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Boston Common – The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common, at the visitor center on Tremont Street (not far from Frog Pond). Shut your eyes and imagine cows grazing on the Common, public hangings, and during the American Revolution, British troops camped here for years on end. |
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Granary Burying Ground – Here’s where Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams, and the victims of the Boston Massacre are buried. Ben Franklin’s parents have a big obelisk, and there’s plenty of family headstones, many decorated with winged death’s heads (a skull and angel wings). Don’t miss the grave of Mary Goose, whose stories became popular as Mother Goose. |
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First Public School and Ben Franklin Statue – Just nip down School Street to check out the statue of Ben Franklin. On this site, in 1635 the Puritans established the first public school in the United States. The school later was called Boston Latin School, attended by Ben Franklin, Sam Adams and John Hancock. |
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Old South Meeting House - On December 16, 1773, Sam Adams addressed the crowd in the Old South Meeting House. At the end of his speech, he said, “This meeting can do nothing more to save the country.” This was a signal for everyone to put on disguises and head over to the wharf, where they tossed chests of tea into the harbor, the Boston Tea Party. |
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Old State House (Museum of Boston History) – Before you go inside, check out the lion and unicorn on the front of the building (the lion and unicorn symbolize the British, who occupied the State House during the revolution). On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony. |
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Inside, there’s a bottle of tea from the Boston Tea Party, cocked hat, musket and pouch from the Boston Massacre, drum, cannonball and sword from Bunker Hill, John Hancock’s red velvet coat, 3-D maps of Boston over the centuries, and hands-on exhibits. |
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Faneuil Hall – Built in 1742, and expanded to include a market on the first floor and meeting hall on the second floor, here the Sons of Liberty held town meetings to debate revolution. And it’s still an active meeting hall today. (When in use, it’s closed to the public, so call 617.242.5642 to find dates to visit.) |
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Out front (near Congress St.), there’s a large bronze statue of Sam Adams, standing with his arms folded. Also, look back to Faneuil Hall to see the gilded grasshopper weathervane on top of the building. According to local folklore, during the Revolutionary War the weathervane was so well known that if you couldn’t identify the grasshopper, you might be considered a spy.) |
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North End – The Freedom meanders through the Italian American neighborhoods of the North End. Stop off for a pizza, or the bakeries for cannolis and Italian sweets, gelaterias for ice cream. |
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Paul Revere House – Paul Revere is most famous for his “midnight ride,” but he was also a successful silversmith and engraver, and set up a business to make cannons. His house dates back to 1680, and Revere had a large family with lots of children. Take the self-guided tour to see a typical kitchen (check out the cooking pots and baby cradle next to the fireplace), and bedrooms upstairs. |
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Old North Church - The Old North Church has a very tall spire, and in this steeple on April 18, 1775, two lanterns were lit (“One if by land, two, if by sea”) as a signal that the British were rowing across the Charles River in the direction of Lexington. It’s also the oldest church building in Boston, so it’s fun to go inside and see what an 18th century church looked like (families had to pay for their box pews). |
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Copp's Hill Burying Ground – If you didn’t visit the Granary Burying Ground, this is worth a stop. Nobody especially famous is buried here, but the lovely old headstones are beautifully etched with skulls and crossbones, or skulls and angel wings, many from late 18th or early 19th century. Some people lived to be quite old. |
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Follow the Freedom Trail over the Charlestown Bridge (it has a pedestrian walkway), checking out boats in the Charles River. |
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USS Constitution - The USS Constitution sailing ship, nickname “Old Ironsides,” was built Boston in 1797, and was one of the first ships in the new American Navy. The ship fought (and won) in the War of 1812 with the British, and never lost a sea battle. Take the 45 min. guided tour through the ship, especially memorable is the gun deck with big cannons weighing thousands of pounds and the berth deck where the men slept in hammocks. Closed Mondays. |
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 At the Constitution Museum, there are hands-on activities and puzzles, hang in a hammock, take the helm in a computer game to sink your opponent’s ship, and there’s a large, exquisite model of the USS Constitution. |
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USS Cassin Young Destroyer – Next door is the World War II destroyer used in the Pacific and built in the Charlestown Navy Yard. On the self-guided tour, peer into the gun turrets, see the crew’s quarters, galley radio room, and captain’s cabin. |
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Bunker Hill Monument – Climb up 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill, with panoramic views of Boston. The battle actually took place on this hill (which was called Breed’s Hill at the time). Across from the monument, visit the new Bunker Hill Museum (free), with the Battle of Bunker Hill dioramas, a great way to visualize this historic battle. |
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Tip: The best way to get back to Boston proper is to take the Inner Harbor Ferry. From Pier 4 (just north of the USS Constitution), ride the ferry back to Long Wharf (at the New England Aquarium). It’s inexpensive, the ferry runs often, and there are great views of Boston Harbor. Here’s the schedule. |
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Minute Man National Historical Park – The second half of the story is the Battles of Lexington & Concord (and find out what happened to Paul Revere in Lexington.) Lexington and Concord are an easy day trip from Boston. |
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It's 1775, and orphan Hannah Andrews is sent to work in the home of Thomas Gage, the British governor. There might be balls and picnics in the household, but Hannah, disguised as a boy, rides to warn the patriots. A super adventure, based on real events. (Chapter book)
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"This is the king on his English throne, who declared, "Tax the tea!" that was made from leaves that grew on a bush in a far-off land." Engaging telling of events leading up to the Boston Tea Party, understandable by younger readers. (Picture book)
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Humorous, handy tips for a Boston shoemaker, living in turbulent times – don’t anger the British soldiers, they might shoot you, get used to drinking coffee as tea is in short supply, wear a disguise to the “tea party,” sleep with your musket, the British are all over town. (Picture book)
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Humorous biography of Sam Adams, leader of the Sons of Liberty and number one most-wanted American “traitor” by the British. Sam Adams was staying in Lexington when the British marched in, and he escaped with his cousin John Adams, but not on horseback. (Picture book)
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Nathaniel is apprenticed to Paul Revere, but he’s drawn into the Sons of Liberty and their protests against the British. As he grows up, he joins the Minutemen militia and takes a stand at Lexington. Exciting dramatization of historical events in this graphic novel. (Chapter book)
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Serena and Carly are visiting Boston for a hockey camp, but while sightseeing, they notice an artifact is missing from the Paul Revere House. The girls track the thief, dressed in colonial clothing, as he snatches more historical artifacts from landmarks along the Freedom Trail. (Chapter book)
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More children's books on other Boston pages |
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