THE NORTH END HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The North End Historical Museum brings 400 years of neighborhood history to life through immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and rare artifacts. From the 1630 Colonial period through the revolutionary 1700s, the immigration era of the 1800s, to today’s vibrant “Little Italy,” visitors journey through the rich tapestry of the North End. The museum is operated by the North End Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010.

- THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The North End Historical Museum brings 400 years of neighborhood history to life through immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and rare artifacts. From the 1630 Colonial period through the revolutionary 1700s, the immigration era of the 1800s, to today’s vibrant “Little Italy,” visitors journey through the rich tapestry of the North End.

  • Explore the founding of one of America’s oldest neighborhoods. Interactive displays bring to life the Puritan settlement, colonial commerce, and the diverse communities that shaped the North End before the Revolution.

  • Walk in the footsteps of Paul Revere. The North End was the birthplace of the American Revolution. See artifacts and stories from the Old North Church, the midnight ride, and the patriots who launched a nation.

  • Experience the waves of immigration that transformed the North End. From Irish and Jewish communities to the Italian families who created the vibrant “Little Italy” we know today. Photographs, oral histories, and personal artifacts tell their stories. Outside the museum, The Noble Journey sculpture at St. Leonard Church memorializes the families who built this community.

  • Celebrate 125+ years of Italian American culture, traditions, feasts, and community spirit. From the famous religious societies and street festivals to the restaurants and families that make the North End Boston’s most beloved neighborhood.

Entrance to the North End Historical Museum with a black sign above the door displaying the museum's name in white capital letters. The building features a brick exterior with a wooden door and glass double doors under the sign.

The interactive Museum encourages visitors to explore the history of the North End, taking into consideration the changing boundaries of the North End over time, which have in the past included the Mill Pond area, Faneuil Hall and the Waterfront, and up to Scollay Square and the West End. Throughout time, the North End was an essential stepping stone for millions of immigrants from many different countries. Their emotional and inspiring stories are told through a series of interactive and immersive experiences.

This dream is made possible by Frank DePasquale of DePasquale Ventures. Frank is a North End leader who cares deeply about our iconic neighborhood. “The NEHS has demonstrated it is the perfect non-profit organization to build and operate a museum for our beloved North End.” Frank DePasquale invested in NEHS’s mission by purchasing the first-floor condo space at 3 Prince Street and provided a 10-year lease free arrangement with only triple net operating costs by the NEHS. In addition, The Honorable Aaron Michlewitz, North End Massachusetts Representative and Chairman of the House Ways & Means has arranged a substantial grant for the Museum because of its cultural importance to the community.

An older man with gray hair stands in front of a brick building with a wooden door, leaning against it, and holding a beige bag. To his left is a large window with decorative metal bars and a mailbox on the wall.
Two men standing in front of a brick wall with a sign that reads 'North End Historical Society.'
The entrance to the North End Historical Museum features a dark gray sign with white lettering above a modern glass door. To the left of the door, a small wooden door with decorative carvings is visible. The building's exterior is a mixture of red an
A visitor uses the Step Into Another Time touchscreen at the North End Historical Museum, the introduction that opens the visit.
Visitors at the main gallery's wall of interactive screens at the North End Historical Museum.
Two visitors at a Big Picture screen showing a historic North End church steeple.
Two visitors at the wall of portraits and street photography of North End families.
Spirit of the North End playing on the full-height projection wall, opening on a rooftop view of the neighborhood and harbor.
Summer feast footage with American and Italian flags on the museum's projection wall.
Visitors at the screen telling the story of the 1969 Prince Spaghetti ad filmed on Prince Street.
Two visitors reading the Italian Service Units panel about Italian prisoners of war hosted by North End families in 1944.

- THE EXHIBITS

Journey through 7 immersive installations that bring 400 years of North End history to life.

  • Your orientation to the museum experience. Step into the story of Boston’s most iconic neighborhood.

