freedom trail walking tour in boston

Walk Into History®

Boston Common Visitor Information Center 139 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02111

11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm  Purchase Tickets  

About This Tour

Boston's official Freedom Trail tours!  The Freedom Trail Foundation's most popular, introductory, tours highlight the diverse history that took place at 11 of the 16 official Freedom Trail historic sites, featuring Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel & King's Chapel Burying Ground, Boston Latin School site/Benjamin Franklin statue, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Boston Massacre site, and Faneuil Hall.  Experience stories of the American Revolution, as well as the history of traditionally underrepresented peoples spanning from the 16 th – 21 st centuries.  

*Boston Town Crier Tours - Endorsed by the Freedom Trail Foundation, however Foundation-led tour tickets are not valid to use on Boston Town Crier-led tours.

Group Tour Information

School, private, or corporate groups may request specific tour dates and departure times here or by calling (617) 357-8300.

General Information

Access route, public transit, what people are saying, yelp review.

The Freedom Trail is one of the iconic touristy things to do in Boston, and there's a reason for that. I did the full trail many, many years ago but decided to go with this shorter, more compact trail with our family. The 1.5 hour length is the right duration for kids, and our guide, Jeremiah Poope (his actual last name!), kept it interesting the entire time. He has been a tour guide in Boston for many years, and he had a ton of interesting stories and facts beyond the typical revolutionary war factoids.

The Freedom Trail Walking tour presents full of historic knowledge and our guide, Parker, provides us the best experience for this amazing learning adventure. That is to say, in this tour you can also learn about the myth and the truth of the history we learned from our textbooks. I would recommend anyone who visit Boston and is interested in learning history or simply just want to listen to funny stories

TripAdvisor Review

We only had 1 day to explore downtown Boston, and this tour was a great way to see several different sites, learn about history, and get a bit of walking in. We were a few minutes late for the start of the 1pm tour but easily able to catch up and join in.. Our tour guide was fantastic! One member of my group uses a wheelchair, and the guide was great about leading the WHOLE tour through accessible entrances to sites and to sidewalks with curb cuts so that all of us could participate without feeling singled out.

Email Review

We had a wonderful time and your guides were wonderful. They were energetic, informed, and brought history to life. Thank you once again!

Great tour with Isaiah Thomas! Great local guide who was very engaging and a walking encyclopedia of Boston history. It was a nice 1.5 hr walking tour hitting most of the south end Freedom Trail points of interest. For the money, it’s hard to beat!

Freedom Trail Store

The Freedom Trail store offers tour ticket discounts, books, such as the Freedom Trail Walking Guide and A Kid's Guide to the Freedom Trail, in addition to other student-friendly and grown-up intriguing books, audio guides, and other Freedom Trail related items.

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Walk the Freedom Trail

Boston National Historical Park

Originally conceptualized in the 1950s, the Freedom Trail ®  is an iconic symbol of Boston. Its red brick line snakes through some of the oldest parts of the City, navigating visitors to some of the most significant historic sites in the Downtown, North End, and Charlestown neighborhoods of Boston. The trail itself does not necessarily tell a narrative. Rather, it aids tourists with a starting point—an opening sampler of Boston's storied, complicated, and multi-faceted history. While many sites are primarily recognized for their role in the American Revolution, all the sites on the Freedom Trail ®  remained significant because of the role they played in subsequent social, political, and religious movements, controversies, and challenges.

Exploring Boston's History

Some choose to walk the entire 2.5 mile trail, end to end. Others select a handful of sites of particular interest and focus on those places. Visits can be as short as a few hours—however those who wish to enter every historic site and explore what each site has to offer can spend a full weekend along the Freedom Trail.

Guided tours are available seasonally from both National Park Service staff and through private organizations. Generally, few public tours walk the entire trail. Many sites are part of Boston National Historical Park, however they are independently owned and operated and may charge admission fees.

Free Self-Guided Audio Tour

The National Parks of Boston have developed a FREE Freedom Trail ® Audio Tour for visitors. This tour is available online on our Freedom Trail® Audio Tour webpage , or by downloading the NPS App. Once downloaded, search "Boston National Historical Park" and select "self-guided tours."

• Stairs to the 54th Massachusetts/Robert Gould Shaw Memorial: When in the Boston Common, head toward the Park Street MBTA station at the intersection of Park and Tremont Streets. Follow the sidewalk up Park Street toward Beacon Street.
• Stairs to enter the Granary Burying Ground can be bypassed by entering an at-grade entrance off Beacon Street. When at the main entrance at Tremont Street, continue down Tremont to the intersection with Beacon Street. Turn left to head up Beacon Street. The first alleyway to the left ends with an at-grade entrance to the Burying Ground.
• Old State House can only be entered via stairs.
• When following the trail from Paul Revere Park to the Old North Church, a detour around the block on Tileston Street is required.
• Copp's Hill is only accessible by stairs.
• USS  Constitution  and USS  Cassin Young  are historic ships with stairs, ladders, and gangways that move with the tide.
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The 10 Best Freedom Trail Tours in Boston

Explore the history of the original New England patriots.

From day trips to weekend getaways, our biweekly Traveler newsletter shows you the best of New England and beyond.

A Freedom Trail Foundation tour guide in Boston Common. / Photo provided by Freedom Trail® Foundation

Whether you’re a Boston local or a tourist here for the weekend, you’re probably familiar with the red-brick road of the Freedom Trail, a quintessential landmark as recognizable as our beloved Citgo sign. But unlike Kenmore’s iconic sign, there’s no debate over the historical significance of the Freedom Trail. With 16 sites over 2.5 miles, stretching from Boston Common to Charlestown, the Freedom Trail paints a picture of the American Revolution, and the vital role our city played in the nation’s independence. Next time you’re looking to revisit the roots of our city, check out one of these tours to find the experience that works best for you.

Boston By Foot Heart of the Freedom Trail

Dust off your U.S history knowledge in a 90-minute, 0.7-mile tour of downtown Boston’s most famous landmarks from the nation’s path to independence. From Faneuil Hall to the first public school in America, you’ll be guided through the stomping grounds of the original New England patriots.

$8-$15, Samuel Adams Statue, Faneuil Hall, Boston, 617-367-2345, bostonbyfoot.org .

Boston By Foot: Boston By Little Feet

Described as a “child’s-eye view” of the Freedom Trail, this condensed version of their Heart of the Freedom Trail tour is designed specifically for children ages 6-12. Covering 0.7 miles and 10 historic spots in 60 minutes, the Boston By Little Feet tour is built to pack the city’s history into shorter attention spans.

$10-$12, Samuel Adams Statue, Faneuil Hall, Boston, 617-367-2345, bostonbyfoot.org .

Boston Duck Tours

The duck boats are as iconic as Boston itself, so why not use these semi-aquatic vehicles to tour the city? On any Duck Tour, you can see Freedom Trails sites like the Granary Burying Ground, Boston Common, and Faneuil Hall, as well as slightly more modern landmarks, like Cheers. Plus, you can receive discounts at the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, shops, and restaurants with your ticket.

