Experience History With Boston Freedom Trail Tours

By Katrina Wheeler


Boston Freedom trail tours are an interesting blend of history, culture and architecture. Sixteen different sites including churches, meeting houses, burial grounds and museums can be seen. The walking route consists of 2.5 miles marked with a red line as guidance. This is a great way to get a glimpse the events preceding the American Revolution and the early years of the United States.

A coalition of public and private sector groups helped it to survive. Eventually an information center was opened and free maps distributed to visitors. Finally a foundation was set up to market the route and help with its preservation. Today over 80 000 people walk this route every year.

There are several other companies offering tours too. They cater for different sizes of groups, from individuals to families and larger groups. Some offer shorter walks suitable for children and longer ones for enthusiasts who want to spend more time at each site. There are even some that are conducted in the evening.

Well informed and entertaining guides lead these groups. They tell stories and give background and perspectives about the past that one would probably not be found in many history books. This is why people often prefer to take a tour than to just walk the route themselves.

The Old South Meeting House is one of these sites. Built originally as a Puritan meeting house, it was the stage for some dramatic events leading up to the American Revolution, including the meeting held before tons of taxable tea were jettisoned from the holds of ships at the wharf. The Paul Revere House, the oldest building in existence in the downtown area, is another interesting site. Paul Revere was living here when he set off on his momentous ride.

Boston Latin School, the oldest public school in America, is another one of these official sites. Benjamin Franklin attended this school and is one of its most famous dropouts. His statue stands in front of the school. Other pupils of this school who were also involved in signing the Declaration of Independence were Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine.

Many a tour begins at Boston Common, the first public park in America and end at Faneuil Hall, covering only the sites located in the downtown area. Others begin at Faneuil Hall which housed many protests leading up to the Revolution and where market stalls on the first floor are still in use today. Another tour does only the North End. Some companies allow for a tour to be customized according to a particular interest.

Most companies have online websites where one can check for availability, compare what is offered and book tickets. The Boston Freedom trail tours offer a unique opportunity to gain insight into a fascinating period or history. One can gain more insight into this period when people fought for civil liberty and see the town on foot at the same time.




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