Griffin's Wharf

Griffin's Wharf. A pivotal commercial dock in colonial Boston, Griffin's Wharf is immortalized as the primary site of the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. This act of political protest, where colonists destroyed tea belonging to the British East India Company, became a seminal event leading directly to the American Revolution. Though the original wharf was later demolished and the shoreline extended, its legacy is central to the narrative of American independence and is commemorated at the adjacent Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

History

The wharf was constructed in the mid-18th century within the bustling port of Boston Harbor, a key hub in the Atlantic World trade networks. It was owned and operated by the Griffin family, prominent local merchants engaged in the transatlantic exchange of goods like molasses, rum, and tea. Throughout the 1760s and early 1770s, the wharf witnessed increasing tensions as Parliament imposed a series of taxes, including the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act, which sparked colonial resistance led by groups like the Sons of Liberty. The wharf's infrastructure, typical of the era, consisted of wooden piers and warehouses that facilitated the unloading of cargo from merchant vessels, including the famed ''Dartmouth'', ''Eleanor'', and ''Beaver'' in late 1773.

Boston Tea Party

On the night of December 16, 1773, following a massive protest at the Old South Meeting House, a group of colonists, many disguised as Mohawks, descended upon Griffin's Wharf. They boarded the three ships, which were laden with tea from the British East India Company, and over the course of three hours, dumped 342 chests of Bohea and other varieties into the harbor. Key figures associated with the event included Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere, though the identities of most participants were kept secret. This direct action was a protest against the Tea Act and the principle of taxation without representation, and it prompted a severe response from Parliament, including the passage of the Intolerable Acts.

Location and description

Griffin's Wharf was situated on the Atlantic Avenue shoreline of Boston, at the foot of what is now Congress Street, near the confluence of the Fort Point Channel and the main harbor. The original wharf extended into the shallow waters, surrounded by other commercial docks and the warehouses of Merchants Row. The area was characterized by its maritime activity, with shipyards, chandleries, and taverns like the Green Dragon Tavern nearby. Contemporary accounts, including the Boston Gazette, described it as a busy, functional pier, not unlike others in the North End, but distinguished by its deep-water access which accommodated the tea ships.

Legacy and commemoration

The destruction of the tea at Griffin's Wharf instantly became a powerful symbol of colonial defiance, celebrated in pamphlets and orations throughout the Thirteen Colonies. It is commemorated as a foundational event of American identity, directly referenced in documents like the Declaration of Independence. In the 19th century, the site was celebrated by historians such as George Bancroft and became a focal point for patriotic gatherings. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, a floating museum featuring full-scale replica ships, now operates on a reconstructed pier near the historic site, offering reenactments and educational programs about the protest and its role in the coming of the American Revolutionary War.

Modern site

The original footprint of Griffin's Wharf was obliterated in the 19th century by massive land reclamation projects that extended Boston's shoreline, notably during the construction of the Atlantic Avenue thoroughfare and later the Big Dig. The approximate location is now inland, lying beneath the intersections of modern streets and near the Congress Street Bridge. It is encompassed within the Boston National Historical Park and is adjacent to the Fort Point Channel walkways. A plaque and markers installed by the Bostonian Society and the city denote the historical significance, while the surrounding Seaport District has been transformed into a modern neighborhood of offices, residences, and cultural institutions.

Category:Ports and harbors in Boston Category:American Revolution sites Category:History of Boston