Boston Freedom Trail

Near Boston Common is the Granary Burying Ground, where you'll find the graves of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and the victims of the Boston Massacre. Several blocks away, the Old South Meeting House still stands, where spirited community meetings were once held to discuss the British "Tea Act," which led to a night of dumping tea into Boston Harbor. A few miles away, the Bunker Hill Monument towers over Charlestown neighborhoods — a reminder of the battle in which colonists waited before firing upon British soldiers until they "saw the whites of their eyes." These sites are all part of Boston's Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile trail marked by a red line on sidewalks that connects many of the city's historic spots.

The trail starts at Boston Common, where Quakers were hanged, and ends at Bunker Hill, in Charlestown. It's not a loop. Highlights include the Christ Church, also known as the "Old North Church," where lanterns were hung by the church sexton to warn Paul Revere that the British troops were heading toward Lexington and Concord in an effort to seize munitions. The USS Constitution in Charlestown Navy Yard is another highlight not to be missed. In the War of 1812, her crew defeated four British ships. Another is Faneuil Hall, the historic building located within the shopping marketplace area that goes by the same name. The historic hall functions as a community meeting place, while the marketplace is a popular dining and shopping area of Boston.

The Freedom Trail is best seen on foot, but wear a comfortable pair of shoes because it is a long hike. If it's too much to take in on one day, the sites on the Boston side of the Charles River are close together and could be seen on the first day. The sites on the Charlestown side, which include the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument, could be seen on a second day.

National Park Service rangers offer free guided walking tours during summer months. Some of the locations charge fees to enter. Walking tours led by a costumed guide are run by the Boston Freedom Trail Foundation in warmer months, beginning in April. 2012 prices run from $6 to $12. Several tour companies also offer bus and trolley tours. Printed tour guides can be purchased at the Visitor's Center at Boston Common. Because there's a lot to take in, you may want to purchase the guide and read it in advance of your tour.

More Information

Public Transportation - The Freedom Trail starts near the MBTA's Park Street stop on the Green and Red lines. Other T stops along the trail are Government Center, Haymarket, North Station, and Community College (in Charlestown).
Photos of the Freedom Trail