Boston is the capital and most populous city in the state of Massachusetts. The city is named after a town in England. Many of the city’s first settlers came from Boston, England and simply kept the name. Every year on December 16, there is a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. To commemorate that fateful event, there is a celebration and reenactment in the Boston Harbor.
We have been to this city many times over the years.
- Freedom Trail
- Boston Common
- Massachusetts State Capitol Building
- Park Street Congregational Church and Granary Burying Ground
- Old State House
- Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
- Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
- Harvard University
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
- Boston Duck Tour
- Boston Harbor Cruise
- Copley Square
- Brass Teapot
- Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center
Freedom Trail – is a 2.5-mile red brick lined path in Boston that connects 16 historically significant sites related to American Revolution starting at Boston Common and ending in Charlestown. One can follow the trail on a self-guided tour with maps available at the visitors center in Boston Common. We went on a guided tour. You will see a mix of churches, homes, burying grounds, museums etc. on the trail including the Massachusetts State Capitol Building. Some of the sites are described on this page.
Boston Common – This is America’s oldest park and the beginning point of the Freedom Trail. Founded in 1634, its fifty acres form a pentagon bounded by Tremont, Park, Beacon, Charles, and Boylston Streets. A visitor information center for all of Boston is located on the Tremont Street side of the park.
From Colonial times to the present day, the Common has been at the center stage of American history. It has witnessed executions, sermons, protests, and celebrations, and has hosted famous visitors from Generals Washington and Lafayette to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul II. In Colonial times, it served as a meeting place, pasture, and military training field. Bostonians in the nineteenth century added tree-lined malls and paths and, following the Civil War, monuments, and fountains.
Massachusetts State Capitol Building – With its golden dome clearly visible atop Beacon Hill, the Massachusetts State House sits at the western edge of the Boston Common and is part of the Freedom Trail. Charles Bullfinch designed this monumental building, which completed construction in 1798. We went on a guided tour of the building.
Massachusetts State Capitol, Dome and Rotunda – The building’s iconic dome was designed by Charles Bullfinch and was first shingled before being covered by copper by Paul Revere and Sons to prevent leaks in the early 19th century. The dome was then gilded in gold in 1874 and again at a later date, becoming the golden dome that is visible from the Boston Common. The interior of the dome is colorful and as impressive as its exterior.
Massachusetts State Capitol, Grand Staircase – A large stairway (Grand Staircase) leads to the third floor. A large stained glass window overlooks the landing, displaying the various seals used by the governments of Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts State House serves as the home for the State Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor’s Office.
Massachusetts State Capitol, The Hall of Flags – is a special place where all of Massachusetts soldiers are honored and remembered. Flags have been returned after duty in every subsequent war, including the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Berlin emergency, and the Vietnam War. The hall was built with beautiful Italian marble to appropriately display these flags.
Park Street Congregational Church – This church is another stop on the Freedom Trail. Founded in 1809, it is a historic and active evangelical Congregational church in Downtown Boston and is notable for its tall spire.
Granary Burying Ground – Another stop on the Freedom Trail, the Granary Burying Ground is the city’s third-oldest cemetery, founded in 1660. It is the burial location of revolutionary War-era patriots, including Paul Revere, the five victims of the Boston Massacre, and three signers of the Declaration of Independence – Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine. The cemetery has 2,345 grave-markers. Historians estimate that as many as 5,000 people are buried there. The cemetery’s name directly refers to its close relationship with the grain storage structure that existed at the time of its establishment.
Old State House aka Old Provincial State House – is a historic building built in 1713. It was the seat of the Massachusetts General Court until 1798 and is one of the oldest public buildings in the United States. It is one of the landmarks on Boston’s Freedom Trail and now serves as a history museum. The Old State House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market – In 1742, Peter Faneuil, one of Boston’s wealthiest merchants, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city. The building would serve as a meeting hall and a permanent central marketplace. Located in downtown Boston, steps away from the waterfront, Faneuil Hall is alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation’s fathers proclaimed it The Cradle of Liberty. The statue in front of the hall is of Samuel Adams who was an American statesman, political philosopher and a founding father of United States.
Faneuil Hall was expanded to include Quincy Market in 1826 when Boston’s rapid growth necessitated a larger marketplace. It was named in honor of mayor Josiah Quincy who organized its construction without any tax or debt. The food stalls in Quincy Market are some of the most popular places to eat lunch in Boston.
