continues to inspire the great literary community that thrives in Boston today. It’s the past and present continuing on in parallel.
Explore that rich history today by walking in the footsteps of writers and literary luminaries that came before.
Ink & Cobblestones:
A Boston Literary History Tour
Walk through Boston’s literary history, from 18th century bookstores, to 19th century literary movements, to 20th century poets.
On this tour, you’ll learn about the writers who lived on Beacon Hill, Boston’s literary firsts, the oldest library in Boston, the hub of 19th century publishing, the site of the first bookstore in Boston, and some literary inspiration from a graveyard.
Guided by Jessica A. Kent, writer and founder of Literary Boston, this 90-minute walk connects Boston’s past to its present — from the salons and presses that shaped the city’s literary voice, to the communities still writing its next chapter.
You’ll walk away with a greater understanding of Boston’s literary history, as well as the experience of being in the same place where some of America’s greatest authors once stood.
Tour Details
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: $20 pilot rate
Group Size: Capped at 10
Location: Beacon Hill to Downtown
Terrain and accessibility: Hilly and uneven — bring appropriate shoes and stamina!
Weather: Tours run rain or shine — come prepared for New England weather! (In the case of very inclement weather, refunds or changes in booking will be offered.)'
Dates and Booking: Coming soon!
Your Tour Guide
Hi! I’m Jessica, and I’m the founder of Literary Boston, which I started in 2012 as a place as a website where people could find everything there was to know about the Boston literary community. But you could say that Literary Boston may have truly started on a trip to Walden Pond in 1999. I fell in love with the literary history of Boston then and I’m still fascinated with it today, so much so that I’ve made it a pillar of my work on Literary Boston.
For the past 25 years, I’ve been studying Boston literary history, from structured study in academic programs to reading historical markers all over the city. Now, I want you to know about our rich literary past, too.
A little bit more about me:
I’m a freelance marketing writer by day and creative writer by night. I’m the founder of Literary Boston, a website that covers the local literary community, and other past literary roles include library assistant, bookseller, and book festival director. I hold a BFA in Creative Writing from Emerson and a Master’s in Literature from Harvard, where my thesis on Moby-Dick and Calvinism won the Director’s Prize. My short fiction has appeared the North American Review, the Emerson Review, and others, and has received the Leah Lovenheim Award for Short Fiction. I recently graduated from GrubStreet's Novel Incubator program, where I’m working on a novel about paramedics in 1970s Boston.
If you would like to book me for a private walking tour, contact me through the form on the “About” page.