$10.50-$42.99, 9 a.m. to 1 hour before sunset, Prudential Center, 53 Huntington Ave., Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, 617-267-3825, bostonducktours.com .

Free Tours By Foot Freedom Trail Tour

With Free Tours by Foot, you name your price. This 2-hour, 1-mile tour of Freedom Trail sites including the Old Corner Bookstore, Park Street Church, and Boston Common tells an “epic story of Boston’s rise and America’s birth.” And at the end, the price is up to you.

April to June, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday at 10:30 a.m., June 20-Labor Day, everyday at 10:30 a.m., Labor Day to November, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday at 10:30 a.m., November-April, weekends at 10:30 a.m., Park Street T Station, Boston, 617-299-0764, freetoursbyfoot.com .

Lessons on Liberty Freedom Trail Walking Tour

With tours conducted by classically trained historians, Lessons on Liberty promises to be “Boston’s most historically accurate tour,” providing “little known facts and details” about colonial Boston’s landmark events, from the Stamp Act to the Boston Tea Party. If you’re craving an even more authentic experience to transport you back in time, visit Lessons on Liberty founder Gary Gregory’s colonial print shop, The Printing Office of Edes & Gill .

$8-$14.95, Boston Common Visitors Center, 139 Tremont St., Boston, 857-205-1775, lessonsonliberty.com .

Old Town Trolley Tours Trolley and Freedom Trail Package

If you’re looking to get the most out of a day spent sight-seeing in Boston, consider bundling a walk of the Freedom Trail with a trolley tour of the entire city. With Old Town Trolley Tours Trolley and Freedom Trail Package, you can experience a narrated hop-on, hop-off ride from the Pru to the waterfront and a 90-minute walking tour of the Freedom Trail. As a bonus, your ticket grants you free admission to the Old State House Museum and Boston’s Dreamland Wax Museum.

$25.46-$54, Old Town Trolley Tours, November-March 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April-October 9 a.m.-5 p.m., A Walk Into History Tour, daily tours at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 200 Atlantic Ave., Boston, 855-396-7433, trolleytours.com .

The Freedom Trail Foundation’s Walk Into History

On this 90-minute tour, you’ll see 11 out of 16 official Freedom Trail sites, including Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, and the Granary Burying Ground, where you can visit the graves of noteworthy Revolutionary figures like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

$7-$14, daily tours at 2 p.m. 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St., Boston, 617-357-8300, thefreedomtrail.org .

The Freedom Trail Foundation’s African American Patriots

Gain a perspective on the American Revolution that your history classes might have missed through a tour that delves into the stories of African-American patriots in Boston. With discussion of notable figures like Crispus Attucks, Prince Hall, and Peter Salem, the Freedom Trail Foundation sheds light on the often lesser-known histories.

$8-$14, February, select Saturdays and Sundays at 12:45 p.m., Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St., Boston, 617-357-8300, thefreedomtrail.org .

The Freedom Trail Foundation’s Lantern Tour

Explore the darker side of Boston’s history guided by a costumed Freedom Trail Player and the eerie glow of lantern light. You’ll hear stories of murders, assassins, and witch trials while visiting Freedom Trail locales like King’s Chapel Burying Ground and the Boston Massacre site. Recommended for visitors 12 years of age and older.

$8-$14, September-October, select Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., ArtsBoston Booth, Faneuil Hall, Boston, 617-357-8300, thefreedomtrail.org .

The Freedom Trail Foundation’s Revolutionary Women

This Freedom Trail tour is all about the women behind the Revolution, and the ladies who followed in their forward-thinking footsteps. Covering the same 11 sites as the Walk Into History tour, Revolutionary Women shifts the focus to tell the stories of female game-changers like Abigail Adams, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Susan B. Anthony.

$8-$14, March, select Saturdays and Sundays at 12:45 p.m., Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St., Boston, 617-357-8300, thefreedomtrail.org .

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Visitor guide, subscribe to our, e-newsletter, online store, the freedom trail®, walk through america’s history.

The famous Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick trail through Boston’s historic neighborhoods that tells the story of the American Revolution and beyond. From the Old North Church to Faneuil Hall, and through resonant burying grounds, visit the temples and landmarks of the Revolutionary Era.

Freedom Trail Sites | Map of the Freedom Trail |  Freedom Trail Walking Tours  | FAQ

Freedom trail sites.

Begin your journey at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center located at 139 Tremont Street and conclude at the USS Constitution in Charlestown.

BOSTON COMMON

Massachusetts state house, park street church, granary burying ground, king’s chapel & burying ground, boston latin school site/benjamin franklin statue, old corner bookstore, old south meeting house, old state house museum, boston massacre site, faneuil hall, paul revere house, old north church, copp’s hill burying ground, uss constitution - old ironsides, bunker hill monument.

The Boston Common is America’s oldest public park, purchased from Wm. Blackstone in 1635 to be used as common grazing land for the feeding of  cattell . The British militia used it as a  trayning  field.  

The Common has also been the site of hangings, duels, public celebrations and spirited oratory. Today it continues to host public celebrations as well as concerts, ice skating, Shakespearean plays, holiday festivities, sports activities and public rallies.  

Designed by Charles Bulfinch, the State House was completed in January 1798 at a cost of $133,333 (more than five times the budget). John Hancock, a wealthy merchant, patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the first elected Governor of Massachusetts originally owned the land. The oldest building on Beacon Hill is now the seat of the Massachusetts state government. The golden dome, one of Boston’s distinguishing landmarks, wasn’t always gilded. It was originally built of wood. Paul Revere & Sons was commissioned in 1802 to cover it with copper to prevent water leakage. In 1874, the dome was gilded with 23-karat gold leaf.

Park Street Church acquired the nickname Brimstone Corner, both in reference to the fire-and-brimstone sermons and to the gun powder that was stored in the crypt during the War of 1812. Founded in 1809, the Church’s 217-foot white steeple was the first landmark a traveler saw upon approaching Boston.  

On July 4, 1829, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery address here, and two years later, on July 4, the hymn America, better known as My Country ’Tis of Thee, was first sung on the Church steps. 

So named because of its proximity to Boston’s first granary, this is the most visited burying ground in Boston and the final resting place of many prominent Bostonians. Buried here are John Hancock, Samuel Adams, nine governors, all five Boston Massacre victims, Paul Revere, Ben Franklin’s parents and Peter Faneuil.

Under orders from King James II in 1686, land was seized, and the first Anglican Church was constructed. By 1749, the original wooden structure was too small for the congregation, and so the Georgian chapel was constructed around the original church.  

Adjacent to King’s Chapel is Boston’s first burying ground. Here you will find the graves of John Winthrop, Massachusetts’ first governor; William Dawes, Paul Revere’s compatriot who also made the ride to Lexington, and Mary Chilton, believed to be the first woman to step off the Mayflower.    

