Attractions in Boston

Essayist Oliver Wendall Holmes once described Boston as the "hub of the solar system", and the Hub it is! This beautiful city on the bay is richly endowed with landmarks of historical significance and unlimited cultural and entertainment possibilities. Boston is a city of fascinating narrow streets and byways that invite exploration on foot.

The Freedom Trail (also known as the Red Line you see running along Boston's sidewalks) winds through a path of 16 of the historically significant sites associated with the beginnings of our Republic. The tour begins at the meadowlands of Boston Common and ends at the harbor in Charlestown Navy Yard, winding along the way for 2.5 miles through downtown Boston and the attractive North End. Sites along the trail include Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, and Copp's Hill Burying Ground.

Boston Common
This 40-acre area is the nation's oldest public park. The land was set aside for public use in 1634 (originally as a cow pasture and training ground. The Commons also has a longstanding tradition as a place where demonstrators can exercise their right to freedom of speech without having to obtain a permit. Admission Free.

Park Street Church
This church is best known for its location at "Brimstone Corner" (named for its use as a gunpowder storage area during the War of 1812) and as the setting of William Lloyd Garrison's first anti-slavery speech.

Granary Burying Ground
The first of the three burying grounds on the trail, Granary is notable as the final resting place of John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

King's Chapel and Burying Ground
Famous for its architectural beauty, King's Chapel became the first Unitarian Church in the U.S. after the American Revolution. Donations accepted.

Site of First Public School/Ben Franklin Statue
This Freedom Trail stop features a statue of Ben Franklin and the site of Franklin's alma mater: the Boston Latin School (built in 1635).

Old Corner Bookstore
This brick building, where legends like Longfellow, Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau gathered, was once the literary center of Boston.

Old South Meeting House
Much of the discussion and debate that led to the Boston Tea Party and other events connected to the American Revolution took place in the old South Meeting House.

Boston Massacre Site
A simple circle of cobblestones marks the site where five colonists were killed by British soldiers in 1770. The brutality of this incident helped spark the anti-British rage that ultimately led to the American Revolution. Free.

Old North Church
"Old North," Boston's oldest church building, is located in the city's Italian North End. The church played an important part in the American Revolution by acting as a signal (via two lanterns hung in its steeple) of British troop movement.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground
The last Freedom trail site on the south side of the Charles River, Copp's Burying Ground is the resting place of thousands of merchants, artisans and free blacks. Free. Not wheelchair accessible.

Bunker Hill Monument
A tall granite obelisk commemorating the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill (which actually took place on Breed's Hill). You can climb this monument's 294 steps for a panoramic view of Boston. (No elevator). During the summer, visitors also can observe free musket firing demonstrations and "battle talks." Free.