Explore the real-world places that appear in The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Massachusetts State House, Harvard University, Trinity Church, Boston Common, Fenway Park and 7 more.
Beacon Hill — Seat of Gilead's government
The golden dome of the former Massachusetts State House now serves as the seat of Gilead's totalitarian government. Aunt Lydia conducts meetings here with the Commanders and other high-ranking officials. Agnes observes the imposing building during her rare ventures into the city, understanding it as the source of all the oppressive laws that govern her life in Gilead.
Built in 1798, the Massachusetts State House was designed by Charles Bulfinch and has served as the seat of Massachusetts government for over two centuries. Its distinctive golden dome has been a Boston landmark since 1874.
The State House remains the working seat of Massachusetts government, offering free public tours. The building houses the governor's office, the state legislature, and historic artifacts including artifacts from the Revolutionary War period.
Visit: Massachusetts State House (historic site)
Cambridge — Now Ardua Hall training facility
Harvard's historic campus has been transformed into Ardua Hall, the primary training facility for Aunts in Gilead. Aunt Lydia runs the institution with an iron fist, training young women like Agnes to become proper Wives or Aunts. The libraries hold forbidden books that Aunt Lydia secretly accesses, and the underground tunnels become crucial to the escape route that helps Daisy and Agnes flee Gilead.
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is America's oldest institution of higher education. The Cambridge campus has been home to countless scholars, presidents, and Nobel Prize winners throughout American history.
Harvard University continues to operate as one of the world's most prestigious universities. Harvard Yard and many of the historic buildings are open to the public for tours, and the campus remains a major tourist attraction in Cambridge.
Visit: Harvard University (historic site)
Copley Square — Mandatory religious services
Trinity Church serves as one of Gilead's primary religious centers where Agnes attends mandatory services with other young women. The soaring architecture and stained glass windows provide a backdrop for the twisted religious ceremonies that reinforce Gilead's oppressive ideology. Agnes finds both beauty and terror in the space, knowing that the sermons justify her subjugation.
Trinity Church, completed in 1877 and designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, is considered a masterpiece of American architecture. The Richardsonian Romanesque style church has been a cornerstone of Boston's Copley Square for nearly 150 years.
Trinity Church remains an active Episcopal parish and major tourist destination. The church offers regular tours showcasing its stunning architecture, La Farge stained glass windows, and rich history as one of America's most beautiful churches.
Visit: Trinity Church (historic site)
Downtown Boston — Public executions and ceremonies
Boston Common has been transformed into a site of public terror in Gilead, where executions and punishments are carried out before crowds of citizens. Agnes is forced to attend these grisly spectacles as part of her education about the consequences of disobedience. The once-peaceful park becomes a symbol of Gilead's brutal control over its population.
Established in 1634, Boston Common is America's oldest public park. For centuries, it served as a community gathering place, public grazing ground, and site of political rallies and protests throughout American history.
Boston Common remains a beloved 50-acre public park in the heart of downtown Boston. Visitors enjoy walking paths, the Swan Boats, monuments, and seasonal activities. It's the starting point for the Freedom Trail and hosts concerts and festivals year-round.
Visit: Boston Common (park)
Fenway-Kenmore — Repurposed as detention center
The famous baseball stadium has been converted into a massive detention and processing center for Gilead's enemies and refugees. Daisy learns about the horrors that take place here through the underground network, and the facility represents how Gilead has perverted beloved American institutions for its own totalitarian purposes.
Fenway Park opened in 1912 and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use. Known for its iconic Green Monster wall, the park has been home to the Boston Red Sox and countless historic baseball moments for over a century.
Fenway Park continues to serve as home to the Boston Red Sox and hosts concerts and other events. The historic ballpark offers tours year-round, allowing visitors to see the Green Monster, Pesky's Pole, and other famous features.
Visit: Fenway Park (historic site)
Waterfront — Underground Railroad escape route
Boston Harbor serves as the primary escape route for the underground network helping people flee Gilead. Aunt Lydia coordinates with the Mayday resistance to smuggle Agnes and Daisy out of the country via cargo ships. The harbor represents hope and freedom, as refugees make their dangerous journey to safety in Canada.
Boston Harbor has been central to American history since colonial times, from the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to serving as a major immigration port. The harbor islands served various purposes including fortification, quarantine stations, and Civil War training grounds.
Boston Harbor is now clean and vibrant, offering ferry services to the Harbor Islands, whale watching tours, and waterfront dining. The Boston Harborwalk provides public access along much of the shoreline with stunning views of the city skyline.