Embedded in the sidewalk in front of Old City Hall is the mosaic City Carpet, which commemorates the site of the first public school in the U.S., Boston Latin School (1635). Among the school’s alumni are Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Charles Bulfinch and Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Richard Greenough’s statue of Ben Franklin, erected in 1856, prominently stands in front of Old City Hall. Look closely at Franklin’s face. The sculptor said that he found  the left side of the great man’s face philosophical and reflective and the right side funny and smiling.

The original building on this site was the home of Anne Hutchinson, who was banished from Massachusetts in 1638 for her unorthodox religious views. By the mid-1800s, the Old Corner Bookstore was a flourishing literary center. Here, Ticknor and Fields published works by Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Tennyson, Hawthorne, Emerson, Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Julia Ward Howe among others. The Atlantic Monthly, a Boston institution, was originally published here as well. Today, the building continues as a place of commerce. 

Built in 1729, this is the second oldest church in Boston. The largest building in colonial Boston, Old South was used for public meetings when the angry crowd outgrew Faneuil Hall. Many of the crucial events that led up to the Revolution took place here. The most famous of the meetings was held on December 16, 1773, when over 5,000 gathered to protest the tax on tea.  

During the British occupation of Boston in 1775-1776, British troops desecrated this sanctuary of freedom by using it as a stable and riding school, while drinks were served from the balcony. The pulpit and pews were chopped into firewood and the library was used as kindling. 

On another note, Phillis Wheatley, the first female African American published poet, was a full member of the Meeting House. An original copy of her work is on permanent display here.  

Built in 1713, the Old State House is Boston’s oldest surviving public building. It was the center of political and commercial life, housing the merchant’s exchange (a precursor to today’s stock exchange) on the ground floor and the royally appointed government offices and the freely elected members of the Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on the upper floors.  

The site played a central role in the story of rebellion, from James Otis’ 1761 speech against the Writs of Assistance to the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the east balcony in July 1776.  

Adjacent to the Old State House, a ring of cobblestones commemorates the Boston Massacre. Five men were killed in this clash between Colonists and Redcoats. Among the slain men was Crispus Attucks, the first African American to die for the patriotic cause.  

Interestingly, John Adams and Josiah Quincy, loyal to justice as well as the patriotic cause, defended the British soldiers. All but two were acquitted. The guilty had their thumbs branded and were then set free. 

The building was a gift from wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742. Faneuil Hall served as a meeting place and an open-air market. It was here that Bostonians met to form their opposition to British authority. As a result of the impassioned speeches by such patriots as Samuel Adams and James Otis, the nickname Cradle of Liberty was earned, especially when citizens rallied against the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townsend Acts and the landing of British troops.  

Charles Bulfinch enlarged the building in 1806. After the Revolution, Bostonians continued to gather at Faneuil Hall for the anti-slavery speeches of William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips and Frederick Douglass. The women’s rights movement, early temperance rallies and nearly every war since 1812 have been debated within these walls. 

Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House is the oldest remaining structure in downtown Boston, and only official Freedom Trail site that is a home. It was from here that its famous occupant set out for the midnight ride. Revere was not only a patriot, but also an expert silversmith, copper manufacturer, part-time dentist, engraver and the father of 16 children. As many as eight children lived here with him, along with his mother, his first and (after 1773) his second wife.  

It was from this steeple that Sexton Robert Newman hung two lanterns on April 18, 1775, to signal the beginning of Paul Revere’s momentous ride. The action is widely regarded as the spark that ignited the American Revolution.  

Built in 1723, Old North is Boston’s oldest church building. See a wealth of historic works, including the first bells brought to the Colonies, its original 18th-century brass chandeliers and clock, and the 17th- century carved angels that were captured by a Colonial privateer. More than 1,000 individuals lay in rest in the underground crypt, including the Royal Governor’s second-in-command at Lexington and Concord.

Copp’s Hill was Boston’s largest colonial burying ground, dating from 1659. Some notables buried here include the Mather family, a very prominent New England ministerial family; Edmund Hartt, builder of the USS Constitution; Robert Newman, who hung the lanterns for Paul Revere’s ride, and Prince Hall, anti-slavery activist, Revolutionary soldier and founder of the African Grande Masonic Lodge. Copp’s Hill is also the final resting place of countless free African Americans.  

Because of its height and prominent location overlooking Boston Harbor, the British used the burying ground to aim their cannons on Charlestown during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Target practice was also conducted here. Be sure to take a look at the grave marker of Daniel Malcom, a member of the Sons of Liberty.

Launched in Boston in 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Her nickname was earned during the War of 1812 when British cannonballs appeared to bounce off her impenetrable hull and the seamen cried out Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron! Today she is manned by an active duty U.S. Navy crew and docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. "Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" became the legendary battle cry, according to lore, and immortalized the determination of the ill-equipped Colonists who stood facing the powerful British Army on June 17, 1775. Today the 221-foot granite obelisk commemorates the site of this first major battle. 

Map of the Freedom Trail

Freedom trail walking tour operators.

Stop by a Visitor Information Center to purchase a ticket. Tours leave from the red brick line in front of the Boston Common Visitor Center. 

Freedom Trail® Foundation — Official Freedom Trail Tours®

• (617) 357-8300

Boston By Foot, Inc.

• 87 Mount Vernon Street
• (617) 367-2345

Boston Town Crier - Tours of Freedom Trail

• (617) 794-7512

Hub Town Tours: Freedom Trail Small Group Tour

• 7 Marshall Street
• +1 (844) 482-8696

Tour of the Freedom Trail

• Boston Common Visitor Center
• (978) 741-1170

Action Tour Guide: Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston

Boston Freedom Trail & Bunker Hill GPS self-guided audio tours: Experience the rich history of Boston and its role in the American Revolution with the Freedom Trail & Bunker Hill…

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Tour: Benjamin Franklin - Son of Boston

Celebrate the life of Benjamin Franklin on this guided walk along his homes and haunts in Colonial Boston. Born in Boston, he came…

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Freedom Trail FAQs

How long is the freedom trail.

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick path featuring a unique collection of 16 historic sites throughout Downtown, the North End, and Charlestown. How much time it takes to see the entire Trail depends on how much time one dedicates to each site.   Most guided walking tours take around 90 minutes and cover 1 mile of the Trail. 

Where does the freedom trail start?

We recommend starting your journey at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont Street and concluding at the USS Constitution in Charlestown. However, the suggested Freedom Trail route is based solely on geographical location, and sites can be visited in any order.

Does it cost money to experience the Freedom Trail?

There is no fee associated with walking the Freedom trail, making it the perfect activity during your visit to Boston! There is, however, a fee associated with admission to some historic sites and guided walking tours. Visit the map above for more information on site admission.

How do I buy walking tour tickets?

Tickets to guided tours of the Freedom Trail can be purchased online or at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108). 

Is the Freedom Trail wheelchair-accessible?

Yes, the Freedom Trail and guided walking tours are wheelchair accessible. 

