Skip to main content navigation

Our History

Timeline

  • walk sign
    1976
    Boston by Foot is Founded
  • walking tour talk at city hall
    1977
    First class graduates at City Hall with 56 graduates
  • 1977
    Centers of Government & Business Old & New (later Heart of the Freedom Trail) begins as regular tour
  • Beacon Hill Tour
    1977
    Beacon Hill begins as regular tour
  • 1978
    Boston By Little Feet begins as a regular tour
  • people in front of Bostons Old North Church
    1978
    First Boston By Foot graduation at Old North Church
  • people in halloween costume
    1980
    Beacon Hill begins first Halloween tour
  • gathering at cambridge city hall
    1980
    Big Foot Labor day tour begins
  • people watching slides
    1981
    Slide program "The Four Shapes of Boston" debuts
  • 1981 Boston by Foot Brochure
    1981
    Boston By Foot celebrates 5th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 4,215
  • Polly Flansburgh photo portrait
    1982
    Boston Society of Architects recognizes BBF's founder, Polly Flansburgh, with honorary membership
  • Boston by Foot Brochure 1986
    1986
    Boston By Foot celebrates 10th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 4,625
  • Johnny Tremain Brochure
    1986
    Johnny Tremain's Boston begins
  • 1989
    First Candace Ahearn Memorial Award
  • two women sitting in front of a Mac SE
    1990
    Boston By Foot office gets its first computer
  • Harvard Yard
    1991
    Record breaking Big Foot Tour – Unabridged Cantabridge (148)
  • Boston By Foot Brochure 1991
    1991
    Boston By Foot celebrates 15th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 6,022
  • 1994
    The Waterfront begins as a regular tour
  • 1995
    Slide program "The Reshaping of Boston" debuts
  • Boston Harborfest logo
    1995
    Boston By Foot joins Harborfest
  • AIA logo
    1996
    Boston By Foot receives the Institute Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects.
  • Boston By Foot Brochure Explorer
    1996
    Boston Underground (later Reinventing Boston) begins as a regular tour
  • Boston by Foot 1996 Brochure
    1996
    Boston By Foot celebrates 20th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 5,823
  • Screenshot of first Boston by Foot website
    1996
    Boston By Foot launches website
  • Old Corner Bookstore Boston
    1998
    Footloose on the Freedom Trail debuts at Harborfest
  • 1999
    Record breaking Tour of the Month - Big Dig (358)
  • Bostons Old State House
    2001
    Boston By Foot celebrates 25th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 10,163
  • Image of South End Horse and Carriage
    2002
    The South End begins as a regular tour
  • Old Corner Bookstore Boston
    2004
    Literary Landmarks (later Hub of Literary America) begins as a regular tour
  • Boston By Foot Brochure 2006
    2006
    Boston By Foot celebrates 30th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 8,533
  • image of the globe
    2009
    Flansburgh Travel Fellowship begins
  • Tour guides in halloween costume
    2009
    Record breaking Halloween tour (380)
  • Books in a pile
    2010
    Volunteer Book Club "Boston By Book" debuts
  • 2010
    Dark Side begins as a regular tour
  • Boston By Foot Brochure 2011
    2011
    Boston By Foot celebrates 35th Anniversary
    Tour attendance of 13,184
  • 2012
    True Lies and False Facts: A Questionable Tour of Boston begins
  • Boston Skyline from the Charles River
    2012
    Architecture Cruise begins as a regular tour
  • View of the Green Dragon Pub in Boston
    2013
    Road to Revolution begins as a regular tour
  • 2014
    Boston By Foot honors Polly Flansburgh with a plaque at Angell Memorial Park
  • Boston Architectural College Logo
    2014
    Polly Flansburgh receives an honorary Doctorate Degree in Community Engagement from the Boston Architectural College
  • Boston Book Festival Logo
    2014
    Boston By Foot debuts at the Boston Book Festival
  • 2015
    Record breaking tour attendance 15,027
  • Boston By Foot 40th anniversary logo
    2016
    Boston By Foot celebrates 40th Anniversary
Trip Advisor Travellor's Choice Awards Winner 2024