Plan Your Visit

Boston Skyline from Charlestown Navy Yard
 

Welcome to Boston National Historical Park

This 43 acre historical park encompasses portions of Downtown Boston, Charlestown, and South Boston. In addition to managing its properties that are a part of the park, the Park operates two visitor centers at Faneuil Hall and in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The park also works and cooperates with many different partner organizations which comprise the Freedom Trail.

There are many different ways to explore Boston's past. At our visitor centers you can collect free maps and information about Boston and the Park. Here you can also participate in any scheduled free Ranger-Guided Talks and Tours. Visitors can also explore the Freedom Trail® and Black Heritage Trail® on our website or with the free NPS app for iOS and Android.

Looking for other activities to do in and around Boston? Check out other National Park sites and units nearby.


 
 

Downtown Boston

 
Faneuil Hall is a four-story brick building with arched windows. The top of the hall has a while cupola with a gold dome and a grasshopper weathervane. Crowds of people pass in front of the hall.

Downtown Visitor Center
First Floor, Faneuil Hall

The Visitor Center is staffed by park rangers and volunteers eager to help you plan your visit to Boston's historic sites. Maps, brochures, videos, free ranger guided tours, and information about sites along Boston's historic Freedom Trail® can all be found here.

No Fees Free admission.
HoursToday's Hours:
  • Visitor Center (First Floor): Loading...
  • The Great Hall (Second Floor): Loading...
All operating hours and seasons.
Ranger programsRanger-led programming and tours available seasonally.
AccessibilityFaneuil Hall is accessible via the ramp entrance on the southern side of the building.
 
The Great Hall of Faneuil Hall is an open meeting space with a gallery level. Doric and Ionic columns support the room. Portraiture and busts decorate the space.

The Great Hall
Second Floor, Faneuil Hall

The first floor of Faneuil Hall was built as a market and still functions as one today. On the second floor, the Great Hall has hosted meetings, orations, and protests which have enlivened debates and fueled activism for some 275 years. To this day the Hall is still used. Political rallies, debates, concerts, and natruralization ceremonies are just some of the events which regularly take place here. More...

No Fees Free admission.
Ranger programsRanger-led programming and tours available seasonally.
AccessibilityThe Great Hall is accessible via the elevator on the southern side of the building.
 
A two story brick church building with arched windows. At the front of the Meeting House is an attached brick belltower with a wood and weathered copper steeple. The tower has a clock face.

Old South Meeting House
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Experience the building where colonists gathered to challenge British rule in the years leading up to the American Revolution - including protests of the Boston Massacre and the historic meeting of over 5,000 people that led to the Boston Tea Party. More...

AccessibilityThe main floor and the lower levels of Old South Meeting House are accessible.
 
Old State House is a three story brick structure with dormer windows along the roof. A second floor balcony overlooks a main intersection of the city. A clock face is above the balcony and a cupola adorns the top of the building at the center.

Old State House
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Explore the building which served as the center of royal government in Massachusetts during the 18th century. See exhibits and experience programs about how colonists debated and protested the future of British rule inside and outside the Old State House. It was from this building's balcony on July 18, 1776 that Bostonians heard the Declaration of Independence for the first time. More...

AccessibilityOld State House can only be accessed via stairs.
 
The Revere House is a two story wooden building painted gray. The high pitched roof is cedar shingle with a chimney on the right end of the house. The windows are panes of diamond-shaped glass. Shutters are only on the first floor windows.

Paul Revere House
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House was occupied by Patriot Paul Revere and his family in the late 18th century. Explore the house of the family and see exhibits about Revere's life, trade, and his famous Midnight Ride on April 18 & 19, 1775. More...

AccessibilityThe first floor of the house is accessible via the courtyard ramps. The second floor is accessible via the elevator in the visitor center and then taking the catwalk to the house.
 
Belfry of Old North Church. The white belfry sits atop a brick base and an arched window is above. Atop the belfry is a tall spire with a golden weathervane.

Old North Church
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Tour the church where Paul Revere arranged for two lanterns to be hung from the steeple on April 18, 1775 to signal patriots in Charlestown that British troops were heading to Lexington and Concord by way of the Charles River. More...

AccessibilityOld North's sanctuary is accessible. Note: To avoid steps in the courtyard while following the Freedom Trail from downtown, you will have to make a left at Unity St., take the right on to Tileston St., then make a right on to Salem St.
 

Charlestown

 
Bunker Hill Monument is a 221-foot granite obelisk. It stands atop today's Breed's Hill inside a small memorial park.