Are dogs allowed on the Freedom Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Freedom Trail as it is a path on city sidewalks and in public spaces such as Boston Common, Bunker Hill Monument grounds, and Charlestown Navy Yard.  Dogs are not permitted in the historic burying grounds or the historic sites’ buildings.  Please call historic sites directly to inquire about service animals.

Where can I find maps of the Freedom Trail?

A downloadable map of the Freedom Trail can be found here .

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Freedom Trail Map and Self Guided Tour

The Freedom Trail at the center of historic Boston is a red brick path through the city leading visitors to many of the city's historic sites.

This self-guided tour and map will cover the entire 2.5 miles (4 km) and 16 Freedom Trail stops.  

• Where does the Freedom Trail Start?
• Map and Self-Guided Tour
• Guided Tours
• 30-Minute Video Tour

Where Does the Freedom Trail Start?

The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common, America's oldest public park. The trail begins just outside of the Boston Common Visitor Center ( map ).

The visitor center and the Freedom Trail are both free of charge.

The Green or Red Line will take you to  Park Street Station  ( map ) ,  which is the closest station to the start of the Freedom Trail in Boston Commons.

The  State Street Station  on the Blue and Orange lines is literally on the Freedom Trail! It is 5 minutes from the start of the trail.  

One of the Station entrances and exits is on the ground floor of the  Old State House .

Another one on Washington St. at the Old South Meeting House, and one on Congress St. at New Sudbury St. which is down the street from the Old State House.

The Freedom Trail ends at the U.S.S. Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. You can walk or take the  Charlestown Water Shuttle  to get back to downtown Boston.

There are parking garages located on the Freedom Trail map.

There is an underground parking garage beneath the Boston Common on Charles Street and one garage at the Charlestown Navy Yard near the USS  Constitution.

How Long Does It Take to Walk the Freedom Trail?

The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles (4 km) long and walking it will likely take you an entire day at least.  

Plan on it taking longer if you have children or want to spend more than a little time at any of the sites.

Are There Restrooms on the Freedom Trail?

Not officially! But we've made a post of insider tips on  where to go when you gotta go !

Map of The Freedom Trail

This is a very historical map and tour and will cover some of the many sites and characters which/who were important in the founded our great nation. 

Some of the characters we will meet are John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and Peter Faneuil.  

You can also take this tour as a GPS-enabled Audio Tour . Listen to a sample of our Freedom Trail Tour  (the Old South Meeting House)

If you're taking our self-guided tour, let us know and tag us on social media @freetoursbyfoot

Click here for a fully interactive map .

Stop A - The Boston Common

The oldest public park in the United States (1634) outside the Park St. Subway Station, the first subway in the United States (1897).   

The Boston Common was used from 1634 to 1830 as a common space for the grazing of cattle and continues to be an active spot for visitors and locals to meet, relax and enjoy a day in the park.  

Be sure to stop by the Boston Common Visitor Center and pick up some information about visiting Boston.

Stop B -  Massachusetts State House

Follow the Trail up to the Massachusetts State House (1798), which is the oldest continually running state capital building in America.  

The dome is gilded in 23k gold and was originally made of wood.  

The golden dome was covered in copper by Paul Revere in 1802 and was gilded on our nation’s 100 birthday in 1876.  

During weekdays the State House offers free guided tours of the inside of the State House. 

Tours run every 30 minutes past the hour on weekdays, Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.

For reservations for the free guided tour call:   617-727-3676.

Stop C -  Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

Walk back across the street and you will be at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial which shows Gould-Shaw and his men of the 54th regiment of the Union Army.   

The 54th Regiment is the first all-volunteer African American unit in the US Army which was formed in 1863 during the American Civil War.  

The 1989 film Glory tells the story of the 54th regiment and stars Matthew Broderick as Col. Robert Gould Shaw.  

The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial is a stop on the Black Heritage Trail which runs through our Beacon Hill Neighborhood.   

Free tours of the Black Heritage Trail are conducted by the US Parks Department.

For more information on tours of the Black Heritage Trail:   www.nps.gov/boaf

Stop D - The Park Street Church

Follow the trail back into the Boston Common to the starting point take a left down Tremont St. (follow the brick line) and cross Park St.  

This church was the site of  the first Sunday school in the United States in 1818;  the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison made his first anti-slavery speech on this church’s pulpit in 1829; and the church choir sang for the first time ever in public on July 4th, 1831, the song “My Country Tis of Thee.”

Stop E -  Granary Burial Ground

The next spot on the Trail sits just on the other side of the Park St. Church is the Granary Burial Ground.

Here is where three signers of the American Declaration of Independence rest as well as Paul Revere, Mary Goose (credited with being Mother Goose), and the parents and siblings of Benjamin Franklin.  

Read and download our  self-guided tour of the Granary Burial Ground for a self-guided tour of this spot.

Stop F -  King’s Chapel

Follow the Trail to the corner of Tremont and School Street and you will see King’s Chapel.

This stone church was built around the original wooden church which was built in 1688 and then the wood from the church was carefully disassembled and the wood and glass were shipped to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and rebuilt to construct St. John's Anglican Church.  

King’s Chapel is free and open to the public for self-guided tours (there is a donation box at the entrance) and is worth going inside.  

Although the church looks a bit plain on the outside, inside it is ornate and you can grab a self-guided tour information pamphlet at the entrance of the church to help guide you through this wonderful stop.

There is also a burial ground here where you could find the frame of Mary Chilton, the first woman to step foot off the Mayflower.

Stop G -  Boston Latin School

Follow Trail down School St. and next to King’s Chapel you will see the monument for the Boston Latin School, the oldest school in America (1635) and still in operation today.  

The school’s current location is near Fenway Park. The monument for the school is in the design of a hopscotch game.  

Some of its famous students include Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Sam Adams, and John Adams just to name a few.  

There is a Benjamin Franklin Statue on the grounds.

Stop H -  Old City Hall

Where the Boston Latin School once stood is now the site of Old City Hall (1865).  

For 104 years Boston’s mayors held court here until they move into City Hall’s Current location (across from Faneuil Hall), New City Hall (1969).  

Stop I -  Old South Meeting House

Follow the Freedom Trail to Washington St. and you will come to the Old South Meeting House (1729).

This church is where the Sons of Liberty departed from a meeting on Dec. 16, 1773, and dumped 242 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.  The famous Boston Tea Party.

The clock tower was restored in 2009 and is the oldest American-made clock in the US which is still in operation (1766) in its original location. 

The bell tower houses a bell cast by Paul Revere in 1801. It is one of only 46 surviving bells he made.

The bell resided at several locations around Boston and was placed at the Old South Meeting House Bell Tower in 2011.

The Old South Meeting House is open to visitors daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm April 1st to October 31st and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from Nov. 1st to March 31st.  

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, students, and $1 for children 5-17 years old, and free for children under 5 years old.    

For more information on visiting the Old South Meeting House: www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org .

Stop J -  The Old Corner Bookstore

On the Corner of Washington and School Street is one of Boston’s oldest brick structures (1712) and was the site of the Old Corner Bookstore.  

