The Freedom Trail, Part One: Boston Common to the Old Corner Bookstore

The Freedom Trail is a line of red brick and paint that leads walkers about two and a half miles past sixteen historic sites, from Boston Common to Charlestown. It was created in 1951 and has become one of the best-known walking routes in the country. This guide covers the first section, which stays within a few blocks of downtown.

1 and 2. Boston Common and the State House

Set aside as common land in 1634, Boston Common is often called the oldest public park in America. For generations, residents grazed cattle there. British troops camped on it during the occupation of Boston before the Revolution. Today it is the starting point for the trail, with a visitor center near the Park Street side.

Across Beacon Street stands the State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch and completed in 1798. Its gold dome is one of Boston’s signature sights. The building is still the seat of state government, and free tours are offered on weekdays. Check the official schedule before you go.

3. Park Street Church

Built in 1809, Park Street Church has a white steeple that once was the first landmark travelers saw approaching Boston. In 1829, William Lloyd Garrison gave his first major public speech against slavery here, and in 1831 the song America, with the words that begin My country, ’tis of thee, was first sung publicly on its steps.

4. Granary Burying Ground

Next door, the Granary Burying Ground, established in 1660, holds the graves of three signers of the Declaration of Independence: John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Robert Treat Paine. Paul Revere, the five victims of the Boston Massacre and the parents of Benjamin Franklin are buried here too.

5 through 7: King’s Chapel to the bookstore

• King’s Chapel and Burying Ground. The burying ground, dating to 1630, is the oldest in the city and holds John Winthrop, Massachusetts Bay’s first governor. The chapel was founded as Boston’s first Anglican church, and the current granite building dates from the 1750s.
• Boston Latin School site and the Benjamin Franklin statue. A mosaic in the sidewalk on School Street marks the original site of Boston Latin School, founded in 1635 as the first public school in America. Nearby, a statue of Franklin, a former student, stands in front of Old City Hall.
• Old Corner Bookstore. Built in the early 1700s, this brick building at Washington and School Streets later housed the publisher Ticknor and Fields, which published Hawthorne, Emerson, Longfellow and other major writers of the 1800s.

Tips for walking this section

This part of the trail is short and can be done in an hour or two, depending on how long you linger. In winter, plan for icy sidewalks and limited daylight, and keep in mind that burying grounds may close early or close during snowstorms. Many sites are free to see from outside, while some interiors require admission or have seasonal hours.

For a map and current information, the Freedom Trail Foundation and the National Park Service at nps.gov/bost are the best official sources. In the next part of this series, we follow the trail through the heart of revolutionary Boston, from the Old South Meeting House to Faneuil Hall.