Walk Into History on the Freedom Trail!

Looking to take the kids somewhere? Try Boston's Freedom Trail

Boston is a world-class city, welcoming, sophisticated and historic. The Freedom Trail offers a unique experience where residents and visitors can become familiar with great stories of a people rising up against a mighty nation to demand civil liberties and freedom. Boston’s involvement in the American Revolution is critical to the telling of the story, for it was here that it all began and where it was launched. Plan your trip to include a walk along the Freedom Trail and visits to the historic sites.

Wikipedia
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts that passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. Marked largely with brick, it winds between Boston Common to the USS Constitution in Charlestown. Stops along the trail include simple explanatory ground markers, graveyards, notable churches and buildings, and a historic naval frigate. While most of the sites are free or suggest donations, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, and the Paul Revere House charge admission. The Freedom Trail is overseen by the City of Boston's Freedom Trail Commission^[1] and is supported in part by the Freedom Trail Foundation^[2] and Boston National Historical Park.

The Freedom Trail was originally conceived by local journalist William Schofield, who in 1951 suggested building a pedestrian trail to link together important local landmarks. Boston mayor John Hynes decided to put Schofield's idea into action. By 1953, 40,000 people were walking the trail annually.^[3]

The National Park Service operates a visitor's center on the first floor of Faneuil Hall, where they offer tours, give out free maps of the Freedom Trail and other historic sites, and sell books about Boston and United States history.

Some observers have noted the tendency of the Freedom Trail's narrative frame to omit certain historical locations, such as the sites of the Boston Tea Party and theLiberty Tree.^[4]