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Boston is a history buff’s dream. From the Tea Party to the massacre, there is no shortage of sites to see. The city is preserved so we can honor and take in our nation’s history. Watch your history book come to life as you begin to explore the cobblestone streets and sit at the gravesides of America’s founders. According to its official website, there are a total of 16 sites that line the historic Freedom Trail in Boston. What the website does not tell you is that there is so much more to experience between each of these bits of history.
Get your tennis shoes ready, because we are about to walk the 2.5 miles that makes up Boston’s Freedom Trail and see all 16 of the historic sites.
The Paul Revere House
Paul Revere is beloved in Boston. If you are anything like me, you might remember his name from history class but are not one hundred percent sure what he is famous for. A tour of the Freedom Trail in Boston will remind you of his role in history.
Book your tour of The Paul Revere House HERE.
Paul Revere rode horseback to deliver the news that the British troops were en route to invade. To commemorate his heroic acts, his home has been preserved as seen in the photo.
Read more about Paul Revere’s midnight ride and his historic home HERE.
The Old North Church and the Statue of Paul Revere are both near his home.
Old North Church / Statue of Paul Revere
The Old North Church pierces the sky with its white steeple. The church was made famous by Paul Revere when two lanterns were hung in the steeple to signal the British Troops were marching into town. In addition to its ties with Paul Revere, The Old North Church is also Boston’s oldest standing church. That is an honor for a city filled with so much preserved history and stories.
Read more about the Old North Church HERE.
In front of The Old North Church lives the Statue of Paul Revere. Revere is depicted in his colonial uniform riding horseback signifying his historic midnight ride.
Read more about the Statue of Paul Revere HERE.
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is a historic graveyard on the North End of Boston. The gravestones have been in the ground for so long you will be able to see the weathered stones that are slowly falling apart.
Though not many notable Americans are buried on these grounds, I found it interesting to see the burying grounds from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
One of my favorite parts of the Freedom Trail in Boston was the neighborhood surrounding this Burying Ground. Cobblestone walkways surround a neighborhood of quaint apartments.
Read more about Copp’s Hill Burying Ground HERE.
Boston Common
Boston Common is America’s oldest public park. Nestled in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, the Common sees tourists and locals every single day. The Common has seen much of Boston’s history throughout the colonial days of meetings and military trainings.
Boston Common has a view of the expansive Massachusetts State House as well as Park Street Church.
Nowadays, I imagine the Common looks much different than when we were trying to break free from British rule. There will be several tour groups in this park, but there are also pop-ups and other things put on by locals.
Read more about Boston Common HERE.
Massachusetts State House
Recognizable by its golden dome, the State House can be seen from Boston Common as well as other parts of the city.
One of my favorite parts of walking by the State House is that Cheers is right around the corner. Hello, two birds one stone.
Read more about the Massachusetts State House HERE.
Park Street Church
Park Street Church looks similar to The Old North Church but its story is much different. The Church sits next to Boston Common and has watched centuries of tourists and locals walk through its doors. In fact, the church still holds Sunday worships.
View Sunday service times HERE.
Park Street Church also sits next to Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of some of America’s finest. I would argue that Park Street Church sits upon some of the most prime real estate in Boston getting to see old and new weave together as tourists visit and it continues to relive its past.
Read more about Park Street Church‘s history HERE.
Old Granary Burying Ground
This burying sight is like a seventeenth century walk of fame. Let’s talk about some of the famous men buried here. John Hancock’s famous signature was penned in dark ink on the Declaration of Independence. The obelisk tombstone for John Hancock is erect over the rest of the burying ground. In addition to this signer, Samuel Adams and Robert Treat Paine are the other Declaration of Independence signers to be buried in these grounds.
At this point of your tour, hopefully you have seen Paul Revere’s house and statue, and now you can see his resting place.
One misconception is the massive obelisk dawning the “FRANKLIN” name that draws your attention. This is the resting place of Benjamin Franklin’s parents. The creator of the bifocals is actually buried elsewhere.
One thing that was on my Boston Bucket List that I did not have a chance to do was a Ghost Tour. Old Granary Burying Grounds would have been a blast to do an after hours tour of the supernatural. For more information, check out tour options HERE.
Read more about Old Granary Burying Ground‘s history HERE.
King’s Chapel
King’s Chapel has a different appearance than the other architecture seen on the Freedom Trail in Boston. King’s Chapel has quite the resume including church and crypt. The chapel has a history operating as one of Boston’s famous churches, but what makes this landmark unique is its other uses.
There are twenty-one brick tombs underneath this dark structure. The tombs were owned mostly by wealthy members of the congregation and allowed for a different burying experience considering the overcrowding at surrounding burying grounds. Sadly, the crypt has been sealed up and are not available to be toured. We will just have to use our imagination what kind of world exists below these walls.
There is also King’s Chapel Burying Grounds next-door.
Plan your tour of King’s Chapel HERE!
Boston Latin School Site / Benjamin Franklin Statue
You are walking along your tour of the Freedom Trail in Boston and your feet stop at a brick lined mosaic (pictured).
It says:
“School Street – Boston – Site of the Oldest Public School In The United States – Founded 1635. Latin School.“
You have stumbled along the site of the Boston Latin School. The first school in America and now the oldest. Even though the school is still operating today, it is no longer in this original location.
