Uncovering Northern Truths: A Summer Tour of the Royall House & Slave Quarters in Medford

This summer, step into a powerful chapter of American history with a guided tour of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, Massachusetts. Once the site of a sprawling 500-acre northern plantation, this historic property offers a rare and sobering glimpse into the lives of the enslaved people who lived and labored in the North.

From 1737 to 1775, the Royall family—Massachusetts’ largest slaveholding family—enslaved over sixty individuals on this estate. Today, the museum stands as one of the only remaining freestanding slave quarters in the northern United States, preserving the stories of those whose forced labor sustained the Royalls’ wealth and status.

The tour takes visitors through the first floor of the Slave Quarters and the first two floors of the Royall mansion, focusing on the lived experiences of the enslaved. Through these spaces, guests will explore the complex legacy of northern slavery, the resistance and resilience of Black communities, and the enduring impact of this history on our present.

Click Date to Register:
 Monday, July 7 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
 Wednesday, July 16 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Please Note:
🎟️ Limited Tickets
♿ Accessibility: The first floors of both buildings are accessible to wheelchairs and walkers. The second floor of the mansion is accessible by stairs only.
📅 Cancellations: If you register and later find you cannot attend, please let us know so someone from the waitlist can take your place.

This is more than a tour—it’s an invitation to bear witness, to learn, and to reflect. Join us in honoring the stories that history too often leaves untold.