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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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Freedom Trail Tour

Tour Information

Freedom Trail

Freedom trail highlights.

• Boston Common
• Massachusetts State House
• Park Street Church
• Granary Burying Ground
• King's Chapel
• Old South Meeting House
• Old Corner Bookstore
• Old State House
• Boston Massacre Site
• Faneuil Hall
• and much more!

This page provides details of our free Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour, including tips on directions, times, and sights covered.

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Tour Description

Boston's historic center may be small, but it packs in so much history.

From an experiment in Puritan exclusiveness to an inclusive modern metropolis, every street, corner, and building whispers stories of the past.

The Boston Massacre and the original Tea Party took place here. Sam Adams, Ben Franklin, and George Washington all roamed its streets.

Before you take our tour, read our Freedom Trail Map and Guide for advice on parking, food, and maps.

Join Free Tours by Foot as we stroll the Freedom Trail's ancient streets, past historic cemeteries and colonial stone houses all the while hearing tales of rebellion, war, and the independence of a nation.

It's the epic story of Boston's rise and America's birth.

Before taking the tour, read up on some of the sites and characters covered on our Freedom Trail Sites List.

Sights we cover on the tour:

Reservations:  REQUIRED.  Click here to reserve . Groups of 6 or more must  contact us  before booking.

Where:  Outside the  Park St. T Station  on the eastern edge of Boston Common ( map ). The tour ends at Faneuil Hall.

Duration:  Approximately 2 hours. Tour distance is approximately 1 mile (1.6K)

When:  View our  full tour schedule .

This tour runs year-round

• Take this tour anytime with our  GPS-enabled audio tour app .

Cost:  This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A  name-your-own-price tour  is a tour for anyone's budget.

Save even more money with a  Boston tourist discount pass .

GPS Enabled Self Guided Tour of Boston

Can't make one of our guided tours? No problem, we have recorded some of our best tour guides giving their tours and put them up in an audio format. 

Each tour offers an offline option to view the map and hear the audio of each walk so you don't need to have GPS maps running with the app.

Here is how it works:

• Purchase an Audio Tour
• Receive a confirmation email with all the details.
• Enjoy the tour(s).

Even if you don't download any tours, you will still have access to valuable information on sightseeing.

Listen to a sample of our Freedom Trail Tour.

And much, much more

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

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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…

Activities & Events

Heart of the freedom trail guided walking tour.

This 1 hour tour is the perfect introduction to Boston’s Revolutionary history! Visit some of the key sites along the world-famous…

Road to Revolution Guided Walking Tour

Explore the makings of a revolution! From the Boston Massacre to Paul Revere’s midnight ride, the birth of the American Revolution…

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…

Guided Tour: Footloose on the Freedom Trail

A Boston tradition! Footloose on the Freedom Trail is a 3-hour guided walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the Boston…

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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Hidden Gems on the Freedom Trail - Guided Group Tour of Boston

• Boston Common Visitors Center, 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111, USA Tour guide will meet you in front of the Boston Common Visitor Center at 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111. Tour guide will be wearing a Boston Hidden Gems t-shirt with a name tag.
• Paul Revere Mall, 370 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113, USA Tour will end in the Paul Revere Mall in front of the Paul Revere statue. Easy access to keep exploring the Freedom Trail sights in more detail on your own, grab lunch in the North End, or head back to your hotel.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• The Paul Revere House
• Old State House
• Faneuil Hall Marketplace
• Old North Church & Historic Site
• Granary Burying Ground

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Boston Common Visitors Center 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111, USA Tour guide will meet you in front of the Boston Common Visitor Center at 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111. Tour guide will be wearing a Boston Hidden Gems t-shirt with a name tag. See address & details
• 1 Boston Common Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 2 Massachusetts State House Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 3 Park Street Church Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 4 Granary Burying Ground Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 5 King's Chapel Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 6 King's Chapel Burying Ground Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 7 Old City Hall Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 8 Boston Irish Famine Memorial Stop: 5 minutes See details
• 9 Old South Meeting House Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 10 Old Corner Bookstore Stop: 5 minutes See details

