Historic Boston
Founded in 1630 by Puritans who envisioned their settlement as a shining beacon to the world, Boston was among America’s first great urban centers. Its patriots led the rebellion that grew into the American Revolution, and few places in the US evoke so vividly the birth of a nation. Centuries later, Boston remains at the national forefront in politics, the arts, culture, education, and science. The city retains its Classical proportions and human scale, with modern buildings nudging up against landmarks of the Colonial and Revolutionary eras.
1. Massachusetts State House
Completed in 1798, this legislative temple with its ornate marble and paneled halls, was architect Charles Bulfinch’s masterpiece, and the model for capitols around the country.
Massachusetts State House • 24 Beacon St.
2. Boston Common and Public Garden
Concerts, rallies, and Shakespeare plays enliven the Common, Boston’s green heart since 1634. Tens of thousands of flowers bloom in the Public Garden, while on its pond fantastical Swan Boats glide.Boston Common & Public Garden
3. African Meeting House
At the African Meeting House and adjacent Abiel Smith School you’ll catch an intimate glimpse of the African-American experience, from slavery to abolition.African Meeting House • 46 Joy St.
4. Granary Burying Grounds
Visit the graves of some of Boston’s most famous characters at this Tremont Street graveyard of more than 2,300 slate tomb-stones planted in the shadow of downtown skyscrapers.Granary Burying Grounds
5. Fenway Park
Whatever their loyalties, baseball fans hope to see a game in Fenway before they die. Opened in 1912, it’s the oldest Major League Baseball park, and a shrine to the national pastime.Fenway Park • 4 Yawkey Way
6. Faneuil Hall
One of Boston’s most significant Revolutionary sites, Faneuil Hall heard firebrands like Samuel Adams call the populace to open revolt against the King. Public debates are still staged here among the historical portraits in the Great Hall.Faneuil Hall • Dock Sq.
7. Old North Church
The spare decor and humble box pews typical of a Colonial house of worship barely hint at the fame of Christ Church, where lanterns hung in its belfry warned of British invasion of the countryside.Old North Church • 193 Salem St.
8. USS Constitution
The world’s oldest active warship, the three-masted frigate nicknamed “Old Ironsides” has served in the US Navy since 1797, battling North African pirates and foreign navies alike.USS Constitution • Charlestown Navy Yard, 1 Constitution Rd., Charlestown
9. Paul Revere House
Revere’s house, built around 1680, is the oldest in Boston. Get an intimate look at the domestic life of this key figure in the history of the American Revolution.Paul Revere House • 19 North Sq.
10. Harvard Yard
Free student-led tours through Harvard Yard provide insight into life at America’s first and most prestigious university, founded in 1636. Touch the foot of the John Harvard statue for luck.Harvard Yard
This Way to History
The Freedom Trail (a red line on the pavement, either paint or bricks) snakes through Boston to highlight 16 important sites of Colonial and Revolutionary history. The 2.5-mile (4-km) walking trail begins at Boston Common and ends with climbing Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Pick up a map and inquire about free, ranger-led Freedom Trail tours at the Boston National Historical Park information center at Faneuil Hall. (617 242 5642, www.nps.gov/bost).
Tip: As you might expect, security is tight at the USS Constitution. Don’t carry anything you couldn’t take on an airplane. Tip: The food court at Quincy Market, adjacent to Faneuil Hall, offers good variety and value for a quick lunch.
