In addition to " the official records created by Massachusetts state government , " the archives " counts among its treasures the state ’s own copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights , the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution , the ... 1629 charter of Massachusetts Bay , and Revolutionary and Civil War records . It also has numerous documents signed by the likes of George Washington , John Adams , and John Hancock , as well as treaties made with Native American tribes , and slave and witchcraft records . There are also many artifacts , including Paul Revere ’s engraving plate of the Boston Massacre , and military accouterment from the Civil War to World War I. " The Archives operates the Commonwealth Museum to educate and display some of its collections of important documents about state and national history . The main permanent exhibit is entitled " The Massachusetts Experiment in Democracy : 1620 – Today " , and traces the Massachusetts experience through the Colonial , Revolutionary , Federal , and 19th century reform periods . The sub-theme , “ Tracing our Roots , ” tells the story of four representative Massachusetts families of Native American , English , African-American and Irish heritage . The museum also features changing exhibits of state history from its collections . Admission is free
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
Massachusetts Archives