The Freedom Trail, Part Three: The North End to Charlestown
The last five stops of the Freedom Trail take you from Paul Revere’s front door to the deck of Old Ironsides. Here is a guide to the final leg.
After Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail crosses the Rose Kennedy Greenway into the North End, then heads over the Charles River to Charlestown. This final leg is the longest part of the walk, with some hills, but it includes some of the most memorable stops.
12 and 13. Paul Revere House and Old North Church
Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House on North Square is the oldest house in downtown Boston. Revere, a silversmith and engraver, owned it from 1770 until 1800, and he set out from here on the night of April 18, 1775, to warn the countryside that British troops were on the move. The house is now a museum showing how a large family lived in colonial Boston.
Officially Christ Church in the City of Boston, Old North was built in 1723 and is the oldest standing church building in the city. On the night of Revere’s ride, two lanterns were hung briefly in its steeple to signal that the British were crossing by water. Behind the church, small gardens and memorials make a peaceful place to pause.
14. Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Established in 1659, Copp’s Hill was the second burying ground in Boston. It holds the graves of the Mather family of ministers, many artisans and merchants of the North End, and a large number of free Black Bostonians who lived nearby in the colonial era. Its high ground looks across the water to Charlestown. During the Battle of Bunker Hill, British cannons fired from this area.
15. Bunker Hill Monument
Crossing the Charlestown Bridge brings you to the Charlestown Navy Yard and, uphill, the Bunker Hill Monument. The battle on June 17, 1775, was mostly fought on Breed’s Hill, where the monument stands. The British won the hill, but at a heavy cost, and the battle showed that colonial militia could stand up to professional troops.
The granite obelisk, completed in 1843, rises over 200 feet. Visitors can climb the steps inside for a view of the harbor. Check the National Park Service for climbing hours, which can change with the season and the weather.
16. USS Constitution
The trail ends at the Charlestown Navy Yard with the USS Constitution, launched in 1797. During the War of 1812, it earned the nickname Old Ironsides when sailors saw British cannonballs seem to bounce off its thick oak hull. It is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world and is crewed by active-duty Navy sailors. The nearby USS Constitution Museum tells its story.
Making the most of the final leg
- Allow a few hours for this section if you plan to go inside several sites.
- Visiting the ship usually requires passing through a security screening; bring identification for adults.
- The ferry from the Navy Yard to Long Wharf is a scenic way back downtown; check the MBTA for schedules.
- In winter, wear sturdy shoes, since the bridges and Charlestown hills can be windy and icy.
Finishing the trail in Charlestown, with the monument behind you and Old Ironsides in front, is a fitting end to a walk through the beginnings of the nation.
