Do this because

Discover how, after the revolution, access to education created the perfect environment for innovation, converting Boston into the beating heart of American innovation.

Your National Geographic-trained guide will reveal the stories behind groundbreaking Boston innovations like Technicolor, ice shipping, Polaroid, and smallpox treatment.

Hear lesser-known tales of science and innovation, from famed figures like Alexander Graham Bell to unsung heroes who greatly impacted our history.

Visit the Verizon Museum of Communications, not usually open to the general public, the Massachusetts General Hospital, where you can step inside a 19th-century operating theater – the very place where anesthesia was first used, and the MIT campus, learning about its illustrious alumni.

Access

Immerse yourself in the destinations and attractions you explore through exclusive access and hands-on experiences based on National Geographic’s existing relationships around the globe.

Knowledge

Discover the world through the lens of National Geographic as National Geographic-trained guides and local experts share their knowledge and passion of the places and locations you visit.

Give back

Experience meaningful explorations with a commitment to sustainable tourism, with all tours meeting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria and a portion of proceeds dedicated to fund research.

Local immersion

Become inspired to care about the planet and its people by gaining a deeper understanding of the communities and inhabitants of the places you visit through interaction and insights into their daily lives.

Storytelling

Be a part of the story of each destination you visit through the unparalleled content and research from National Geographic you’ll be exposed to, making you reflect on different current realities.

What to expect

While Boston is renowned for its Freedom Trail, it also boasts an Innovation Trail showcasing the city's history of technological and scientific advances. Both Boston and neighboring Cambridge have been at the forefront of world-changing discoveries for centuries, from the invention of the telephone to medical breakthroughs. On this walking tour through Boston, you will visit significant sites of innovation and discover stories of famous figures like Alexander Graham Bell, and lesser-known pioneers who shaped our world.

Starting in downtown Boston you’ll visit a "lost museum" of communication history that isn't ordinarily open to the public, the Verizon Museum of Communications. As well as a re-creation of Alexander Graham Bell's lab, the museum houses a variety of antique telecommunication devices. Next, you will stop at Massachusetts General Hospital, where you can step inside a 19th-century operating theater – the very place where anesthesia was first used. Crossing the Longfellow Bridge into Cambridge, visit the MIT campus and learn about its illustrious alumni.

Throughout the tour, your National Geographic-trained guide will reveal the stories behind groundbreaking achievements like Technicolor, ice shipping, Polaroid, and smallpox treatment, which all feature Boston in their histories. Tales of science, technology, and innovation are often overshadowed by Boston's revolutionary past, but by following this trail you are celebrating the city's continuous spirit of change, a testament to the societal shifts and educational opportunities that fostered a hub for groundbreaking ideas in the modern world.