I know you are dying to know, is this where Ben Franklin went to school? Yes, yes it is. Ben Franklin attended the oldest public school in America as did John Hancock and Samuel Adams. I can only wonder what kind of trouble those men got into when they were boys. They did like to rebel against authority… to our benefit.
Benjamin Franklin helped invent so many necessities in our lives (thank you electricity!). The Statue of Ben Franklin lives outside of the Old City Hall building. Ben Franklin is one of the most famous students of the Boston Latin School which first opened here, so it only makes sense he gets to greet visitors.
View more about Benjamin Franklin’s Statue HERE.
Bonus Sighting: Old City Hall
Though it is not technically a recognized landmark on the Freedom Trail in Boston, you will also see the Old City Hall building.
After the Boston Latin School moved and Benjamin Franklin dropped out, the building became City Hall where it served the city and its civil servants. The building now wears gold letters labeling it Old City Hall.
The building has been redesigned for commercial use and sees different tenants. The courtyard, however, still sees several tourists as its history is as rich as the tea we dumped into the harbor.
To view more of the history about the Old City Hall building, click here.
Site of the Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was my biggest memory insecurity when I travelled to Boston. I remembered hearing about it, but I could not tell you anything about what happened that fateful day in Boston.
In short, gunfire erupted and five men were killed in this massacre. One one hand, I wonder would this be considered a massacre in today’s media? Nonetheless, it was painted as a bloody massacre and got everyone fired up against the British Troops.
To read more about the Boston Massacre, click here.
The Site of the Boston Massacre is located outside of The Old State House. The area is now like a public town square so I can only imagine how different it must have looked in 1770 when gunfire was in the air.
The cobblestone circle lined in gold lettering commemorates where those five men lost their lives. I liked the simplicity of the memorial and marking the location so visitors can imagine the scene for themselves.
To read more about the Site of the Boston Massacre, click here.
The Old State House
This historic building had a front row seat to the 1770 Boston Massacre and is a famous landmark on the Freedom Trail in Boston. The Old State House stands tall with a balcony, clock, and steeple.
The Old State House is yet another meeting place our founding fathers met during the tensions against the King and Britain. Documenting this period of time are the lion and unicorn looking down from the rooftop.
Later on in our quest for freedom, the Declaration of Independence was first read from the balcony pictured.
Read more about the history of The Old State House HERE.
Tours of The Old State House are available. See the history for yourself and book your tour HERE.
Faneuil Hall
Relatively next to The Old State House and the Site of the Boston Massacre sits Faneuil Hall. It was at this meeting place where “no taxation without representation” was first brought up.
Faneuil Hall and The Old State House were used to meet about revolutionary business and many hot debates ensued. Oh to be a fly on the wall.
Faneuil Hall now has a marketplace next-door with the same name. The area has become like a town square and I could not help but think what it looked like when Samuel Adams stormed in and out of these doors.
To learn more about the history of Faneuil Hall, click here.
Bonus Sight: Samuel Adams Statue
I might embarrass myself here. Before going to Boston, all I knew about Samuel Adams was the beer company. Upon my multiple stops along the Freedom Trail in Boston, I quickly learned that he is more than an IPA or Brown Ale.
Samuel Adams is one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Most of my tour guides made him out to be the rebel of the group, though I am not sure how proven that is. I like to think if he has a beer company named after him, then he was a pretty cool dude.
Nonetheless, Samuel Adams stands in front of Faneuil Hall with his arms crossed.
Read more about Samuel Adams’ Statue HERE.
Old South Meeting House
The Boston Tea Party. It sounds like a fancy soiree with the Queen but it was far from that! The future Americans had enough of British taxation so they planned their revenge… in this very meeting house. It was here where history was made and it was decided. They would dump the tea into the harbor as a statement to the British. Considering this took place in 1773 and our freedom from England came in 1776, this was a pivotal moment in history.
The Old South Meeting House is now a museum where you can visit the meeting house. You can put yourself in their shoes and plan the Boston Tea Party!
Click here to read more about the Boston Tea Party.
Plan your tour of The Old South Meeting House HERE.
Bunker Hill Monument
This monument is a granite obelisk in the Charlestown area of Boston. It commemorates the site where the Battle of Bunker Hill took place. This was yet another battle of the American Revolutionists against the British. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
This view reminds me of the Washington Monument in Washington DC. Both monuments help signify the start to our newfound freedom and the cities that helped make it happen.
Read more about The Battle at Bunker Hill HERE.
Click here to learn more about the Bunker Hill Monument.
Old Corner Bookstore
Though I was able to see almost everything while in Boston, I was unable to see The Old Corner Bookstore. As a book lover, I should have gone to see this historic sight. Though it is now Boston’s oldest commercial building (and was recently a Chipotle), it is on the Freedom Trail for its literature history.
Read more about The Old Corner Bookstore HERE.
USS Constitution
This ship is America’s oldest commissioned warship that is still in the water. It saw battles against the British and still sits in the harbor.
I did not have a chance to visit the USS Constitution as part of my Boston trip. It is a beautiful symbol of earlier times if you are able to visit it.
Plan your tour of the USS Constitution HERE.
Plan Your Trip Now
Whether you are planning a trip or just looking for inspiration for your next vacation, I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite places. The only thing better than visiting these spots and enjoying them is getting to share them with friends and family. Please comment if you have visited the Freedom Trail in Boston and tell me how you liked it.
Looking for more? Check out this complete guide for what to do in Boston.
I am always open to recommendations. If you have any favorite spots in Boston, please share them below!
Cheers!