The bookstore was made famous for meetings on the second floor by the likes of Nathanael Hawthorn, Harriet Beecher-Stowe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Charles Dickens (who lived in Boston for two years) would meet and discuss poetry, politics, and literature.  

It is now the site of Chipotle.  

Stop K -  Old State House

Continue down Washington Street and you will be at the Old State House (1713).  

This was the center of civic life in Colonial Boston and was where folks like Sam Adams and James Otis would argue against the policies of the British Crown.  

On the front of the building is a balcony where, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time and cause a mini-riot during which the Lion and Unicorn which sit on top of the Old State House were ripped down and burnt in a bomb fire.  

The gilded Lion and Unicorn were put back up on the Old State House in 1883 when the building was refurbished. 

Every July 4th at 10:00 am the Declaration of Independence is read from that balcony.  

The Lion and Unicorn, however, is not torn down.

Open daily every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  

It closes at 3:00 pm on Christmas Eve and closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. 

They also raised their admission price to $12 for adults, $10 for students/seniors, and kids from 6 to 18 are free. Veterans and Massachusetts Teachers are free.

For more information on visiting the Old State House: www.bostonhistory.org/

Stop L -  Boston Massacre Site

On the walkway in front of the Old State House is the monument for the five victims killed on March 5, 1770, during the Boston Massacre which took place in the middle of what is now called State Street (formerly known as King Street).  

In the center of the monument is a five-pointed star signifying the 5 deaths enclosed by six cobblestones, signifying the six wounded that night, and stretching from the center are 13 cobblestone spokes representing the original 13 colonies.

Stop M -  Faneuil Hall

Follow the Trail to “the Cradle of Liberty” Faneuil Hall (1742).

This building which was given to the city of Boston by rich merchant Peter Faneuil is famous for the meetings and protests that led to the American Revolution.

Notice the grasshopper on top of the building? 

The grasshopper (his name is Gus) was copied from the grasshopper on the London Royal Exchange Building (which Peter Faneuil model his building after) and was chosen as a sign of prosperity.  

There is a statue of Samuel Adams on the western side of Faneuil Hall.  

Read our post on the top things to see and do here .

The National Park Service Rangers present historical talks every 1/2 hour from 9:30 am- 4:30 pm.

Stop N - Paul Revere House

Follow the Freedom Trail down Union St. (notice the Union Oyster House the oldest restaurant in the United States) and down Hanover St. into our Northend/Little Italy Neighborhood.  

The trail winds down Richmond Street to North Square.  

In North Square sits the oldest structure in Boston, the Paul Revere House (1680). Paul Revere lived for 30 years from 1770 to 1800.  

The Paul Revere House is now a museum that you can visit, where you can learn about the man and his famous ride to signal to the patriots that the redcoats were coming.

The Paul Revere House Museum is open daily from April 15 - October 31 - from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm November 1 - April 14 - 9:30 am to 4:15 pm Closed on Mondays in January, February, and March.  

Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.    

The admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for college students and seniors, and $1 for kids 5 to 17 years old.

For more information on the Paul Revere House Museum:   www.paulreverehouse.org/

Stop O -  Paul Revere Statue

Follow the Trail to the Paul Revere Prado and you will be at one of the most photographed statues in Boston, the Paul Revere Statue which sits in the shadow of the church which made him famous, The Old North Church.  

The statue was designed by Cyrus Edwin Dallin in 1883 and he spent 16 years working on it (1899). The statue was not displayed until 1940. 

Cyrus Edwin Dallin created 260 works over his life and a few of his most famous sculptures are of the Angle Moroni which sits on top of the Salt Lake City Temple in Utah, and also the Appeal To The Great Spirits Sculpture in front of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Dallin died in 1944.

If you go by this statue when one of Boston’s sports teams is in a championship series/game, Paul will be donning a shirt of the team playing for the trophy.  

Stop P -  Old North Church

Walk across the Paul Revere Prado and to the Old North Church (1723), the oldest church building in Boston.  

The church is free to enter and there are guides inside the church who will give you a quick overview of Paul’s Midnight Ride the night of April 18, 1775, which resulted in the battle that started the American Revolution.  

As of Jan, 2024, there will be an admission charge to enter ($8 for adults, $6 for students, military and seniors, and $4 for children under 12)

Stop Q - Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

After you leave the Old North Church, follow the Trail up Hull St. to Copp’s Hill Burying Ground (1659).

It's one of Boston's most important cemeteries and the final resting place of many early Bostonians, including the Puritan Ministers Cotton Mather and his father Increase Mather; Shem Drowne, who made the grasshopper weather-vain on top of Faneuil Hall as well as the banner weather-vain on top of the Old North Church; Robert Newman who hang the lanterns the in the steeple of the Old North the night of Paul Revere’s ride and Prince Hall, the first African American Mason and found of the Prince Hall Masons.

Stop R -  USS Constitution

The Freedom Trail continues down Hull St. to Commercial St. and travels to the next stop the USS Constitution (1797) which is the oldest warship in the US Navy.  

Built to protect American Merchant Ships from pirates off the coast of North Africa, it was made famous during the War of 1812 where it never lost a battle.

It earned the name “Old Ironsides” because the ship was so strong (it is made out of wood) that the cannonballs from British ships would bounce harmlessly off its sides.

The USS Constitution is currently in dry dock but can still be viewed at the location.  

It is open to the public for free guided tours, but tours are now limited due to the construction. For information on touring the ship, read our post .  

Also at the site of the USS Constitution is the USS Constitution Museum .

The Museum is open to the public and provides guests with wonderful tidbits about the ship’s history and what life was like aboard the ship.  

The Museum is open daily from Nov 1st to March 31st from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and from April 1st to Oct. 31st from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Admission is a suggested donation. For individuals and families the recommended donation of $5-$10 for adults, $3-$5 for children, and $20-$25 for families, are suggested donations and any amount is welcome.  

Groups of 10 or more people are required to make an advance reservation to visit the Museum.

Stop S -  Bunker Hill Monument

Follow the Freedom Trail to the final destination and you will be at the Bunker Hill Monument.

The monument was dedicated on June 17th, 1843, 68 years after the famous battle took place.  

The statesman Daniel Webster was the keynote speaker that day.  

The 221-foot monument took 16 years to construct and commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill and has 294 steps.   If you are feeling energetic you can climb the monument.  

The Bunker Hill Museum at 43 Monument Sq. is located at the base of the Hill and is a great little museum.

It is free and has excellent exhibits that will give you a great sense of the battle that took place.  

For more information about how to visit (and climb!) the monument and museum, read our post, Visiting the Bunker Hill Monument & Museum .

This concludes your walking tour of the Freedom Trail.

Guided Tours of the Freedom Trail

We offer a guided tour of the area both on and off the Freedom Trail in our 2-hour tour walking tour.

We also have a self-guided tour of North End/Little Italy that includes some stops on the second half of the Freedom Trail.

Searching Availability...

