Old North Church Unveils ‘Unearthing Childhood’ Exhibit

Special to the Regional Review

With summer tourism underway, the Old North Church Historic Site is set to welcome an influx of visitors, particularly families eager to explore Boston’s rich history. In anticipation, the Freedom Trail site has opened a new exhibit, Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids, which shines a light on the lives of the children who lived in the North End over three centuries.

Childhood offers an exploration of childhood in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, told through the stories of seven real children from diverse backgrounds who lived in the North End. The exhibit features archaeological artifacts on loan from the City of Boston’s Archaeology Program, along with interpretive panels, short videos, and interactive elements designed to bring history to life for young visitors. There is also a collage of family photos submitted by North End families past and present.

In collaboration with local historians and experts, Old North Illuminated, which operates Old North Church Historic Site, created this exhibit to engage families in a way that highlights not just toys and games, but encourages intergenerational conversation. The exhibit offers a unique lens on how children from various backgrounds lived and learned, providing a rare glimpse into their daily lives.

“Through this exhibit, we aim to bring a diverse set of childhood experiences to light, showing both the similarities and differences between the past and present,” says Catherine Matthews, Director of Strategy & Special Projects at Old North Illuminated.. “As young visitors get to know these seven children through their stories, see the artifacts, or play with toys and games, they are encouraged to think about how lives have changed — or remained the same — over centuries. It’s this sense of connection to the past that we hope will inspire families to reflect on their own stories and shared histories.” 

Many of the artifacts featured in the exhibit were carefully selected by Kline alongside Sarah Keklak, Archaeology Lab Manager. These objects were recovered from significant sites around the North End, including the Paul Revere House campus, the Unity Court tenement buildings, and the Parker-Emery House on Unity Street. Notable items include marbles, dolls, children’s dishware with Franklin’s Maxims, and even a rare 18th-century writing slate used by schoolchildren. Still other items come from Old North’s holdings.

Many of these artifacts, such as dolls and marbles, were commonly used in children’s play. The exhibit also highlights items like cooking tools and sewing accessories that show how childhood was often intertwined with domestic labor. By including children from a wide range of backgrounds, including the stories of Susana Clough, the daughter of a master mason; Ruth Humphries, a free Black girl forced into servitude; Benjamin Gowan, a working-class boy who attended Sunday school to learn to read; and Adolfo Dondero, an Italian-American teen who translated for his immigrant parents, Old North seeks to provide a multi-faceted look at childhood in early Boston. This exhibit is open to all, with free admission to ensure economic accessibility for families. 

“Exhibits like Unearthing Childhood help change how we understand both the past and archaeology itself,” says Kline. “While many people may not see themselves in the traditional stories of ‘great men,’ they can connect deeply with the lives of children who lived, played, and learned like today’s kids. By engaging children with history, we hope to spark their curiosity and foster a new generation of young people who may someday explore archaeology or history as fields of study.” 

The exhibit is housed in the historic 1715 Clough House, one of Boston’s oldest brick residences, which is located behind Old North Church at 21 Unity Street, Boston. In addition to the new exhibit, the Clough House is home to a unique retail space, Heritage Goods + Gifts. Inspired by Unearthing Childhood, Heritage Goods + Gifts offers vintage toys and games that were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, including marbles, dominoes, jacks, and building logs. Visitors can also find archaeology kits, gardening tools, arts and crafts, specialty foods, sweet treats, and more.