  • An interactive chronological journey through North End history, from 1630 to today. Touch screens, multimedia, and rare artifacts guide you through the centuries.

  • Immigrant stories and personal narratives from the people who shaped this neighborhood. Hear their voices, see their faces, and walk in their footsteps.

  • A geographic exploration of the changing North End boundaries across 400 years. Watch the neighborhood transform before your eyes.

  • Notable achievements and milestones from one of America’s oldest neighborhoods. Discover the firsts that happened right here.

  • Community voices and personal connections. Residents past and present share what the North End means to them.

  • The culture, character, and living spirit of the neighborhood. From the feasts to the families, experience what makes the North End unlike anywhere else. Discover how Boston’s North End was settled in 1630, becoming one of the first urban neighborhoods in British North America. Learn about the diverse communities that called it home before the Revolution.

3D floor plan of an exhibit with labeled sections including 'Intro,' 'Time Machine,' 'Stories of the North End,' 'Map,' 'North End Firsts,' 'Reflections of the North End,' and 'Spirit of the North End.'

Below is a virtual tour of our exhibits and Museum.

What visitors say

“After not visiting Boston’s North End for nearly fifteen years, discovering the North End Historical Museum was like finding a hidden treasure. From the moment I walked inside, I was impressed.

This is not your typical neighborhood museum. It is a beautiful, state-of-the-art, interactive facility where the history of Boston’s legendary North End comes alive. With the touch of a screen, you can explore different periods in the neighborhood’s history, discover the stories of its people, and gain a deeper appreciation for one of America’s most iconic immigrant communities. It is informative, engaging, and exceptionally well done.

What impressed me even more was learning that this extraordinary museum became a reality largely through the vision, generosity, and dedication of the North End community itself. That says something very special about a neighborhood that has never forgotten its roots.

As an Italian American, I found the experience both educational and deeply moving. Walking through the exhibits brought back memories of my own family’s journey and reminded me once again of the courage, sacrifice, determination, and faith that built not only the North End, but communities throughout America.”

Frank Zappala, museum visitor

Ready to walk through 400 years of history? Plan your visit for hours, directions, parking, and public transit options.

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MEET OUR MUSEUM TEAM

A dedicated team of historians, operators, and community organizers working together to document, preserve, and share the North End's rich cultural heritage with visitors and neighbors alike.

A man with glasses and a beard sitting on a rooftop balcony during sunset, with buildings and the sky in the background.

Elizabeth Michalak

Elizabeth Michalak has been contracted by the North End Historical Society to organize and facilitate volunteer staffing for the Museum. Originally from Michigan, Elizabeth moved to Boston in 2010 and has made her home in the North End for the past 16 years, drawn to its sense of closeness, shared responsibility, and care for neighbors. She brings strong organizational experience, most recently as Assistant Director of Facilities and Operations at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and has served on the Executive Committee of the Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers as Co-Chair of Audience Engagement. Elizabeth will coordinate greeters, guides, and behind-the-scenes volunteers.

Communications and Experience Coordinator

A woman with straight, dark red hair smiling indoors with a warm background.

Justin Demetri

Justin Demetri is the Director of Operations at the North End Historical Museum. His great-grandfather was a founder of the Madonna Della Soccorso Society, the North End's Fishermen's Society, before the family moved to Gloucester to continue in the fishing industry. Justin holds a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in History, and spent six years as a maritime historian at the Marine Science and Heritage Museum, leading tours, research, and programs. He received the 2021 Massachusetts History Alliance Star Award and served as the on-screen expert for the Emmy-winning CBS-Boston documentary Love & Grease, about Gloucester's fishing heritage and the Greasy Pole Contest at St. Peter's Fiesta.

Director of Operations at the North End Historical Museum

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Get Involved! The NEHS is thrilled that the North End will have its own Museum that will exhibit the 400 years history of this most iconic neighborhood from the 1630 Colonial period through the revolutionary 1700's into the 1800's immigration era to today vibrant "Little Italy."

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