Hop On-Off Bus Tours

Many of the city's buses (and ducks!) drive through the Freedom Trail map area. The Boston Tourists Passes  offer the option to use hop-on- off buses .

FREEDOM TRAIL AUDIO TOUR

Listen to a sample of our Freedom Trail Tour .

Here is how it works:

• Purchase an audio tour from our Booking Page .
• You'll receive a confirmation email with a .pdf, Google Map link, and audio tour.
• Enjoy the tour(s).

We also offer the following audio tours:

• Beacon Hill
• Harvard University and Cambridge

Where to Eat Near the Freedom Trail

• The Prime Shoppe (inside Quincy Market)
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop
• Sam Lagrassa's
• Luke Lobster at 290 Washington St. ( https://www.lukeslobster.com )
• Boston Public Market ( Wed-Sun  8-8) https://bostonpublicm
• Daily Catch (323 Hanover St.) thedailycatch.com/restaurants/north-end
• Union Oyster House 41 Union St  unionoysterhouse.com
• Black Rose (Quincy Market) 160 state Street https://www.blackroseboston.com/
• Pagliuca's (14 Parmenter St)  www.pagliucasrestaurant.com/portal
• Warren Tavern (2 Pleasant St. Charlestown) https://www.warrentavern.com

BATHROOMS ON THE FREEDOM TRAIL

Officially, there are no Freedom Trail bathrooms outside the Visitor Centers. So where do you go when you gotta go?

We've created a handy guide to free (or close) and clean (or close) public bathrooms on the Freedom Trail.

• 9 am-5 pm Daily
• 139 Tremont St
• 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday
• 24 Beacon St
• 75 State Street
• Stop by Guard Desk and ask for the bathroom key
• 8 am-9 pm Daily
• 1 City Hall Plaza
• Pay Toilet $.25 per use
• As of Jan, 2024, there will be an admission charge to enter ($8 for adults, $4 for children under 12)
• Langone Field (35 Commercial Street)
• 9 am-6 pm Daily

30-Minute Video Tour of Freedom Trail Sights

Related Posts

• Downloadable Freedom Trail Map
• Other Boston Locations off the Freedom Trail Map:  Lexington /Concord
• Check out our guide to free things to do in Boston .

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Brian Burgess

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Boston Town Crier

[email protected]   | 

617-794-7512

We were on vacation and visiting Boston for the day and visited tripadvisor for top things to do. We saw several guided tours, we ended up choosing Boston Town Crier that met in Boston commons. Our guide, Samuel Gray, was absolutely Wonderful! He was so informative, almost like telling the story from an eye witness perspective. He interjected humor and totally made the tour great! My 15yr old son was very captivated that he talked to Samuel after the tour. We would HIGHLY Recommend if you're looking for a great Freedom Trail walking tour.

Private Guided Tours

Public Guided Tours

139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111

[email protected]

Huzzah! Welcome to Boston’s Top Walking Tour!

Walk & Talk Boston’s tour of The Complete Freedom Trail is designed to be unique, fun and informative. You will always be led by a highly experienced guide who can not only share the story of the origin of the American Revolution, but expand and explore new subjects when you want to ask questions that are not part of the tour. The Freedom Trail connects sixteen historic locations in Boston, and your guide will tell the story of the people and events that propelled Colonists to war with the most powerful nation in the world.

My Complete Freedom Trail tour is the most highly rated tour that visits Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution!

My tours are not: Crowded! (I set a maximum of 16 guests.) Not costumed! I never thought wearing period clothing enhanced the narrative. I do not tell bad jokes. You might get a laugh here and there, but never at the expense of the men and women who built our city and nation.

My tours are: focused on making every tour the “best ever” and a highlight of your time in Boston.

We were brand new in 2022!  I had a wonderful inaugural first season and fantastic year in 2023 with many sold-out tours and 1400 guest from around the US and the world. I can’t wait for Spring 2024 to hit the streets again with you, my curious and enthusiastic visitors!

Check out the About page for more. And then check out the Complete Freedon Trail tour!

Big News! (Well, big for me!) My little company earned the Viator/TripAdvisor Badge of Excellence . So, yes, I’m the new tour in town, but no one has better reviews! Just look! 

Welcome! You've found Boston’s best Freedom Trail tour!

Did you know this is the only tour that actually visits all stops on the freedom trail.

Tour Description: Complete Freedom Trail

Revolutionary Story

Story: Forgotten Heros of the Revolution

James Otis & Dr. Warren

Story: Women of the Revolution

Story: Washington's Unlikely Champion

General Henry Knox

Boston Blog — What’s On Our Mind!

The uss constitution’s sister ships.

by markwalkandtalk | Jun 30, 2022 | Uncategorized

If you happen to take our "Complete Freedom Trail" tour, we end at the most famous warship in the world, the USS Constitution. She's over 220 years old and remains a commissioned ship in the US Navy. One of the fun things about leading people on tour is that I'll get...

From an Angry Speech to Death on the Battlefield: The Final Days of Dr. Joseph Warren

by markwalkandtalk | Aug 16, 2021 | Uncategorized

There’s an overlooked series of events that had they unfolded differently, may have changed the course of the American Revolution.  Samuel Adams used every anniversary of the Boston Massacre to remind patriots of the tyranny of the British government. The fifth...

Where Should We Stay When Visiting Boston?

by markwalkandtalk | Aug 21, 2020 | Uncategorized

It’s a Small, Walkable Town Boston is compact and getting around without a car is pretty easy. Almost all of the major attractions in Boston would fit inside the same area as New York’s Central Park. As long as you stay in or near the city center, the highlighted...

Heart of the Freedom Trail

The perfect introduction to boston’s revolutionary history.

Tour Description

This tour is the perfect introduction to Boston’s Revolutionary history! Visit some of the key sites along the world-famous Freedom Trail in this engaging, one-hour guided walking tour.

Journey into the past as you hear stories about events that took place in the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, King’s Chapel and the Old South Meeting House. Learn about the diverse people, places and events that started a revolution.

The people of colonial Boston were ordinary people. Shaped by the times that they lived in, they rose to the cause, and achieved extraordinary things!

Tour Information

mostly flat surfaces and little to no inclines

freedom trail historical revolution

Public Tour Calendar

Private tours.

Starting Location

Meet your guide near the Samuel Adams statue in front of Faneuil Hall.

Finding Your Guide: All guides carry an 8×11 sign that says “Boston By Foot Walking Tours.”

Nearest Accessible MBTA Station: State (Blue & Orange Lines)

Ending Location

This tour ends in the general area of One Beacon Street.

Nearest Accessible MBTA Station: Park Street (Green & Red Lines) is 0.2 miles away

Daily & Weekly

• Beacon Hill Beacon Hill
• Boston By Little Feet Boston By Little Feet
• The Dark Side of Boston The Dark Side of Boston
• Heart of the Freedom Trail Heart of the Freedom Trail
• The North End: Boston's Immigration Gateway The North End: Boston's Immigration Gateway
• Reinventing Boston Reinventing Boston
• Road To Revolution Road To Revolution

Monthly & Quarterly

Annual events, new for 2024, archives (1).

