Location: Beacon Hill
Top Things to do in Beacon Hill
Top 10 Sights & Landmarks in Beacon Hill, 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. Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By KimGTravels - Pacific Grove, United States
Located across the street from the State House on Beacon Hill, this moving high-relief bronze of Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment is mounted onto stone. Comprised of the first African-Americans to serve during the Civil War, a clause in Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation made African-American volunteer regiments permissible. Fighting battles in South Carolina, 598 men returned to Boston of the 1,007 enlisted, taking part in the final ceremonies held on Boston Common. Taking nearly 14 years to its completion in 1884, Augustus Saint-Gaudens captured and honored the sacrifice of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment and their volunteer service. Colonel Shaw gallantly sits upon horseback, with three rows of his infantry boldly marching behind, representative of their journey down Beacon Street on May 28, 1863 toward battles in the South. Severely wounded in the battle at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, Sergeant William H. Carney rescued the regiment's flag from capture, becoming the first African-American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Unfortunately, Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 74 enlisted men and 3 officers in that battle.
2. Freedom Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,358 reviews
The red line on the sidewalk leads you on this 2.5-mile, self-guided tour of American Revolution sites. It starts at the Boston Common, America's oldest public park, and ends at the famed Bunker Hill Monument.
Reviewed By 434eileenb - Wheaton, United States
American history starts here- Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), Paul Revere's House, Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Boston Tea Party Site, the Granary Burial ground, King's Chapel, Old Corner Book Store are all must see sites. The "Red" trail takes you to all these places and more. Very easy walking short segments of the trail. Everyone friendly and wearing masks. We started at Boston Common. Visitor center didnot have any free maps -the one they had was $3.00 and it was the same as we got at our hotel..so pick one up at your hotel if possible. They also had bathrooms. Parking is free on Sundays on the streets so get there early in the day We stopped at Faneuil Hall for lunch and shopping. Visitor center was closed (not sure if is opened at all) We drove over to USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). We found parking on the street. We didnot see any parking lots. Visitor center/museum was $10 per adult and worth visiting. The ship is free but they only allow 25 people at a time so go early in the day. Be prepared to stand in sun as they have limited shade and they do security and virus checks.
3. 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.
4. Emerson College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
5. Church of the Advent
6. Boston African American National Historic Site
7. Nichols House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
The Nichols House Museum's mission is: To preserve and interpret the 1804 townhouse that was from 1885 until 1960 the home of Rose Standish Nichols, landscape gardener, suffragist and pacifist. The house was built by Jonathan Mason and is attributed to Charles Bulfinch. The museum educates visitors by providing a unique glimpse into the domestic life in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on Boston's historic Beacon Hill.
Reviewed By RainelleT_13 - Sagamore Beach, United States
We arrived at an awkward time: 1:20. Tours are conducted on the hour, though we'd not been aware of this until reading that info on the door I found to be locked when trying to turn the knob. Not wanting to stagnate for forty minutes, we headed away from the entry....only to be called back by a kindly voice. As no one had come for the 1:00 tour, we were told that we could have one...even though we were between times. Our guide was a young woman named Laura, and she was just wonderful. Her knowledge about, and presentation of the interesting facts about this house on Beacon Hill and the generations of the Nichols family who lived there, were outstanding. She fielded and answered all questions easily. Hope you find a time to visit!
8. Ether Monument
9. Charles Street
10. Beacon Street
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