The Freedom Trail is a line of red bricks and paint set into Boston's sidewalks, linking sixteen sites connected with the American Revolution and the city's early history. It was laid out in 1951, after a local journalist suggested a walking route to help visitors find the city's scattered landmarks. It remains the best introduction to Boston: a walk through churches, meeting houses, burial grounds and narrow streets, ending at a warship and a granite obelisk across the harbor.

The route, stop by stop

  1. Boston Common: the country's oldest public park, set aside in 1634. The visitor center here has maps.
  2. Massachusetts State House: the gold-domed seat of government, designed by Charles Bulfinch and finished in 1798.
  3. Park Street Church: its white steeple was once the first landmark travelers saw on arriving in the city.
  4. Granary Burying Ground: graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and the victims of the Boston Massacre.
  5. King's Chapel and its burying ground: a granite church and the city's oldest cemetery.
  6. Boston Latin School site and the Benjamin Franklin statue: the country's first public school stood near here.
  7. Old Corner Bookstore: once a publishing house for Hawthorne, Emerson and their circle.
  8. Old South Meeting House: where thousands gathered in December 1773 before the Boston Tea Party.
  9. Old State House: the seat of colonial government, where the Declaration of Independence was read to Bostonians in 1776.
  10. Boston Massacre site: marked by a circle of cobblestones in the street outside the Old State House.
  11. Faneuil Hall: a market and meeting hall where colonists argued against British taxes.
  12. Paul Revere House: built around 1680, the oldest house in downtown Boston.
  13. Old North Church: where two lanterns were hung in the steeple on the night of April 18, 1775.
  14. Copp's Hill Burying Ground: on a hill above the harbor in the North End.
  15. USS Constitution: launched in 1797, the oldest commissioned warship afloat, nicknamed Old Ironsides.
  16. Bunker Hill Monument: a granite obelisk marking the first major battle of the Revolution, in June 1775.

How long it takes

Simply walking the line takes about an hour and a half. With stops to look inside churches and museums, most people take three to four hours; with every interior and a long lunch, it fills a day. The trail is mostly flat until the final climb to Bunker Hill, where there are 294 steps to the top of the monument for those with energy left.

Guided or on your own?

Following the red line on your own is easy and free. Guided walks, some led by guides in eighteenth-century costume, cover the first half of the trail with stories you would miss alone. Several sites, including the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House and the Paul Revere House, charge their own admission; the churches, burying grounds and the USS Constitution are free or ask for a donation. The Constitution requires a security screening.

Making a day of it

Walk the downtown half in the morning, then stop for lunch in the North End, Boston's old Italian neighborhood, which the trail passes straight through. In the afternoon, cross the Charlestown Bridge to the Navy Yard and the Constitution, finish at Bunker Hill, and take the ferry from the Navy Yard back to Long Wharf downtown: a short, cheap crossing with a view of the skyline.

Tips

  • Start early in summer to beat the heat and the school groups.
  • Wear comfortable shoes: brick and cobblestones are hard on feet.
  • Restrooms are at the visitor center on the Common, Faneuil Hall and the Navy Yard.
  • In winter, the trail is quiet and atmospheric, but some sites keep shorter hours.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Freedom Trail start and end?

It starts at Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. You can walk it in either direction.

Is the Freedom Trail suitable for children?

Yes. Children enjoy following the red line, the costumed guides and the warship. Plan breaks; the full trail is long for small legs.

Can I do just part of it?

Yes. The downtown section from the Common to Faneuil Hall covers many highlights in about an hour. Fit it into two days in Boston.