Following The Freedom Trail In Historic Boston

The brainchild of editor and columnist Bill Schofield, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking trail through the city of Boston that leads individuals to 16 of the city's best, most well preserved, and historically significant sites. The trail is delineated by a red brick or red-painted path and runs through some of the oldest parts of Boston.

You are able to take the tour on your own or can choose to take a guided tour with a costumed guide decked out in the 18th-century attire. Either way, you are bound to enjoy yourself and learn a lot. Many of the sites on the trail are open to the public, though some do charge admission. You may decide that you want to visit all of the available sites or simply choose a few of them along the way.

Regardless of how you decide to follow the trail, you will want to start at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center on Tremont Street where you can pick up information on the trail sites and a map of the trail itself. Some of the sites along the trail may be of more interest to you and take longer to truly appreciate. You may find yourself returning to some for a second look later on during your trip.

Guided walking tours are a good place to start for those who don't know the city well or who may appreciate the extra information that is provided by guides. These tours are relatively quick, lasting only 90 minutes, and are only outdoor tours; if you want to explore the interior of sites, you will need to return to them on your own. Guided tours are available for $12 per person and a quick and easy way to take in the sites in historic Boston.

There Are a Total of 16 Historic Sites on the Freedom Trail, Including:

The Boston Common - The country's oldest public park and the site of significant military activities before and during the Revolutionary War. Established in 1634, the park encompasses 44 acres of land.

The State House - Built in 1798 on the site of John Hancock's cow pasture

The Park Street Church - Founded in 1809 by nine parishioners and the Rev. Abiel Holmes, the father of renowned author Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Granary Burying Ground - Established in 1660, with more than 2,300 grave markers, this cemetery is the resting place of some of the most famous of Boston's historic residents.

King's Chapel - Built in 1688, this church was the first non-Puritan church in the city and the congregation for the British military that enforced law in the city.

King's Chapel Burying Ground - Located just next to King's Chapel, this cemetery was the only burial ground within the city for almost 30 years and is the resting place of some of Boston's earliest residents, including Mary Chilton, the first woman who stepped onto colonial soil from the Mayflower.

Benjamin Franklin Statue & the Boston Latin School - Founded in 1635, this is the site of the oldest public school in America, with a statue of Benjamin Franklin, a school alumnus, standing out front.

Old Corner Book Store - This is the site of one of the city's earliest book stores and print shops that produced the works of several of the greatest writers in American history.

Old South Meeting House - A Puritan meeting house built in 1729 and the site of one of the most significant meetings leading to the American Revolution, the planning of the Boston Tea Party protest.

Old State House - This is the site of the British State House which was the seat of government prior to the American Revolution and contains the balcony from which John Hancock first read the Declaration of Independence to the people of the city in 1776.

Site of the Boston Massacre - The 1770 location of a massacre that took place in the midst of the Stamp Act riots.

Faneuil Hall - Called the Cradle of Liberty, this commercial center, built in 1742, was home to a marketplace and meeting hall. It is also the location of the first Stamp Act and Sugar Act protests.

Paul Revere's House - The oldest building in downtown Boston, this wooden 1680 building was the home of Paul Revere, and the starting point of his famous 1775 ride in which he told of the arrival of British soldiers at the start of the American Revolutionary War.

The Old North Church - The oldest still standing church in the city, this 1723 building played a significant role in the American Revolution.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - The largest colonial cemetery in Boston, this burying ground dates back to 1659.

The Bunker Hill Monument - The site of the first significant battle of the Revolutionary War which took place on June 17, 1775.

The U.S.S. Constitution - The final stop on The Freedom Trail, this is the oldest warship still afloat in the world. It was used in the War of 1812 and first put to sea in 1798.