Take a Walk on Boston’s Amazing Freedom Trail
One of the top attractions in Boston and a good way to see many historical sites quickly is to follow Boston’s Freedom Trail. This trail runs 2.5 miles through the city and is marked with a red brick path. The path leads to 16 historical sites scattered around the city. It’s an absolute must when visiting Boston for the first time.
Some of the attractions you will see along Boston’s Freedom Trail include Paul Revere’s house, the Bunker Hill Monument where you can climb to the top, Faneuil Hall (which hosted America’s first town meeting), USS Constitution, and Old North Church.
Boston Common
Boston Common is the most popular place to start your walking tour. This is where you can find the Freedom Trail visitor information center. Established in 1634, Boston Common is America’s oldest public park. You will find a variety of activities and events, including theater and musical performances, hosted here throughout the year.
Massachusetts State House
On the corner of Beacon and Park Street adjacent to Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House has served as the seat of the Massachusetts government since its opening in 1798. The dome was originally constructed of wood shingles and later replaced with a copper coating. Today, the dome shines in the sun, thanks to a covering of 23-karat gold leaf.
Park Street Church
The church was founded in 1809, at the corner of Park and Tremont Streets, atop the site of Boston’s town grain storage building, or granary. Designed by Peter Banner, the 217 ft. steeple of Park Street Church was once the first landmark travelers saw when approaching Boston. The church also established one of America’s first Sunday School programs.
Address – One Park Street, Boston, MA
Granary Burying Ground
The Granary Burying Ground features just over 2,300 gravestones and tombs, it is estimated that 8,000 people are buried here, including many early American Patriots. The burying ground was ablaze with fall color.
King’s Chapel & Burying Ground
King’s Chapel was founded in 1686 as New England’s first Anglican church. The interior of the 1754 stone chapel is considered the finest example of Georgian architecture in North America. The church houses the oldest continuously used pulpit in America, installed over 200 years ago! John Winthrop, Massachusetts’ first governor, and Mary Chilton, the first woman to step off the Mayflower, are buried in the cemetery. Established in 1630, it is the oldest graveyard in Boston.
Boston Latin School Site & Benjamin Franklin Statue
Boston Latin School, founded on April 23, 1635, is the oldest public school in America. It offered free education to boys – rich or poor – while girls attended private schools at home. A mosaic and a statue of former student Benjamin Franklin currently mark the location of the original schoolhouse. He attended classes there not long before he dropped out of school entirely. It’s now a Ruth Chris Steak House. The Boston Latin School had some interesting alumni including Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock.
Old Corner Bookstore
The Old Corner Bookstore is in Boston’s oldest commercial building. It was built in 1718 as an apothecary shop and home. It then became the center of American book publishing in the mid-1800s. Here, publishers, Ticknor and Fields introduced the world to well-known American writers, such as Louisa May Alcott and Mark Twain. Saved from demolition in 1960, the building’s lease to Chipotle Mexican Grill helped subsidize important historic preservation projects in Boston’s neighborhoods.
Old South Meeting House
This is the place where the Boston Tea Party came into existence. Colonists gathered at the Old South Meeting House to protest a tax on tea and started a revolution with the Boston Tea Party. From outraged protests over the Boston Massacre to the night when Samuel Adams gave the secret signal to throw crates of tea into Boston Harbor, colonists assembled at the meeting house to challenge British rule. Colonists first heard the Declaration of Independence here. It still serves as an active meeting place today. The Old South Meeting House was the stage for some of the most dramatic events leading to the American Revolution.
Old State House
The Old State House was the seat of British colonial power in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was the center for passionate debate, as Boston patriots developed the revolutionary idea of self-government. When the people of Boston first heard the Declaration of Independence read from the Old State House balcony, they tore down the lion and unicorn statues, symbols of royal authority, in defiance of the King. The Old State House stands as the oldest surviving public building in Boston.
Boston Massacre Site
On March 5, 1770, directly outside the Old State House, a group of locals protested over the town’s occupation by British forces. The crowd became a mob, and the soldiers opened fire, fatally wounding five Bostonians. A historical site marker at the corner of State and Congress Streets, just outside the Old State House is right in the middle of a busy street, so watch the traffic.
Faneuil Hall & Quincy Marketplace
Often referred to as “the home of free speech” and the “Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall hosted America’s first Town Meeting. The Hall’s vital role in revolutionary politics had not been part of its original plans, but it became home to an intricate collection of events that shaped the nation’s history.
This is a great place to grab lunch. Dozens of vendors offer everything from oversized pretzels to Clam Chow-da. Its famous cobblestone streets are home to a mix of shops, restaurants, and pubs.
Before you go, be sure to check out the amazing street performers outside of the hall. From magicians to jugglers to clowns to mimes, there are incredibly talented people here.
Address: 4 S Market St, Boston
Union Oyster House
The Union Oyster House is one of the oldest restaurants in the United States and the oldest in continuous operation since it opened. Have lunch or dinner at the Union Oyster House, it’s a great place to eat in Boston.
Paul Revere House
Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House, owned by the legendary patriot from 1770-1800, is the oldest remaining structure in downtown Boston and also the only official Freedom Trail historic site that is a home. Paul and his family lived here when he took his infamous midnight ride. Today the house is the site of a museum.
Old North Church
This is the site that launched the American Revolution! The Old North Church is the oldest public worship building (1723) in Boston and is best known for the midnight ride of Paul Revere. “One if by land, two if by sea.” Paul Revere’s statue immortalizing his historical ride is nearby.
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is the final resting place and burying ground of merchants, artisans, and craftspeople who lived in the North End. To prepare for the Battle of Bunker Hill, British soldiers used Copp’s Hill gravestones for target practice.
USS Constitution
The USS Constitution is the oldest naval vessel still afloat. A British sailor once remarked that her sides were made of iron. Cannonballs fired at the Constitution appeared to bounce off.
Today “Old Ironsides” is docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard and is free to visit. You can board the ship and go down below to the lower decks. This site also includes a small museum and cruises around the harbor.
Bunker Hill Monument
The Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, was the first major battle of the Revolutionary War and predicted the character and outcome of the rest of the war. You can take the 294 stairs to the top if you have energy. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking view from the top. The monument marks the end of the Freedom Trail.
Boston’s Freedom Trail is just one of the must-dos when visiting Boston. Check out our Three Day Boston Itinerary for more ideas on what to plan for your visit.
Information gathered from the Official Freedom Trail Brochure.
Have you walked the Freedom Trail? Comment below with your favorite story of your day on the trail.
