Hello, dear readers. I hope this post finds you doing well during this last day of 2024. I was driving to the gym yesterday when I saw two guys running down the street. In the rain…in December…in Nebraska. That’s dedication. I’ll take my climate-controlled gym, thank you very much.
I need to do things that take my mind off exercise, not add to my suffering. That’s why I like audiobooks. Especially ones about history. In Boston, you can do even better. You can experience actual history while jogging on the Freedom Trail.
What Exactly is the Freedom Trail?
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking (or jogging) route in Boston that passes through 16 significant sites related to the American Revolution and the early history of the United States. It’s marked by a red-brick or painted line on the ground, guiding visitors to each site. It is an incredible concept. If your city has a lot of historical spots to experience, why not link them? It is like a big game of connect the historical dots.
If there is only one thing you can do in Boston, it has to be the Freedom Trail. The sites are the best way to understand the city’s impact on early American history.
What are the significant sites?
Here are the major stops on the trail and a little information about each:
1) Boston Common. Established in 1634, it is the oldest public park in the country. It is also the starting point for most of the official Freedom Trail tours (more on this later).
2) Massachusetts State House. The iconic golden dome of the Massachusetts state capitol has presided over Boston Common since 1798.
3) Park Street Church. This church, situated across the street from Boston Common, held the title of tallest building in the United States for 36 years and is also well known for hosting abolitionist speeches in the 19th century.
4) Granary Burying Ground. Located directly next to Park Street Church, the ground holds revolutionary heavyweights such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams.
5) King’s Chapel and Burying Ground. This Anglican church has its roots beginning in 1686 and has met in its current building since 1754 connecting today to the colonial era.
6) Original Boston Latin School Site. Established in 1635, it is the first public school in what is now the United States. Five signers of the Declaration of Independence attended the school including Samuel Adams and Ben Franklin. Franklin even has a statue at the site!
7) Old Corner Bookstore. Site of the oldest commercial building in Boston. It was home to the 19th-century publishing giant Ticknor and Fields, producer of many venerable American titles including Thoreau’s Walden, Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Longfellow’s Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, and the Atlantic Monthly including Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic. It is now a Chipotle.
8) Old South Meeting House. This site has a long history dating back to 1729, but became immortalized as the planning place for the Boston Tea Party.
9) Old State House. In front of the doors of the Old State House, a confrontation between British redcoats and Bostonians left five dead and more wounded on March 5, 1770, which became known as the Boston Massacre.
10) Boston Massacre Site. Outside the Old State House, look down and you’ll see the cobblestone ring commemorating the Boston Massacre site. The actual site of the massacre is in the middle of the street.
11) Faneuil Hall. Dubbed the Cradle of Liberty, Faneuil Hall has served as a meeting house and marketplace since 1742. Now, it is the home of over 80 retailers and is one of the top 10 most visited places in the U.S.
12) The Paul Revere House. We then enter the North End neighborhood of Boston to visit the preserved home of Paul Revere that dates back to 1680.
13) Old North Church. One if by land, two if by sea. That was the lantern signal Paul Revere tasked church sexton Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling, Jr. to give from the steeple of Old North Church to signify how the British planned to march to Lexington and Concord. By the way, it was two lanterns for by sea.
14) Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. This burying ground holds the remains of notable figures such as Cotton and Increase Mather from Salem Witch Trials fame (or infamy?). It is also where the aforementioned Robert Newman lies in rest. Of particular interest to me, it is the final resting place of Edmund Hartt, owner of the shipyard where the USS Constitution was built.
15) Bunker Hill Monument. We now cross the Charles River for our last two sites. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775. Though it resulted in a British victory, the British sustained twice as many casualties as the colonists and the Americans proved they could hold their own.
16) The USS Constitution. Old Ironsides. To me, this is the crown jewel of the Freedom Trail. The United States’ Ship of State has blessed our seas since 1797. This active Navy vessel was one of the few bright spots during the War of 1812. I was so impressed I visited three times on my trip and tried my hand at an ode.
How to Experience the Freedom Trail
The trail is pretty self-explanatory. If you do happen to lose sight of the path, Google Maps easily sets you back on track. To say a guided tour is necessary is tantamount to lying.
However, I am a huge fan of tours so of course I am going to recommend you take one! My family took the official Freedom Trail flagship tour, Walk Into History. It is a 90-minute tour that covers the first mile of the trail (Boston Common to Faneuil Hall). The tours are led by enthusiastic guides who take on the persona of a revolutionary, clothes and all. We really enjoyed the tour.
There are lots of options to see the whole Freedom Trail. My recommendation is to catch a morning Walk Into History tour, grab some lunch, then walk the rest of it yourself. To add to your experience, many of the sites are open to the public and contain historical artifacts as well as additional information about the site’s significance. Reservations and fees may apply.
——
There it is! Your guide to the Freedom Trail in Boston! It is hands down the best way to experience the role Boston played in the early history of our nation. It is also a great way to log a ton of steps to keep up your exercise goals while on vacation. That’s a win-win!
I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! May 2025 be a fruitful year for you and yours. HwL has some exciting trips already planned for the coming year so stay tuned! In the meantime, check out more on Boston. Until next time,
