2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States
Places to See on Freedom Trail
Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Boston Latin School
Public exam school established on April 23, 1635, making it both the oldest public school in America and the oldest existing school in the United States
Boston Massacre Site
Commemorates the site of the confrontation in Boston in which British soldiers shot and killed several people whom they perceived to be a mob
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Bunker Hill Monument
Erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was among the first major battles between British and Patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War
Copp's Hill Burying Ground
Second oldest cemetery in Boston contains more than 1200 marked graves, including the remains of various notable Bostonians from the colonial era into the 1850s
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Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Faneuil Hall
Marketplace and meeting hall, it was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain
Granary Burying Ground
Boston's third-oldest cemetery, is the final resting place for many notable Revolutionary War-era patriots, including Paul Revere
King's Chapel Burying Ground
Established in 1630, it is the oldest graveyard in Boston
King's Chapel
Completed in 1754, is one of the finest designs of the noted colonial architect Peter Harrison, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 for its architectural significance
King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Massachusetts State House
State capitol and seat of government for Massachusetts, completed in January 1798, is considered a masterpiece of Federal architecture
Old Corner Bookstore
Historic commercial building built in 1718 as a residence and apothecary shop, and first became a bookstore in 1828
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Old North Church
Location from which the famous "One if by land, two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent, relating to Paul Revere's midnight ride
Thaidragon27, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Old South Meeting House
Historic Congregational church building that gained fame as the organizing point for the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773
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Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Old State House
Historic building in Boston, built in 1713, it was the seat of the Massachusetts General Court until 1798 and is one of the oldest public buildings in the United States
Park Street Church
Historic and active evangelical church founded in 1804 was the tallest building in the United States from 1810 to 1828 and was the first landmark travelers saw when approaching Boston
Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Paul Revere House
Colonial home of American patriot Paul Revere during the time of the American Revolution
Yuhan Zhang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
USS Constitution
Wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. Marked largely with brick, it winds between Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Stops along the trail include simple explanatory ground markers, graveyards, notable churches and buildings, and a historic naval frigate. While most of the sites are free or suggest donations, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, and the Paul Revere House charge admission. The Freedom Trail is overseen by the City of Boston's Freedom Trail Commission and is supported in part by grants from various nonprofits and foundations, private philanthropy, and Boston National Historical Park.
The Freedom Trail was conceived by local journalist William Schofield, who in 1951 suggested building a pedestrian trail to link important local landmarks.
The National Park Service operates a visitor's center on the first floor of Faneuil Hall, where they offer tours, provide free maps of the Freedom Trail and other historic sites, and sell books about Boston and United States history.
The official trail sites are (generally from south-to-north):
- Boston Common
- Massachusetts State House
- Park Street Church
- Granary Burying Ground
- King's Chapel and King's Chapel Burying Ground
- Boston Latin School Site/Statue of Benjamin Franklin (Boston)
- Old Corner Bookstore
- Old South Meeting House
- Old State House (Boston)
- Boston Massacre Site
- Faneuil Hall
- Paul Revere House
- Old North Church
- Copp's Hill Burying Ground
- USS Constitution
- Bunker Hill Monument
The Black Heritage Trail crosses the Freedom Trail between the Massachusetts State House and Park Street Church. The Boston Irish Famine Memorial is also located along the Freedom Trail.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Freedom Trail", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
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