The history of enslavement at Boston’s Freedom Trail sites is beginning to be told

Boston is a cradle of American history, and 4 million people a year visit the historic churches, graveyards and parks that make up the Freedom Trail to learn more about the country’s origins. But rarely do they hear the underbelly of that story: that slavery touched nearly every aspect of the society and the economy of Massachusetts during that period of time. But that is now changing.

• By Paul Singer

Samuel Ike, of Cambridge, Massaschusetts, dressed in the role of Revolutionary War-era African American abolitionist Prince Hall, walks past the grave with red flowers of the victims of the 1770 shooting by British soldiers, known as the Boston Massacre, at the Granary Burying Ground in Boston. The grave of founding father Samuel Adams rests at right. March 3, 2020.

GBH Advisory: This project contains descriptions of violence and dehumanizing language to reflect the horrors that Black people and Native Americans were routinely subjected to during the era of American history when slavery was common. We recognize such language may distress some readers. Discretion is advised.

A narrow red brick path winds through the sidewalks of downtown Boston, connecting 17 historic sites tied to the city’s colonial history as the incubator of the American Revolution.

But the red line of the Freedom Trail also could symbolize the blood of enslaved people who helped make that revolution possible.

Boston is a cradle of American history, and 4 million people a year visit the historic churches, graveyards and parks that make up the Freedom Trail to learn more about the country’s origins.

But rarely do they hear the underbelly of that story: that slavery touched nearly every aspect of the society and the economy of Massachusetts during that period of time. But that is now changing.

In the 1700s, enslaved people likely accounted for about 10% of Boston’s population, according  to the city’s tally .  An unnamed French writer visiting Boston in 1687 wrote, “You may … own Negroes and Negresses; there is not a house in Boston, however small may be its means, that has not one or two.”

The malicious tentacles of slavery in the Bay State were widespread, although Massachusetts was not home to massive agricultural plantations like in the Southern colonies.

Boston thrived on shipping that involved transporting enslaved people or the products of their labor. The colony had a huge rum industry, made possible by the sugar harvested in the slavery-riddled Caribbean. And enslaved people in Central and South America mined the silver that Paul Revere used to manufacture his iconic kitchenware.

And those connections can be tied directly to sites along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail: in the wood harvested by enslaved workers to build the USS Constitution; in the unmarked graves at Boston’s old cemeteries and in the history of Boston Latin School, where enslaver Nathaniel Williamsserved as one of the first schoolmasters.

“We kind of give ourselves a lot of credit for being the first state to banish slavery,’’ he said. “But we were also the first state to make it legal.”

Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize slavery, with the adoption of the 1641 “ Body of Liberties ,” which set out the rules under which a person could be enslaved. Slavery was abolished in the 1780s through a series of court cases brought by enslaved people.

L’Merchie Frazier, former director of education and interpretation for Boston’s Museum of African American History, said the interpretation of the historic sites on the trail, installed in the 1950s, has completely ignored the role of Black people.

“Whose freedom are we trailing and are we tracing as we walk on those bricks?” L’Merchie Frazier, former director, Museum of African American History, Boston, Massachusetts

“Whose freedom are we trailing and are we tracing as we walk on those bricks?” she asked.

GBH News reporters worked with a group of Boston University journalism students to document the lesser-known history of slavery at each of the sites along the Freedom Trail. For several months, students dug into archives and worked with researchers to piece together information.

Some of the sites have done a lot of this work themselves and were able to share their findings; others, like the Old Corner Bookstore and the Boston Common, are essentially unmanaged and required students to dig through troves of documents and read historical texts looking for clues. While very little of what was found was previously unknown, there’s no easily accessible place to find all the information collected in one place.

View the interactive map: The Enslavement History of the Freedom Trail

Suzanne Segura Taylor, the executive director of the Freedom Trail Foundation, said her organization has long trained guides to mention slavery on the tour.

For example, the training materials direct guides to discuss the small grave marker beside the tomb of John Hancock, a two-time Massachusetts governor made famous for his signature on the Declaration of Independence. The small grave carries the name of “Frank,” described as a servant of Hancock’s and who was almost certainly enslaved, historians agree.

“Those are the things we say that must be talked about,” she said.

But, she said, more can be done to elevate the story of Boston’s slave history, and she hopes to share GBH’s findings with her tour guides.

The Freedom Trail Foundation is just one of countless organizations leading tours of the historic sites. Last month, a GBH News reporter took a 2 1/2-hour walking tour with a private company that covered all 17 sites and never once mentioned slavery.

“There’s a lot of people out there conducting tours that we don’t know what their outlines are, what they’re required to discuss on their tours,” Taylor said.

Frazier said the story that tourists hear about colonial Boston depends on the guide. 

“Previously on the Freedom Trail, the only mention of any Black person was Crispus Attucks — and not his history, just that he died on March 5, 1770,” she said.

Attucks, the first person killed in the Boston Massacre on that day, is buried with other victims under a commemorative stone in the Granary Burying Ground, beside revolutionary leader Samuel Adams. GBH followed several tours through the burial ground and the massacre site and heard no mention that Attucks — the child of an enslaved Black father and a Native American mother — had once been enslaved and advertised as a runaway.

Frazier also points out that the story of enslaved people in Boston is not just a story of victimhood. It is also the story of people working together to educate themselves, learn skills and try to build wealth — and fight for their freedom.

It was “a strategized, networked, organized movement to secure their voices, their land, their property,” she said. “If you leave out that narrative, that expanded narrative, of Black and Indigenous people here, you have really done a woeful job of delivering history. Especially in terms of considering the principles of democracy.”

While there is growing acknowledgement of the city’s ties to slavery on the Freedom Trail, the public-facing recognition of it is intermittent. For example, organizers at King’s Chapel, a stone chapel founded in 1686, launched an effort a few years ago to grapple with its history. Many of the founding members, and many of the donors to the construction of the church, were slaveholders, slave traders or otherwise made their money from the work of enslaved people.

Signs around the church now explain those connections, and the chapel recently  approved  a massive transformation to install a monument to the 219 enslaved people linked to the congregation’s history.

Watch how King’s Chapel is reckoning with its ties to slavery:

But just outside the church, the city-owned King’s Chapel Burying Ground provides no details about slavery on its signs, even though some of the most illustrious names on its tombstones commemorate people who owned slaves, including John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts.

A “First Governor” plaque in the burial ground marks the family tomb and tells the story of Winthrop’s career, noting that he was “considered religious, prudent, conscientious and pious.” No mention is made of the fact that the governor sent soldiers to sack a Pequot settlement in 1627, taking hundreds of Native American prisoners, many of whom Winthrop sold, gave away as slaves or kept for himself.

Beth Anne Bower, credited as the historical research consultant on those signs, told GBH News that when the placards were made two decades ago, exploring connections to slavery “was not the conversation.” Instead, she said, she was encouraged to focus on the “diversity” of people buried there, highlighting women business owners and French migrants.