Visit: Boston Harbor (landmark)
Charlestown — Gilead propaganda site
The historic monument has been repurposed by Gilead as a propaganda site celebrating the regime's supposed restoration of American values. Agnes is brought here during her education to learn the twisted version of American history that Gilead promotes, where the founders' vision allegedly supports their theocratic state.
The 221-foot granite obelisk was erected between 1825 and 1843 to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the first major battles of the American Revolution fought on June 17, 1775.
Bunker Hill Monument is managed by the National Park Service and is free to visit. Visitors can climb the 294 steps to the top for panoramic views of Boston, and the nearby museum tells the story of the famous Revolutionary War battle.
Visit: Bunker Hill Monument (monument)
Harvard Yard — Aunt Lydia's secret archive
Within Harvard's Widener Library, Aunt Lydia maintains her secret archive of forbidden books and documents from before Gilead's rise. She uses this hidden collection to gather intelligence and plan her eventual testimony against the regime. The library's vast holdings represent the knowledge and freedom that Gilead seeks to destroy.
Built in 1915 as a memorial to Harry Elkins Widener who died on the Titanic, Widener Library housed Harvard's main research collection and was once the largest university library in the world, containing over 3.5 million books.
Widener Library remains Harvard's flagship library and one of the largest academic library systems in the world. While the stacks are restricted to Harvard affiliates, the building's neoclassical architecture can be admired from Harvard Yard.
North End — Underground Railroad meeting point
The historic church serves as a secret meeting point for the Mayday resistance network. Its religious cover provides perfect camouflage for underground activities. Daisy and other refugees receive instructions here before their dangerous escape attempts, and the church's history of resistance resonates with the modern fight against tyranny.
Built in 1723, Old North Church is Boston's oldest surviving church building. It gained fame when church sexton Robert Newman hung two lanterns in the steeple on April 18, 1775, signaling that British troops were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea.
Old North Church continues as an active Episcopal parish and major tourist destination on the Freedom Trail. Visitors can tour the historic building, see the famous bell tower, and learn about its role in the American Revolution.
Visit: Old North Church (historic site)
Cambridge-Boston border — Dangerous crossing point
The Charles River serves as a crucial but dangerous crossing point for those attempting to escape Gilead. Refugees must navigate the river under cover of darkness, and several key scenes involve characters using small boats or swimming across. The river represents both a barrier to freedom and a pathway to liberation.
The Charles River has flowed through the Boston area for thousands of years, serving as a transportation route for Native Americans and later European settlers. The river became central to Boston's development and industrial growth.
The Charles River is now a recreational centerpiece of Boston and Cambridge, with the Charles River Esplanade offering walking and biking paths. The river hosts crew races, including the famous Head of the Charles Regatta, and provides scenic views of both cities.
Visit: Charles River Esplanade (park)
Government Center — Gilead's propaganda center
Once known as the 'Cradle of Liberty,' Faneuil Hall has been converted into a propaganda center where Gilead broadcasts its messages and holds public indoctrination sessions. Agnes attends mandatory rallies here where Commanders deliver speeches about Gilead's mission and the dangers of the outside world.
Built in 1741 and expanded in 1805, Faneuil Hall earned the nickname 'Cradle of Liberty' for hosting meetings that helped organize the American Revolution. Samuel Adams and other patriots delivered fiery speeches here against British rule.
Faneuil Hall continues to host meetings and events while serving as a major tourist attraction. The building houses a museum on the upper floors and remains an active part of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace complex.
Visit: Faneuil Hall (historic site)
East Boston — Heavily guarded border checkpoint
Logan Airport has been transformed into a fortress-like border checkpoint where Gilead controls all movement in and out of the territory. The airport represents both the impossibility of easy escape and the tantalizing proximity of freedom for those desperate enough to attempt it. Security is overwhelming, with Guards and Eyes monitoring every movement.
Boston Logan International Airport opened in 1923 and grew to become New England's largest airport. It gained tragic prominence as the departure point for two of the four hijacked flights on September 11, 2001.
Logan International Airport remains Boston's primary airport, serving millions of passengers annually with domestic and international flights. The airport has been extensively renovated and expanded, featuring modern terminals and ground transportation connections.
Visit: Logan International Airport (landmark)
More by Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid's Tale locations map · All Margaret Atwood books
More novels set in Boston: Browse all Boston books on Map A Story
Other nearby maps: Happy Place by Emily Henry locations map · How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell locations map · Finders Keepers by Stephen King locations map · The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson locations map