• Thomas S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic tour! We had a great time with Maria. She was super knowledgable and super nice. We got to see all the important sites in a day and can absolutely recommend it to everyone Read more Written April 1, 2024
• jamesrW7263JD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best way to see and learn about Boston! What a fantastic day! Took my 14 year old son on a tour with Maria. She did a great job of tailoring the tour to our curiosities and interest level. Super fun day. Perfect way to see and learn about Boston! Read more Written March 21, 2024
• Tourist21970173905 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome Tour This was an absolutely amazing tour. Maria is awesome. We got to see so much and Maria gave us so much information about the history and even the geology of the area. Since my wife had recently gotten out of a boot we did a mostly riding tour and didn't really stop and get out at many places but Maria still made this the best tour we have ever been on. Read more Written March 1, 2024
• TrixieP62 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Just Book It! We were fortunate enough to book 2 day tours with Maria and Boston Hidden Gems. The first was a tour of Hammond Castle and Salem and the second was Lexington/ Concord and downtown Boston. From the moment we reached out, Maria was able to customize both days into exactly what we were looking for from our travel experience and make some amazing suggestions that we wouldn’t have known about! We didn’t intend to visit Salem during the craziness that is October so I can not say how appreciative we were to have Maria who knew how to make it a great time and get around the madness. Her knowledge of downtown Boston and surrounding area is awesome, we were able to take in all the sights and learn so much. We very much are looking forward to our next trip to Boston and the opportunity to book another tour! Read more Written November 6, 2023
• kathleenwE9357BD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent! Maria was amazing! So knowledgeable and took us all over the city. She had great maps and was a wealth of knowledge and experience! Read more Written November 3, 2023
• K673TVnatalies 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Tour! Our family loved visiting Boston! Maria was an amazing tour guide, we would highly recommend her to any other travellers - we'll definitely book her again next time we're in Boston! Read more Written September 20, 2023
• rebeccawX4718YW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome city tour! My friends and I loved this tour. Maria was our very knowledgeable guide- she brought us everywhere we wanted to go, never tired of our questions, and maintained her contagious enthusiasm for this beautiful city throughout our time together. If you are wondering how to make the most of your visit to Boston, this is the answer! Read more Written July 2, 2023
• russellhV797DL 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Senior Trip Tour This is not a generic tour. Maria's knowledge of Boston and the history behind it was very impressive. She shared a lot of stories and made them personal and relatable to everyone in our group. We were grateful she was our guide and highly recommend her. Read more Written June 21, 2023
• ambermN1976AE 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Dynamic Duo that Deliver! Chris and Maria are rockstars! They take you to the hidden gems of Boston but the truth is that they are the hidden gems. They know all the best places to eat (ask them about the best sandwich in Boston, tucked away in a hidden alley), the best places to see & take selfies (we look mighty distinguished on those iconic steps of Harvard), the best places to avoid and the best routes to get there (no GPS needed with them). Our adventure would not have been the same without their guidance, leadership, knowledge, excitement and friendliness. 1,000/10 would recommend! Read more Written June 21, 2023

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Hidden Gems on the Freedom Trail - Guided Group Tour of Boston provided by Boston Hidden Gems

Guided Walking Tour of Copley Square to Downtown Boston Freedom Trail

Getting there.

230 Dartmouth St

Select date and session

No booking fees

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Freedom Trail

For the average Bostonian, life in the New England colonies during the 17th century was, as you might’ve guessed, not exactly one of ease and leisure. Before they were built by stone or brick masonry, homes were small, dank, drafty and made entirely of wood. This building practice was abolished toward the advent of the 1700s due to the susceptibility of fire. Most of the population subsisted as farmers, the drinking water was unsafe, medicine was still in the Dark Ages, and the average lifespan was just shy of 40 years. These were arduous and challenging times and living under the yoke of an oppressive foreign monarchy would eventually prove too much to bear and, thus, a revolution was born.

Comprised of 16 places of interest, each one a milestone in the evolution of Boston from English colony to independence, the Freedom Trail is an essential component of any trip to Boston . This historic attraction literally lays out Boston’s colonial history before you on the very streets where the city’s most transformative events unfolded several hundred years ago.

The thinking behind the design of the Freedom Trail is attributed to William Schofield, a former travel writer for the Boston Herald. He noticed that visitors eager to immerse themselves in the city’s historic past were having trouble finding the landmarks they were looking for. Schofield proposed a solution – Link the most important sites in a numbered sequence along a clearly marked, easy to follow trail that could be walked from end to end without the chance of getting rerouted or lost. There was also the idea that the Freedom Trail would’ve been a typical path to walk for the average colonist back in the day, further enhancing the sensation of traveling back in time.

Discover the magic of wintertime in Boston and embark on a historical “Transportainment ® ” adventure!

BEST WAY TO SEE THE FREEDOM TRAIL

Get MORE out of your summer in Boston aboard the iconic Old Town Trolley and see the best first!

