Sights and sounds of downtown Quincy unfold with new audio tour of historical spots
QUINCY − Visitors to Hancock Cemetery, Old Town Hall, the crypts of two presidents and other notable spots in downtown Quincy now have access to an audio tour to put the historical sights and sounds of the city into perspective.
More than a dozen new signs bearing QR codes and headphone imagery have been posted at sites of historical significance. Those on a self-guided walking tour of Quincy can either scan the QR code with their smartphone to access the audio or stop by the city's visitors center to pick up an audio device and headset.
The city partnered with Guide-ID, the same audio vendor that provided guides for George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia and the USS Midway in San Diego, to bring the tour to Quincy. Paying the vendor and making the signs cost about $5,000, and all other work − including sign installation, audio voiceovers, design and marketing −was done by city employees, tourism director Dagny Ashley said.
In a statement, Mayor Thomas Koch said, “The new audio tour will provide visitors a glimpse into the past as they stand before these historic locations and help enrich their understanding of the local history,”
Quincy’s Hancock-Adams Common includes fountains, statues of Founding Fathers and granite and brick walkways that provide insight into the city's days as a blue-collar haven for granite mining. The common is surrounded by the Church of the Presidents, the final resting place of the Adams presidents; the Hancock Cemetery, one of Massachusetts' finest Colonial burial grounds; and Old Town Hall, one of the oldest operating municipal buildings in the country.
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"This new audio guide gives both residents and visitors alike the opportunity to access the variety and richness of this incredible place at the heart of Quincy Center," Bob Damon, Quincy's public historian, said.
There are 17 spots on the tour, including the granite sphere in front of city hall, the tomb of John Hancock and several statues. Two mobile app-based tours are also available at mapmyvisit.com/listen/HeartofQuincy.
The welcome center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and will close on Veterans Day − Friday, Nov. 11 − for the season. The self-guided audio tour will remain open year-round for those using their own devices. For more information, visit discoverquincy.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy launches audio tour of downtown historical sites