Bunker Hill Monument & Museum

The Bunker Hill Monument is a major commemorative obelisk, memorializing a key battle during the outset of the Revolutionary War. Climb (no elevator) the monument's 294 steps to the top for a spectacular view. Visit the nearby Bunker Hill Museum for exhibits about the battle, the building of the monument, and the history of the Charlestown neighborhood. More...

No Fees. Free admission. Reservations for groups (10 or more) are strongly recommended.
HoursToday: Loading...
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All operating hours and seasons.
Ranger Programs.Ranger-led programs available year-round.
AccessibilityBunker Hill Lodge, the base of Bunker Hill Monument, and the Bunker Hill Museum are accessible.
AccessibilityThe top of Bunker Hill Monument is only accessible via 294 stairs in a tight spiral stairway. For safety, service animals cannot be accommodated inside the Monument.
 
A steel portal crane towers over the bow of a docked warship. Equipment and tool sheds are nearby on the pier. A granite warehouse stands in the background.

Charlestown Navy Yard

Explore one of the nation's original six Navy Yards—home of USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young. Begin your visit at the Visitor Center located in Building 5, just inside Gate 1 of the Navy Yard. An introductory film and exhibits showcase the role of the Charlestown Navy Yard as a workplace and innovation center for 174 years. More...

See below for USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young information.

No Fees. Free admission.
HoursVisitor Center: Loading...
All operating hours and seasons.
Ranger Programs.Ranger-led programs available seasonally.
AccessibilityThe Navy Yard, Visitor Center, and the USS Constitution Museum are accessible.
AccessibilityUSS Constitution and USS Cassin Young are historic warships and have very limited accessibility.
 
USS CONSTITUTION, a wooden frigate with three masts, is shown in Boston Harbor displaying full-dress signal flags draped from bow to stern over her three masts. Signal guns are firing in salute.

Courtesy of USS CONSTITUTION

USS Constitution
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Climb aboard the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Undefeated in combat, she earned the title of "Old Ironsides" in the War of 1812. Guided tours are given by active duty U.S. Navy sailors. More...

No Fees. Free admission. To ensure safety, all visitors ages 18 and over wishing to embark USS Constitution may be subject to present a valid federal or state-issued photo ID at the ship's security entrance.
HoursToday: Loading...
All operating hours and seasons.

Currently, tours are available on the half-hour and run for 30 minutes.
USS Constitution is a historic warship and has limited accessibility
 
The USS Constitution Museum is housed in a historic granite Navy Yard building. The building houses two floors of interactive and accessible exhibits.

USS Constitution Museum
Boston National Historical Park Partner Site

Only yards away from "Old Ironsides," the museum offers hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Discover how a wooden hull helped the ship earn its nickname, how it remained undefeated since being launched in 1797, how schools contributed pennies to save the vessel, how sailors ate a diet of hardtack and grog, and climbed masts 200 feet in the air. More...

Fees Admission by donation.
AccessibilityUSS Constitution Museum is accessible.
 
USS CASSIN YOUNG is a steel warship shown here moored alongside a pier. The identification numbers 7 9 3 are painted on the ship's hull. Her jack staff is flying a 50 star jack on the bow. On the tower of the ship are signal flags and the ship's RADAR.

USS Cassin Young

USS Cassin Young is a Fletcher class destroyer built in 1943 in San Pedro, California. Serving in the Pacific during World War II, Cassin Young earned seven battle starts and survived two Kamikaze hits. Following the war, she ultimately served another decade throughout the 1950s. This was because of the overhauling and maintenance she underwent here at the Charlestown Navy Yard on several occasions. Today, she is an example of what naval shipyards like Charlestown built, repaired, and modernized during the 20th century. More...

No Fees. Free admission.
Ranger Programs.Ranger-led and Volunteer-led tours available seasonally and on select weekends.
AccessibilityUSS Cassin Young is a historic warships with very limited accessibility. Access to the gangway aboard is via steps. Inclines can be very steep and the deck uneven. Hatchways have a very high threshold to access compartments. Due to safety reasons, service animals are not permitted aboard the ship.
 

South Boston

 
Dorchester Heights Monument is alimestone tower that has a mock belfry and steeple on top. It stands atop an elliptical memorial park on Telegraph Hill.

Dorchester Heights

These hills, overlooking Boston's harbor and waterfront from the south, were the site of fortifications built at night by the Continental Army in March, 1776. Artillery mounted here hastened General Howe's decision to take his troops away from Boston, which in turn ended the siege of Boston, gave General Washington his first victory, and inspired the Patriot cause. More...

 

Boston National Historical Park is part of Maritime History of Massachusetts: A National Register Travel Itinerary. Experience the maritime history of Massachusetts by visiting https://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/maritime/.

 

Last updated: January 2, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Boston National Historical Park
21 Second Ave

Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone:

617 242-5601

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