Learn about the building of the dry dock, its importance to the 19th and 20th century U.S. Navy, and the dock’s history with “Old Ironsides”, the first warship to enter the dock on June 23, 1833. This tour has steep and long flights of stairs in and out of the dry dock. It's not recommended for children younger than age 10; close-toe shoes are a must. The tour is limited to 25 people.

Meet at Hood Milk Bottle Park, 308 Congress Street, in Boston 12 p.m. UPDATE: This event will happen rain or shine, so come prepared.

The Fort Point Channel is a remarkably intact example of Boston's prosperous industrial past. Join the Boston Landmarks Commission for an architecture and history tour of the district. You'll discover the fascinating history and architecture that made this district the center for production and distribution of various goods. 

Learn about the history of this Boston Landmark, and the new uses planned for the farm. Historic Boston Incorporated, the Urban Farming Institute of Boston, the Trust for Public Land, and the North Bennet Street School have been working collaboratively to rehabilitate the circa 1786 Fowler Clark Farm.

The Vicar of the Old North Church has two occupations, as spiritual leader of a North End congregation and as director of one of the most famous historical sites in the nation.  Have you ever thought about the occupational hazards involved in leading two distinct, but intertwined institutions? The Rev. Stephen Ayres is both the vicar of the Old North Church and the Executive Director of the Old North Foundation. Vicar Ayres has led thousands of worship services, preached over one thousand sermons, married nearly a hundred couples, baptized over a hundred babies, and presided over dozens of funerals.  At the same time, Vicar Ayres has helped transform the Old North Church from a brief stop on the Freedom Trail into a respected and professional historic site that teaches history and civic values to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Questions to be addressed in the lecture include:  What is a vicar and what does that occupation entail?  How do the values inherent in a spiritual calling impact the practice of managing a historic site?  And, given the American tradition of separation of church and state, how can one person occupy a sacred and secular calling at the same time without going crazy or at least driving his spouse crazy?

Afterwards, please join us for an outdoor reception in the Washington Courtyard while hearing about Old North’s upcoming projects.

Meet at the Government Center MBTA stop at 11 a.m.

Boston's Financial District has been a powerhouse of industry for centuries. While the only thing that's constant in this district is change, clues to the district's past are all around us. Join the Boston Landmark Commission for a walking tour filled with facts about the neighborhood's architecture and history spanning colonial days to modern times.

Tour the annotated display of photographs and other images highlighting the group's achievements. May is Preservation month, a great time to learn about the organization's efforts and accomplishments in preserving what we love about Brighton and Allston.

Food and drink will be provided.

Learn about an ambitious initiative to transform and restore a former Jewish mortuary chapel in East Boston into a state-of-the-art exhibit hall on the history of immigration in the Boston area. The center will provide an inspiring context for exploring the experiences of Jewish, Irish, Italian, and other immigrant groups who came through the Port of Boston during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Prior to 1825, the Bay Village area consisted of mudflats created by Back Bay tides. Once construction of a dam was authorized and the land drained, construction began almost immediately. Early deeds restricted height and construction materials, and as a result, the major streets tend to be visually similar; red brick was the building material of choice, often with a granite foundation.

Most Bay Village buildings were constructed between 1825 and 1899 and represent a variety of architectural styles, ranging from Federal to Greek Revival to Victorian. In addition there are examples of Art Deco buildings found in the neighborhood. The Bay Village Historic District was created in 1983 to preserve this unique Boston neighborhood.

The free tour begins at the Eliot Norton Park, at Charles Street South and Tremont Street.

The Back Bay is a miracle of preservation, one of the largest examples of Victorian and Edwardian residential architecture in the United States. This walking tour takes a look at some examples of wonderful architectural compositions. The event is presented by the Architecture Committee of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) and BackBayHouses.org. 

This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, please email architecture@nabbonline.com. The event is limited to 30 participants.