My wife and I went into Boston yesterday for the 4th of July. I wanted to tell you about our visit to the (new) Boston Tea Party Museum.
http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/ The Boston Tea party, which took place on the night of December 16th, 1773 is explained in detail by living history (costumed) docents who first bring you into an antichamber to assign everyone to an historical character who had some part to play during the real Boston tea party.
Once you understand your role the docents then start to explain the sentiments of the townsfolk regarding the series of British taxes that are being levied on the population but without any representation in Parliament. References are made to the Magna Carta (if I am not mistaken) as having set this down as a citizen right. Visitors learn about the words "huzzah" and "fie" and many other aspects. The Free Mason's are briefly referenced as the "Sons of Liberty". The Green Dragon Tavern is not referenced. During this preamble, you then are given a quill (feather) with the date of the tea party on it as a symbol of the American Indian disguise that was used by the Sons of Liberty.
Next, off to the sailing ship, The Beaver, which is where you see some replica containers of tea that have the most interesting icon on them which represents the East India Company. Another one of the 3 ships, The Eleanor, is also at dock. The 3rd ship, The Dartmouth, is not yet at the site.
After this, you enter a building on the wharf and you see a holigraphic type of exchange by 2 towns-women, one a Patriot and one a Tory, who talk about the Tea Party the next day (December 17th, 1773).
Next, you enter a gallery where one of two original tea crates is shown. Here, you'll find a second holigraphic style exchange is featured which is strikingly good. It has a British Officer speaking about the tea party event as well as a counter spoken by a Patriot.
Next you move to a room where visitors are brought through the events of April 18th and 19th 1775. I thought this film was very well done and look forward to hearing your thoughts. When the Redcoats fire a volley you feel a brisk WHIFF of air brush your head or cheek!
Great tea room even on a hot 90 degree F day! There is also a large commercial store, too, that you will find enjoyable to explore.
Overall, the experience is great for tourists who have no exposure to this key event that helped drive the populace into further rebellion and triggered the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
For CCC members, I am quite sure that you'll find something to interest you, but the overall goal of the education is to get the first-timer acquainted with the site of the event and paint a picture that indicates that the populace of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts invented the ideas that drove us to rebel and eventually achieve... LIBERTY !!!
p.s. The Beaver, Eleanor and Dartmouth…
To fully tell and understand the story of the Boston Tea Party, a flotilla of all three ships is necessary. With only the Beaver at the site of the museum for so many years, many people have the impression there was only one ship that was off-loaded during the Boston Tea Party. The new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will illuminate the importance and the significance of this historic event with replicas of all three ships involved. On the night of the Boston Tea Party, three ships that had sailed from London carrying cargoes of British East India Company tea were moored in Boston Harbor. The vessels were built in America and owned by Americans. The Beaver and the Dartmouth were whalers, and the Eleanor was a full rigged ship.
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Phil Wilson, General
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It is good to hear the opinions of someone, such as yourself, a native of the area and a person who has extensive knowledge of the subject matter. It also seems like they make good use of traditional museum displays, mixed with some small living history, interaction and technology. Anyway to engage people into a somewhat better understanding is good.... 
