Location: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
The 10 Best Historic Sites in Downtown, Massachusetts (MA)
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. Old State House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,366 reviews
Relive the drama and excitement of the American Revolution with fun and engaging programs and tours, interactive exhibits, beautifully restored period rooms and unsurpassed 18th century treasures. Celebrating 300 years as America's oldest and most historic colonial building, the Old State House is now Boston's Revolutionary Museum. Visit us at the heart of the Freedom Trail and only steps away from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and the New England Aquarium.
Reviewed By TheAviator0765 - Ripon, United Kingdom
This really is a 'must-see' on the Trail. Not only is the building beautifully kept and steeped in history in its own right, the museum will guide you around the story of Boston and allow you to fully understand the part it and its people played in the War Of Independence. Access is via the Visitors' Centre desk in the gift shop. The fee is well worth it, for inside the exhibits and interpretation boards describe clearly and in chronological order what happened in the famous city. Now as a Brit, I was curious on what slant the events would be described, but rest assured the story is sold factually without a hint of partisanship. That said, I fully recognise George III was best described as an absent landlord who saw the Colonies as a cash-cow, while the British Army's idea of defence diplomacy of the era was to pour more fuel onto the nearest available spark! But the collection of exhibits in its own right amounts to a truly fascinating collection. There are also a number of tours throughout the day. Do try and catch one; the briefers are knowledgable and full of enthusiasm, and add immensely to the overall experience. There is a gift shop on the ground floor, well stocked with good quality and interesting products; all things to do with the Revolution. Plan to spend at least an hour here. It's not a 'poke head inside and tick off' kind of place. We spent nearly two hours here, but felt much the richer for it.
2. Granary Burying Ground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,602 reviews
The burial ground for famous American patriots like Paul Revere, John Hancock and Sam Adams, is also the final resting place for Mother Goose.
Reviewed By MRayTraveler - Orange County, United States
Granary Burying Ground is one stop on the Freedom Trail, and features the final resting places of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams, the victims of the Boston Massacre, Ben Franklin's parents and many more. So much history in such a small space. Stop by for 20 or 30 minutes and enjoy the opportunity to experience a small bit of our nation's history.
3. Boston African American National Historic Site
4. Peddocks Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Close to the mainland, Peddocks Island is one of the largest and most diverse islands in the harbor—featuring historic structures, hiking trails, unique geologic features, and even solar energy installations. One area is also still home to active cottages that serve as private residences. Hike around an island that has been home to American Indians, militiamen, prisoners of war, farmers, summer vacationers, and others. Explore an island that was home to Fort Andrews from the early 1900s through World War II.
5. The Printing Office of Edes & Gill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 368 reviews
The Printing Office of Edes & Gill, Boston’s only colonial era printing experience, We are open daily and located along the Freedom Trail at Faneuil Hall. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage living historians working their printers trade in pre-revolutionary Boston. We offer unique personal encounters with history and colonial printing. As Boston’s only colonial trade experience and only colonial living history interpretive experience, our historic equipment, live demonstrations, interpreters and historic settings enable new levels of understanding how colonial printing affected communities and sparked a revolution in America. We seek to recreate this experience for visitors and school groups to Boston’s Freedom Trail and to rekindle the spirit of Samuel Adams who urged fellow citizens to join this “animating contest of Liberty!”
Reviewed By MNDoubleB - Saint Paul, United States
The man that runs the printing press is about the nicest person I have ever met. I was part of a veterans tour and we were treated like VIPs. If you want to step back in time, and actually learn about America's history this is the place to go. You can actually print your own copy of the Declaration of Independence!
6. Haymarket Square
7. Park Street Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 132 reviews
A stop on the Freedom Trail, this 1809 church is noted for its 200-foot steeple.
Reviewed By KimGTravels - Pacific Grove, United States
Located on Boston's Freedom Trail, across from Boston Common is perched this beautiful traditional New England church built in 1809 by architect Peter Banner. Inspired by a church in London designed by famed architect Christopher Wren, its 217 foot steeple at one time was the first Boston landmark visible from afar, while approaching the city. The church became known as "Brimstone Corner", not only for the style of preaching within, but also due to the gunpowder stored during the War of 1812. Henry James claimed it: "the most interesting mass of brick and mortar in America". Services and weddings are still held within.
8. Old City Hall
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 109 reviews
Once Boston's city hall, this beautiful building is now home to one of the city's finest restaurants.
Reviewed By 68lesleyb - Mountain View, United States
The Old City Hall site is an interesting historical feature of the Freedom Trail. There are a few interesting things to view at this site: The hopscotch in the sidewalk on School Street indicates this spot is the site of the Boston Latin School. There is a statue of a former student - Benjamin Franklin - in the courtyard. Scenes of Franklin's accomplishments appear on the square pedestal of the statue. The statue of Franklin was the first portrait statue to be erected in Boston. There is also a bronze donkey in the courtyard, signifying the Democratic Party, with two bronze footprints in front of it labeled "stand in opposition" and a plaque explaining the origin of the donkey as the Democratic party's symbol.
9. Boston Massacre Site
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 258 reviews
A circle of cobblestones in the street outside the Old State House marks the spot where British soldiers fired on a crowd, the event which many believe was the start of the Revolutionary War.
Reviewed By morrigan716 - Wichita Falls, United States
My husband and I nearly missed it because the exit of the subway is right under the Old State House, which is right in front of where the massacre happened. We came out of the subway trying to orient ourselves to the city, and pretty much just walked over it. Once we realized it, we stopped to look. As part of the Freedom Trail and a significant part of American history, it's definitely worth seeing.
10. Old South Meeting House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 307 reviews
No Tax on Tea! This was the decision on December 16, 1773, when 5,000 angry colonists gathered at Old South Meeting House to protest a tax...and started a revolution with the Boston Tea Party! Built in 1729, Old South Meeting House was the largest building in colonial Boston. From outraged protests over the Boston Massacre, to the night when Samuel Adams gave the secret signal to throw 340 crates of tea into Boston Harbor, colonists came to the Meeting House to protest British rule. Our museum and historic site is an important stop on your Freedom Trail Tour or visit to Boston, and our award-winning Museum Shop is a favorite of tourists and locals alike! From our informative exhibits, 3D map of colonial Boston, and scavenger hunts, to taking in the beauty of our historical meeting house interior, to browsing the titles, locally-sourced goods, and revolutionary gifts of our museum shop, we have something for everyone.
Reviewed By SarahS233 - Spring Hill, United States
We decided to tour the inside and the admission was very reasonably priced - check their website for the different pricing and hours open. At the Meeting House you can see tea leaves and a tea crate label from the Boston Tea Party, a popular 3-D model of colonial Boston that is over 100 years old, John Hancock's portable writing desk, a a statue of enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley and her first-edition 1773 book - and more. The girls really enjoyed the different scavenger hunts available to help them explore the exhibits, with multiple levels available depending on the age of the children. There is a small gift shop downstairs and a place to get a National Parks Passport Stamp if you are collecting them.