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park – Opened in 1976, this Park, on the Boston harbor, is one of America’s earliest waterfront parks of the modern era. It has a playground area for smaller kids, a nice garden arch walkway for strolling, several benches and picnic space options.
Harvard University – was founded in 1636 and was the first college in the American colonies. Harvard University was officially founded by a vote by the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Harvard did not found Harvard, but he was the first major benefactor and he donated half of his estate and his library of more than 400 books to the School.
Harvard University, Memorial Hall – contains the university’s main dining facilities, the Annenberg Hall dining commons for first-year students, and the Memorial Church. While originally conceived as a memorial to Harvard graduates who fought in the Civil War, its uses have evolved to include academic functions and communal dining, which began in 1880 with a dining hall.
Harvard University, Statue of John Harvard – Sculpted in 1884, the statue of John Harvard who was the University’s first major donor, sits in front of University Hall. It has become a tradition for tourists to rub the left shoe of the statue for good luck, affectionately known as the John Harvard’s Toe. This act has given the shoe a distinctive shine.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – The Boston Tea Party happened in 1773 because American colonists were angry about the Tea act of 1773, which they saw as taxation without representation and a monopoly for the East India Company. To protest, colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded British tea ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea into the water on the night of December 16, 1773. This political and mercantile protest was one of the key events that lead to the American Revolutionary War and, ultimately, American independence.
At the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, costumed historical interpreters lead visitors through that historic night, through interactive exhibits, films, and multi-sensory experiences. At the end of the show everyone gets to dump tea into the harbor.
Boston Duck Tour – The tour uses a vehicle that is a bus on land and a boat in the water. The tour first takes you through city landmarks on land before splashing into the Charles River for a unique perspective of the city’s sights. These World War II-style landing crafts offer an 80-minute experience, covering about 60 minutes on land and 20 minutes in the water, providing a fun way to see Boston.
Whale Watching Cruises – There are many whale watching cruises offered in Boston like. These tours typically use high-speed catamarans, providing more time for wildlife viewing, and are equipped with indoor and outdoor seating, snack bars, and naturalist guides who educate passengers about the animals. Bring your cameras, binoculars, sunscreen, and a light jacket, and motion sickness medication (if you think you will get sick). The cruises are normally 1-2 hours in length.
We went of a whale watching cruise in more than 20-years back and had a great day watching fin whales and humpback whales.
Copley Square – is a historic and vibrant public square named after the American painter John Singleton Copley. Some prominent landmarks around the square include Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, John Hancock Tower, and the Old South Church. It is also a site for the Boston Marathon finish line, and a center for dining and shopping
Copley Square, Trinity Church – is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. In continuous existence since its founding in 1733, Trinity Church is the third oldest Episcopal parish in Boston, after King’s Chapel (1686) and Christ Church (1722). The current structure is the third building for the parish and stands as the largest building in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, with a seating capacity of 1350 people for weekly worship and for special city-wide events.
Copley Square, Old South Church – was built in 1669 in a raging argument over the waters of baptism. Twenty eight men and about as many women (known then as “the Schismatics” or “the Dissenting Brethren”) broke away from Boston’s First Church to found a church aching to dispense the waters of baptism more liberally. The church founders were descendants of separatist and dissenting Pilgrims, Puritan reformers, and Bay Colony merchant adventurers. Their parents left England in the 17th century, some to escape persecution, and others to forge a more prosperous life in the New World.
It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 for its architectural significance as one of the finest High Victorian Gothic churches in New England.
Copley Square, Boston Public Library – Established in 1848, the library is the main branch of the Boston Public Library System. The Central Library is renowned for its Renaissance Revival architecture, with significant features like its Grand Entrance Hall, the Bates Hall reading room, and decorative murals. Visitors can explore the library’s public areas, including the main lobby, see displayed collections, and even view specific points of interest such as Bates Hall. Beyond its physical presence, the library provides free online and in-person learning opportunities and events.
Brass Teapot – Built in 1873 for the Oriental Tea Company, this large kettle once hung as a store sign, was featured in a contest to guess its capacity (227 gallons) and is now a beloved icon of old Boston that actually steams in the winter. It now hangs above the Starbucks at 63-65 Court Street. It is a reminder of Boston’s rich tea history and the city’s past business practices.
The Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center – offers some of the best views in Boston. Located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Tower, it provides stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the city, including iconic landmarks such as Fenway Park, Boston Common, and the Public Garden.
