Boston is one of the country’s oldest cities and it is here that much of the nation’s early history took place. And much of that early American history is documented on the Freedom Trail. 

It’s a 2 1/2 mile self-guided tour that includes 16 important sites. The easy-to-follow path starts at the Boston Commons, the country’s oldest park, and curves through the city’s most significant monuments, homes, parks, churches, and graveyards. It's like stepping back in time and being a citizen when this country was first born.

6 Incredible Sites on Boston's Freedom Trail

1. Paul Revere's House

Check out Paul Revere’s house and learn the truth behind his midnight ride. It’s also the oldest house in the city, constructed in 1680.

2. The State House

The trail also includes the State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch, it was completed in 1798 and it’s considered one of the most magnificent state houses in the country. The land was originally John Hancock’s cow pasture before the magnificent State House was constructed on his land. It’s one of the oldest buildings in the famous Beacon Hill neighborhood, sitting on 6.7 acres of land. A golden dome adorns the top of the building made to look like a gilded pinecone. 

3. The Granary Burying Ground

The Granary Burying Ground is the resting place of Boston’s, and for that matter, some of the country’s most famous citizens. It was named for the massive bushel grain storage building next door. Ben Franklin’s parents are buried here as well as John Hancock, Paul Revere, James Otis, Samuel Adams, James Caldwell, and Robert Treat Paine. Adams, Hancock, and Paine are all signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

4. The Boston Latin School

The Boston Latin School is the oldest public school in the nation. It was founded in 1635 with noted alumni that include Benjamin Franklin, though he is also one of the country’s most memorable high school dropouts. Samuel Adams and Robert Treat Paine also attended the Boston Latin School. 

5. Old South Meeting House

The Old South Meeting House was the site of dramatic events leading up to, and during the American Revolution. A huge meeting took place here prior to the Boston Tea Party, which later included the destruction of 342 crates of tea. 

6. The Site of the Boston Massacre

The site of the Boston Massacre is also marked on the Freedom Trail. After tensions mounted between the British and Bostonians, in the wake of the Stamp Act Riots. A simple circle of stones marks where the event took place and reenactments take place on the anniversary of the massacre each year. 

Photos by jbcurio