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John J. Moakley Courthouse Tour Request Form
Contact: Cora MacDonald or 617.748.9641 John Adams Courthouse Tour Request Form John Adams Courthouse School Guidelines Contact: Vicky Kruckeberg or 617.557.1031 Discovering Justice provides tours of both the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse on Fan Pier and the John Adams Courthouse, home of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, located near the Massachusetts State House. Tours are available to both public groups and individuals. The tours are free of charge by appointment only. Tours will introduce visitors to the history, art, and architecture of the buildings and include information about the court system. Tours are recommended for ages 10 and above. Both buildings are ADA accessible. |
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A diverse group of lawyers, retired teachers and experienced museum guides serve as volunteer docents (tour guides). All have completed intensive training and continue to attend sessions on art, civic education, and the court system. For more information on the Courthouse Tours program, click here. | |
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Please read the following for more information about each courthouse tour program. John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse Tours are available by appointment year-round Tuesday - Friday between 9:30am and 4:00pm. The courthouse is closed on all federal holidays. During the hour long tour, groups will view several points of interest, including the spectacular conoid glass wall overlooking Boston Harbor, the Ellsworth Kelly Boston Panels, the Wall of Honor, a Federal Distric courtroom, and the First Circuit Library. The tour will allow visitors to draw connections between the founding of the federal courts and the art and architecture of the modern courthouse. Many groups will have the opportunity to experience the American Judicial system first hand by observing a live court session. Visitors are also welcome to stay and eat lunch in the public cafeteria overlooking the harbor. Theater performances produced by Discovering Justice Through Theater, are available for a fee. These live interactive performances by professional actors are staged in a courtroom and focus on significant events in Massachusetts history. The plays reinforce the notion of courtrooms as places of drama, in which ideas are debated and imporant legal decisions are made. An additional 1 - 1.5 hours are needed to add this option to a tour. Directions to the Moakley Courthouse John Adams Courthouse Tours are available by appointment Monday - Friday from 9:30am - 4:00pm. Tours are generally one hour long. The building is closed on all state, local, and federal holidays. The John Adams Courthouse is a historic nineteenth century building and one of Boston's architectural gems. It is the home of the state's highest court, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court and the Social Law Library. Named after a native son, famous patriot, author of the Massachusetts Constitution, and second president of the United States, the John Adams Courthouse is steeped in legal history, art and culture. Guided tours include the magnificent Great Hall and its Exhibit Rooms, the Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Courtroom and the beautiful Seven-Justice Courtroom of the Supreme Judicial Court. Current exhibits include: John Adams: The Law, the Nation, and the Massachusetts Constitution and The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti: Justice on Trial. Arrangements can often be made to have a judge, court official, or attorney meet with your group. This provides an opportunity for questions and answers to give participants a better understanding of the Massachusetts legal system. If you are interested in this option, please allow for an additional 30 minutes in the courthouse, and mention it when scheduling your tour. Every year a certain number of school groups in underserved communities are able to combine their tours with a free theatrical performance at the courthouse. Please contact Discovering Justice at 617.557.1031 for additional information and eligibility requirements. Directions to the John Adams Courthouse
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