The current recognition that “we should start confronting this history” was not part of the mission for those signs, she said. “It should have been.”

Walking past the site of Boston Latin School — the oldest school in the nation — visitors would not learn that Nathaniel Williams, one of the school’s first schoolmasters, enslaved two people identified as Richard and Hagar. This fact is not mentioned on the school’s own website or on the mural painted on the sidewalk on School Street, which is named for Boston Latin. But these key details are available on other city  websites .

Increasingly, the sites along the Freedom Trail — which are curated by different groups, including the National Park Service, the city of Boston, individual congregations and stand-alone nonprofits — have begun telling the stories of the foundation of enslavement that the city’s history stands upon.

The USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown, which receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, leads visitors through a hands-on description of how the ship was conceived and built.

Dr. Carl Herzog, the historian at the museum, told Boston University students that the “live oak” — a particualry impregnable species of wood — that the US Navy sought to build the boat with in the 1790s came from Georgia’s St. Simons Island, where it was harvested by enslaved workers. In a  blog post  published on the museum website late last year, Herzog detailed the use of this wood: “Paying enslavers for the forced labor of enslaved people was an expediency that Navy officials and contractors saw as fundamental to the job. Thus, enslaved people were essential to the construction of naval warships built to secure the very American freedoms they were denied.”

The museum exhibit includes a modern life-sized photo of a Black man dressed as an “enslaved” worker carrying an axe. The attached sign says, “I hate this work. My master earns top dollar for my toil, but me, what do I get? … [White workers] left. I don’t have that choice. Got nowhere to run.”

Old North Church, where the lanterns were hung in the steeple “one if by land, two if by sea” to launch Paul Revere’s famous ride, has rewritten its own materials to expose the slave ties of the donors who funded that steeple.

The Old State House has an exhibit about the petitions enslaved people submitted to the Legislature in the 1700s asking for their liberation and reparations.

Stepping off the Freedom Trail, visitors can find even more of this history.

The National Park Service leads tours on a 10-stop  Black Heritage Trail  that features an alternate slate of sites curated by the Museum of African American History, including the African Meeting House — the nation’s oldest Black church building — and the John J. Smith House, home to a leading abolitionist who helped liberate Shardrach Minkins, an enslaved man from Virginia arrested in Boston in 1851 under the Fugitive Slave Act.

And the city of Boston has unveiled an exhibit inside Faneuil Hall to document some of the enslaved people who lived here and to highlight “Boston’s complicity” in the slave trade. The location was chosen specifically to elevate the fact that Peter Faneuil, who built the building donated to Boston in 1742, was one of the most active slave traders in the colony.

Some social justice leaders, like Imari Paris Jefferies, chief executive of Embrace Boston, who led the 2022 installation of the new civil rights memorial on the Boston Common, say this recognition is long overdue.

“To have more of these historic and legacy institutions on the Freedom Trail tell a holistic story about Boston’s — and by default America’s — involvement and engagement in this dark part of our history is an important part of reconciliation,” he said.

This story originally appeared on GBH’s Morning Edition.

Related:   Benin is building a theme park to remember slavery — is history up for sale?

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Good Housekeeping

The 10 Best Cities For Walking

Posted: April 12, 2024 | Last updated: April 12, 2024

Even though putting one foot in front of the other is the easiest form of exercise there is, it's still hard to find the motivation to bypass the car and head out on foot in your everyday life. But with a couple of tools—including a visit to Walkscore.com which grades cities and neighborhoods on the ease of finding entertainment or provisions on foot, and Prevention.com's at-a-glance guide to the attractions that you'd never notice on a drive—you can get (ahem) one step closer to a more exciting pedestrian lifestyle. The closer a city on this list scores to 100, the better the walkability.

Whether you're in the market for a new 'hood or planning a trip, you can take advantage of these 10 cities where pedestrians give wheels a run for their money. Read on to learn what makes these metro areas walker-friendly.

MORE: 7 Incredible Results You'll Get From Walking 30 Minutes A Day

10. Long Beach, CA

Walk score: 69.9

Long Beach has numerous business and shopping districts, as well as parks and waterfront areas that are pedestrian-friendly. Take Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath, for example, the 4-mile trail has gorgeous views of the water and is perfect for trying any of these

9. Oakland, CA

Walk score: 72.0

8. Seattle, WA

Walk score: 73.1

You know you're in a pedi-friendly city when the municipal government publishes a Seattle Walking Map , making it clear that creating a greener environment and a healthier population is a top priority. From the historic district surrounding Pike Place Market to the shops and eateries in Fremont, there are loads of places to explore on foot in picturesque Seattle. Other attractions include the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park, the Myrtle Edwards Park, Elliott Bay Park, and the Graham Arboretum.

7. Washington, D.C.

Walk score: 77.3

Between D.C.’s National Mall, the Smithsonian, and the blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, there are countless places to sneak in some steps in our nation’s capital.

6. Chicago, IL

Walk score: 77.8

From The Magnificent Mile to Millennium Park, anyone who's lived in the Windy City knows it's a walker's dream. First-time visitor? Check out the Chicago Greeter program for a free guided walking tour. You'll meet a Chamber of Commerce sponsored local for a free guided tour of a neighborhood.

5. Philadelphia, PA

Walk score: 79.2

Philly is so committed to keeping pedestrians safe that its Center City district boasts the largest comprehensive pedestrian sign system in North America. The city also has more than 10,000 acres of pedestrian-friendly parks.

4. Miami, FL

This oceanfront city is a flat belly factory—whether you choose to walk on the beach, or burn off the yummy lunch you enjoyed on pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road.

3. Boston, MA

Walk Score: 80.9

While the Freedom Trail has long been a way to stay fit while learning about the birth of our nation, Boston has seriously stepped up its efforts to create a citywide walker's paradise. To wit, WalkBoston —an initiative to make the city safer, easier to navigate on foot, greener, and more community-based, which they do by encouraging businesses and individuals to create a pro-walking atmosphere. They also offer awards to businesses that create inviting parks and seating areas, or individuals who advocate for increased pedestrian safety measures. WalkBoston's initiatives create a sort of universal access—with more than just a nod to citywide mobility for individuals of all incomes and abilities.

2. San Francisco, CA

Walk Score: 86.0

Hilly reputation notwithstanding, the city has serious walking cred in neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Financial District. San Francisco has also just launched a city-sponsored program called WalkFirst , which works to improve pedestrian safety and walking conditions with sidewalk buffers, revamped intersections, and better lighting in key pedestrian areas citywide. Walk San Francisco , an advocacy group that promotes pedestrian activity and safety, offers group walks as well.

New York, NY

Walk Score: 89.2

New Yorkers have long used their own two feet to book it around town. But recent pedestrian-friendly enhancements all over the city have considerably upped how pleasant that experience can be. Two favorites: The High Line—which transformed 1.45 miles of long-neglected elevated freight train tracks into a birds-eye-view promenade above the shore of the Hudson River—and a more walkable Times Square.

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