Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Bunker Hill and USS Constitution
Description
Most tours of the Freedom Trail are partial tours, skipping sections to save time. This tours will take you from start to finish -- with a focus on the people and events that propelled peaceful Puritans into revolutionaries willing to give their lives to separate themselves from Great Britain. If you want the complete story, including visiting Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution, this is your tour! FAQs! How long is the tour? It takes about four hours. Are there restrooms? Yes, of course. There are four, and we always stop when someone requests a break. What should I carry? A large water! Camera and hat, and be sure to check the forecast and dress accordingly. Adults bring your ID. You may also want to bring a snack to enjoy as you walk. How do we get back to downtown? There are two main ways: walk or take a ferry to Long Wharf. Is this a good tour for children? Kids who are at least 12 years old usually enjoy the tour. The tour is not recommended for younger children.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You'll see all three buildings used as the seat of Massachusetts government. This is the current State House, designed by the father of Federal Architecture, Charles Bulfinch.
At the time it was built, the church was the tallest building in the country. It's history is tied to the Abolition Movement and was know at "Brimstone Corner" both for the fiery sermons and a surprise of what was once stored in the cellar!
This is the resting place of many of the key figures of the Revolution. You'll meet them and have a brief introduction to each and the roles they played. Buried here are Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock and the victims of the Boston Massacre.
This 1749 Anglican Church is where the first conflict erupted between Puritans and the King when in the 1680's the King stole land to place an unwanted church in Boston.
We visit the statue of Benjamin Franklin and a marker commemorating the oldest and still-operating school in the Colony.
Meeting halls were exceptionally important in Colonial times. People heard from preachers and politicians. Most notably, it was from this Puritan Meeting House that Samuel Adams launched the Boston Tea Party and, in doing so, practically guaranteed the war that would follow.
Once the head of the hated British government, this was the site of a fiery court battle that demonstrated the disregard for Colonial rights in 1761. It is also the site of the 1770 Boston Massacre where innocent citizens were gunned down in cold blood... or did it happen a bit differently?
Faneuil Hall has a history of hosting great speakers. From Samuel Adams who decried "No taxation without representation" to escaped slave and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass.
There is much to see in the "Blackstone Block", from the offices of newspaper, "Massachusetts Spy" to the "Headquarters of the Revolution" (a bar!) to the home of Ebenezer Hancock, brother of John, who's home was used to store money sent from the French to support the Revolution.
One of the oldest homes remaining in Boston, Revere purchased this 1680 Post-Medieval house in 1770 where he fathered sixteen children with two wives.
This church is key to the story of the Revolution when it was used to notify Patriots across narrow waters in Charlestown that the British "Regulars" would pass through Cambridge on their march to collect guns and powder in Lexington and Concord.
A brief visit to this burying ground to understand the geography of the Battle of Bunker Hill and visit a grave marker with an interesting story. to tell.
Learn here about the Battle of Bunker Hill -- fought on Breed's Hill. While losing the battle, the British losses were triple those of the Patriots.
The oldest commissioned war ship in the world is our final stop. Old Ironsides served the US Navy for many years both in US and foreign waters. It is a remarkable treasure.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(839)
I chose this particular Freedom Trail tour because of all the 5* reviews and it did not disappoint! Mark's knowledge and explanation of the history, the sites and all the background was fantastic and kept our whole family, including the teenagers, gripped the whole time. When we asked our 19 and 17 year olds what their favourite part of the tour was they both said Mark. As well as the information Mark shared with us he was thoughtful in considering stopping in the shade to talk to us and even brought water bottles to share. We're so glad we chose to spend our first day in Boston with Mark.
Mark was fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history. Perfect pacing and his smaller group size made it so much more interactive and informative. Mark didn't spout facts at each site, he told a story that continued along the trail and wrapped up beautifully at the end. Could not recommend him more highly.
Really loved our Freedom Trail tour guide, Mark! His thorough knowledge, quick wit, love of shade, and great storytelling made this 4-hour walk an exceptional tour!
Be prepared to walk a lot. It's easy walk but it is very long with only a few minutes break in between stops. Our guide, Mark, gave us a very detailed history lesson of which some I never heard about. He is very knowledgeable. He also made the walking as pleasant as possible taking us in shady spots.
Mark was so very knowledgeable about Freedom Trail history and made it easy for me to understand it too.
Mark is a great tour guide. It is very obvious he loves what he does, and the information comes off as a story rather than a textbook. You will walk a lot and see many parts of the city. He is also kind enough to bring extra water and sunscreen for free, and doesn’t even allow gratuity. Would highly recommend!
Was a great value walking tour, worth every minute and step of the Freedom Trail Walk! Mark took time to stop at 2 sites not listed as official stops, to talk aboutkey places that were part of the history. Extremely knowledgable and a great story teller, he kept the group engaged throughout, despite the warm sun and vast areas to cover He also was nice to carry along extra water, in case some of the gropu forgot to bring any Would recommend to anyone!
Mark, our tour guide, is an Historian. Mark only does small group (there were seven people on our tour day) of participants in order to provide the best possible one on one experience. Mark provides a wealth of knowledge of Boston history, historical sites, and the Boston resident players involved in pre-revolutionary war activities against the British Crown leading up to the Boston Tea party to the battle of Bunker Hill. There is A LOT of walking on this tour from the State house all the way to the USS Constitution. Mark will take you to a couple historic sites off the Freedom Trail because they are just as important to the history of the Freedom Trail. The walk is has a brisk pace due to all the sites being covered in four hours. Mark will stop the group in the shade (sometimes with seating available ) as he weaves all the historical sites, events, and players involved with the Freedom Trail. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Well worth the time and money spent.
Mark knows his history and artfully weaves stories that bring the events leading up to the Revolution to life at each stop on The Freedom Trail plus a few extra. This tour is a must for history lovers!
Mark was EXCELLENT! He provided a great experience that included not only the sites, but also historical context of the people behind the revolutionary war, those well known and those that are not well known. For those out there that want to learn while you tour, this is the tour for you!
David, thank you for those kind words. I'm delighted you enjoyed the experience and the story of how the Revolution began right here in Boston. Happy travels.
