The Freedom TrailConnected along the Freedom Trail, the park sites in downtown Boston are part of a unique collaboration of public and private organizations. The sites listed here are among the most significant sites in downtown Boston. They were identified in the park's 1974 establishing legislation as possessing the greatest importance in the creation of the United States. As historic sites, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and USS Constitution Museum are each operated by independent non-profit organizations. The US Navy operates USS Constitution. Faneuil Hall remains a City-owned building and it is operated in collaboration with the National Parks of Boston. As you Plan Your Visit to the Freedom Trail®, check out some Things to Do to enhance your trip, including free self-guided audio tours and ranger programs.
Old South Meeting HouseBefore the Boston Tea Party, a series of "meetings of the body" gathered thousands to resist what they saw as a threat to liberty.
Old State HouseOverlooking the site of the Boston Massacre, explore the building which housed the royal colonial government of Massachusetts Bay.
Faneuil HallKnown for generations as the "Cradle of Liberty," this hall remains an active site of meetings, debate, and protest for 275 years.
Paul Revere HouseVisit the oldest building in downtown Boston and the home of Paul Revere and his family during the time of the Revolution.
Old North ChurchVisit Boston's oldest standing church, forever made legendary in Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."
Bunker Hill MonumentIn "The Battle of Bunker Hill," New England soldiers clashed with the British army in a battle long remembered with a lasting monument.
America's Ship of State
USS CONSTITUTIONVisit "Old Ironsides"—the oldest and most storied commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy.
Visit the National Parks of BostonBoston is a National Park city. On your visit, you can explore the three parks of the National Parks of Boston: Boston National Historical Park (The Freedom Trail®), Boston African American National Historic Site (The Black Heritage Trail®), and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. These parks highlight the political, social, and environmental revolutions of the City of Boston.
Explore the Black Heritage Trail® and Museum of African American History at Boston African American National Historic Site.
34 islands form a partnership that protect vital natural resources and preserve a cultural history that spans millennia.
National Parks in the AreaBeyond the three parks of the National Parks of Boston, there are several parks in and around Boston, as well as throughout Massachusetts. These parks share the stories of revolutionaries and activists, poets and politicians, and industrialists and innovators. In and Around Boston
National Historic Site
Longfellow House-Washington HeadquartersVisit Gen. Washington's first extended headquarters of the Revolution and the home of renowned poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
National Historical Park
Minute ManVisit the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, the opening battle of the Revolution.
National Historical Park
AdamsExplore the homes of generations of Adams family members, whose ideas helped shape the nation.
National Historic Site
John Fitzgerald KennedyLearn about the early years of a future president at his birthplace.
National Historic Site
Frederick Law OlmstedWalk through the home and design office of the founder of American landscape architecture.
National Historic Site
Salem MaritimeDive into over 600 years of New England's maritime history through exploring historic buildings and Salem's waterfront. Massachusetts Park Units
National Historical Park
LowellGo back in time to the industrial revolution and learn about the people behind the mills that catapulted the nation.
National Historical Park
New Bedford WhalingUncover the story of the whaling industry and how it lit a nation.
National Seashore
Cape CodWalk, bike, or swim while enjoying the diverse landscape of the Cape Cod seashore.
National Historic Site
Saugus Iron WorksLearn how iron workers used their skills to help the growing Massachusetts colony.
National Historic Site
Springfield ArmoryExplore the nation's first armory and a site of innovation and engineering.
National Historical Park
Blackstone River ValleyLearn how this River Valley of Massachusetts and Rhode Island became central to the nation's role in the Industrial Revolution. |
Last updated: January 24, 2025