As one of the most important cities instrumental in the forging of the republic Americans know today, the word ‘freedom’ takes on an even deeper meaning in the city of Boston. Rated by Forbes as one of the Top-Ten Best Tours in the city, Old Town Trolley Tours  has applied that concept to how their tours are conducted by offering all-day hop-on, hop-off access. That means you can get off at any of the 18 stops anywhere in the city and explore the surrounding area for as long as you like. When you’re ready to re-board, simply return to the nearest pick-up/drop-off point and hop-on for more Boston adventuring! When it comes to the famous Freedom Trail, the trolley is never too far away from either of the 16 places of interest outlined on the red-brick path. As a matter of fact, the trolley stops at many of the landmarks along the Freedom Trail , making it easy and stress-free to take it all in along with the rest that this magnificent city has to offer!

Freedom Trail History

The Freedom Trail was the brainchild of local journalist William Schofield, who in 1951 suggested building a pedestrian trail to link together important local landmarks. These landmarks included Paul Revere’s house, the Old North Church , the Old State House , and the Old South Meeting House , all of which are historical gems. Schofield and then Boston Mayor John Hynes advocated for an organized route that linked them all together. Businessmen and women, elected officials, and non-profit organizations rallied together to designate a walking trail on Boston’s sidewalks in front of 16 historically significant locations.

Birth of the Freedom Trail

And so, the Freedom Trail was born. Just a few short years later, 40,000 people were walking the trail each year. And in 1958 the red line was added to clearly mark the trail. After being taken over by the National Park Service and being incorporated into Boston National Historical Park, the Freedom Trail was visited by more and more people. Today, more than three million people take the walk each year.

The Freedom Trail Includes 16 Official Historic Sites

Where Does the Freedom Trail Start

The start of the Freedom Trail is Boston Common . The length of the trail is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) and takes about 90 minutes to complete, but if you want to visit the sites along the way, it can be a whole day affair. The end of the trail is at the USS Constitution Museum . If you’re driving there, parking is available at the Boston Common Garage.

What To See on the Trail

An outdoor and indoor living history experience. You can begin your tour in the beginning, middle or the end, visiting the sites in any order you choose. The official start of the trail begins at Boston Common. The trail winds its way to the other sites including the Massachusetts State House, the Park Street Church (open summer time only), Granary Burying Ground, Kings Chapel, Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin Statue & Boston Latin School, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution.

Each site offers a compelling look into the rich past of the American Revolution . Adults and children of all ages can learn the fascinating stories of the people, the places and the events that took place in colonial Boston as they walk the Freedom Trail.

Self-Guided Tours

A walk along the Freedom Trail can be experienced however you wish. If you’re one who likes to take your time, linger and learn; a self-guided tour may be just what you’re looking for. The Freedom Trail guides are another great way to see the sites and learn more about each one.

As one of the most popular historical tours in all of New England, the Freedom Trail’s Walk into History tours entertain and enlighten millions of guests each year. The 18th century costumed guides add a dramatic element to the tour; each one is a local Bostonian with a deep historical knowledge of the trail. You’ll hear intriguing tales of how the patriots and the colonists fought for freedom and how they succeeded in establishing what we know as the United States of America. Each tour is 90 minutes in length and is designed for individuals, groups, schools and more.

Boston Old Town Trolley Tours

Old Town Trolley is a convenient way to explore The Freedom Trail while maximizing your vacation time. With multiple stops along the 2.5 mile historic trail, you can hop on and off at the sites you want to visit and learn about the rest during our fully narrated 90 minute historic sightseeing tour. Find the lowest price and money-saying packages by purchasing tickets direct through our website.

Things To Do Nearby

Black Heritage Trail

The Black Heritage Trail features various homes, memorials, and sites that are significant in the history of Boston’s 19th century African American community. The first slaves arrived in 1638 and by 1705 there were over 400.

Approximate time to allow: 2 hours.

African Meeting House & Museum

Dedicated in 1806, the African Meeting House is the Oldest African American Church and was the First African Baptist Church. Over the years it also served as a school and a community meeting place. It was here that William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Slavery Society, making it the center of the abolitionist movement. In 1972, the building was acquired by the Museum of Afro-American History and it was restored in 1987. Today, the museum commemorates African American history from slavery to the abolitionist movement, with a focus on educational equality.

OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE

Designed by architect Robert Twelves, the Old South Meeting House, one of the first stops along the Freedom Trail heading north, was built in 1792 in the red brick Georgian style with a steeple in the front and was originally a church. At the time it was built, it was the largest building in Boston and was the host to many gatherings that were too large for Faneuil Hall to accommodate. It holds a special place in the history of America as the place where Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty rallied for support and organized the Boston Tea Party. Opened to the public in 1877 as a museum and meeting house, the Old South Meeting House, located between Washington and Devonshire streets along the Freedom Trail is one of the country’s first museums of American history .

USS CONSTITUTION

The order came down directly from the lips of this nation’s first commander-in-chief back in 1794. George Washington wanted to fortify the nascent nation under his watch with a Navy. Six frigates were built, which included the USS Constitution. She was built entirely in Boston and was the largest building project the city had ever seen. Today ‘Old Ironsides,’ the name she acquired during the War of 1812, stands as the oldest commissioned warship in the world still harbored here in the place of her birth. No longer asked to defend a nation against foreign aggression, the USS Constitution, one of the last stops along the Freedom Trail north of the Charles River , serves the public by promoting understanding of the Navy’s role in war and peace through active participation in public events and education through outreach programs, public access, and historic demonstrations.

  View this post on Instagram   Blue skies over Boston 💙 📸: @jgibsphoto . . . . . . . #oldtowntrolley #visitboston #boston #city #bostonian #newengland #thingstodoinboston #bostonlife #bostonbound #bostonusa #usa #america #history #familyfun #igboston #bostongram #bigcity #massachusetts #bostonmass #citylife #cityphotography #cityscapes #bostonlove #bostonma A post shared by Old Town Trolley Tours (@oldtowntrolley) on Jul 3, 2019 at 1:27pm PDT

Boston Summer Nights Tour and Charles River Cruise

Watch history shine under the moonlight! Discover Boston’s illustrious story aboard the Old Town Trolley and the Charles River Boat on this exciting evening tour. Take part in a unique adventure as the sun sets over the Charles River.

THE SITE OF THE BOSTON MASSACRE

On March 5, 1770, an angry mob gathered on Boston’s King Street demonstrating their rage over losing their jobs against the British Crown. Eventually, eight redcoats fired on the rabble resulting in several fatalities and injuries. This conflict became the rallying cry for patriots against their foreign oppressors by the likes of Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. The event caused the expulsion of British troops in Boston until their return four years later. The official marker on the Freedom Trail of this tide-turning event is located at the intersection of State and Congress Streets in Downtown Boston, outside the Old State House, a few yards away from where the Massacre took place. If you’re in town for a March wedding, you might be able to catch the reenactment that the Bostonian Society organizes for the public on the anniversary of the event.

THE BOSTON COMMON

As the oldest public park in the United States, the Boston Common is the starting point of the famed Freedom Trail. Much like New York’s Central Park, The Boston Common is located right smack in the city center and continues to be one of the most visited attractions, not just along the Freedom Trail, but in all of Boston. The story of this city and its people is firmly rooted in the history of this place beginning hundreds of years ago when the land was owned by its citizens and used as a grazing ground for cattle. After the Revolutionary War, the park became a popular locale for public speeches and rallies. Now, the Common offers a variety of activities and events, including theater and musical performances year round.

BOSTON GHOST TOUR

Old Town Trolley Tours invites you to explore Boston’s darker side aboard the city’s only “frightseeing” ghost tour , Ghosts & Gravestones. You’ll visit the streets where the Boston Strangler once prowled and hear local tales of murder and mayhem, ghosts and ghouls.

BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM®

As the site of many game-changing historical events that helped galvanize a nation towards independence, the Boston Tea Party is widely-acknowledged as the tinder that helped spark a revolution. Located in the heart of the city’s Seaport District , this multi-sensory museum allows visitors to relive history with interactive exhibits, full-scale restored 18th-century ships, and a fully immersive tour led by a passionate team of historical actors that really puts the events commemorated by the Freedom Trail into perspective. As part of their commitment to bringing the events of this period into a sharper perspective, there is the opportunity to carouse with colonialists over a spot of tea and re-enact the Boston Tea Party itself!

  View this post on Instagram   2 months from today we’ll be throwing tea in the harbor at the 245th Anniversary and Annual Reenactment of the Boston Tea Party! How will YOU be participating? #huzzah #tossthattea #december16 #bostonteaparty #bostonhistory #americanhistory A post shared by BostonTeaPartyShips (@bostonteapartyships) on Oct 16, 2018 at 2:16pm PDT

Approximate time to allow: 30 minutes.

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Boston Town Crier

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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.

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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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