The Freedom Trail

Neighborhood guide

Historic Downtown Boston

Eleven of the sixteen Freedom Trail sites sit within a compact, walkable stretch of downtown — from the Common's lawns to the cobblestones around Faneuil Hall.

The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset

Boston Common & Public Garden

Swan boats, the Frog Pond and the start of the trail.

Downtown Crossing

Shopping, coffee and quick lunches between stops.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Street performers, food hall and historic halls.

Freedom Trail stops in Historic Downtown Boston

Massachusetts State House golden dome seen from Boston Common in autumn1

Downtown · mile 0

Boston Common

America's oldest public park and the trail's starting point.

Why it matters: British troops camped here before marching to Lexington and Concord in 1775.

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Massachusetts State House golden dome seen from Boston Common in autumn3

Downtown · mile 0.35

Park Street Church

A soaring white steeple at the corner of the Common.

Why it matters: William Lloyd Garrison gave his first major anti-slavery speech here in 1829.

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Colonial slate headstones under tall trees in a historic Boston burying ground4

Downtown · mile 0.4

Granary Burying Ground

Final resting place of Revolutionary heroes.

Why it matters: Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and the Boston Massacre victims are buried here.

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Colonial slate headstones under tall trees in a historic Boston burying ground5

Downtown · mile 0.5

King's Chapel & Burying Ground

Boston's first Anglican church and its oldest burial ground.

Why it matters: A royal church in a Puritan town — a symbol of the Crown's presence in colonial Boston.

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The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset6

Downtown · mile 0.55

Boston Latin School Site & Benjamin Franklin Statue

Site of America's first public school.

Why it matters: Founded in 1635, its students included Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

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The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset7

Downtown · mile 0.6

Old Corner Bookstore

Boston's literary heart in the 19th century.

Why it matters: Publishers here brought Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau and Longfellow to readers.

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The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset8

Downtown · mile 0.65

Old South Meeting House

Where the Boston Tea Party began.

Why it matters: On December 16, 1773, thousands gathered here before heading to Griffin's Wharf.

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The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset9

Downtown · mile 0.75

Old State House

Boston's oldest surviving public building.

Why it matters: The Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians from its balcony in 1776.

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The red-brick Freedom Trail line leading to the Old State House in Boston at sunset10

Downtown · mile 0.8

Boston Massacre Site

A cobblestone circle marking a turning point.

Why it matters: Five colonists were killed by British soldiers here on March 5, 1770.

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Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market with crowds of visitors11

Downtown · mile 1

Faneuil Hall

The "Cradle of Liberty" and a marketplace since 1742.

Why it matters: Patriots like Samuel Adams rallied colonists against British taxes here.

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Other neighborhoods

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