The boston Massacre

You work for a fictional future government agency called CARPA (Chronological Advanced Research Projects Agency) and are charged with recovering lost connections between elements of an historical archive that has become fragmented.

Play online below or Get the VR game

stream from your computer or chromebook Get the VR game

(Not streamable on a mobile device)

BostonMassacre_Image

Key scenes & locations

Paul Revere’s Workshop

Learn what motivates Boston’s secret resistance network, the Sons of Liberty. Students discover Revere’s legendary engravings and gleaming Liberty Bowl, unlocking clues to the Patriot perspective on the British occupation and the Boston Massacre.

The Royal Exchange Tavern

Eavesdrop on the customers at this Boston tavern as they debate the shocking events of March 1770. Students hear competing eyewitness accounts based on real court testimony and gather evidence to explain the tension between soldiers and civilians.

Boston Jail

Uncover the perspective of British soldiers stationed in a hostile colonial outpost far from home. Students read the account of Captain Preston, the officer on duty the night of the Boston Massacre, and reflect on conflicting depictions of the British occupation.

Learn how to teach a TimeSnap in your own classroom

Meet the Characters

Director Wells

Director Wells

The mission commander and guide, Director Wells is always there to share her insights and answer questions. Wells helps students make sense of the virtual world and reflect on their mission goals.

Listen to my thoughts

Paul Revere

Paul Revere

Paul Revere, an engraver and silversmith, was a member of the Sons of Liberty. Through Revere, students learn about anti-British feeling in Boston and Revere’s role in shaping the story of the Massacre.

Listen to my thoughts

Ropewalk Tavern Customer

Ropewalk Tavern Customer

This tavern customer works at Gray’s Ropewalk, the site of a recent brawl between workers and soldiers. His thoughts reveal to students the complexity of soldier-civilian relations before the Massacre.

Listen to my thoughts

Loyalist Tavern Customer

Loyalist Tavern Customer

This tavern customer was an eyewitness to Boston Massacre. Based on courtroom testimony, his recollections introduce students to conflicting accounts of events the evening of March 5, 1770.

Listen to my thoughts

Patriot Tavern Customer

Patriot Tavern Customer

This tavern customer has been stewing over a notice published by Captain Preston in the Boston Gazette. From him, students discover the depth of public feeling about the Massacre.

Listen to my thoughts

Tavernkeeper

Tavernkeeper

The tavernkeeper longs for the days before political tension turned Boston into a powder keg. Her perspective reveals to students the toll occupation has taken on the city and hints at Boston’s smuggling tradition.

Listen to my thoughts

Captain Preston

Captain Preston

Thomas Preston, Captain of the 29th Regiment, sits in jail, brooding on the murder charges against him. Students must weigh his account of the Massacre against his need to prove his innocence.

Listen to my thoughts