Freedom Trail

Up Disclaimer: this post is history and photo heavy!

Lots to see on this walk through the city of Boston. Many who reside here have not followed the trail, but it is heavy with history for any who aspire to fill in the blanks of their historical knowledge.

So if you are not a history buff you may not find much of interest in this post- but I sincerely hope that is not so! Sadly much of our Nation's history is no longer taught in public school and the Santayana saying may well haunt those who cannot remember history and are therefore doomed to repeat it.

The first historic point on our walk was Ebenezer Hancock House built in 1767 by John Hancock and lived in by his brother, Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army.

Next item of interest was this sign,

posted at the Union Oyster house, the story of a traitor to the American Revolutionary cause.

We may have stopped to sample the fare but we had Button dog and so there was to be no fine dining today!

Fanieul Hall built in 1742 as a market place and meeting hall has served the city ever since, but the Marketplace now extends to three long granite buildings North Market, South Market and Quincy Market. This indoor outdoor market and eatery was designed by Benjamin Thompson and houses the museum and armory of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts on the third floor. It was the site of famous speeches by Samuel Adams and other patriots encouraging independence from Britain and is sometimes called "the Cradle of liberty".

Below is the memorial of the Boston Massacre.

I am not certain of the following but I have read that one or more of the soldiers involved in this incident were branded on their thumbs with an "M" for murderer. Last year a 113 year old time capsule in the head of the golden lion you see on the top left of the building was opened, and just recently replaced with addition of current items.

I thought I had a pic of this building but cannot find it. The sign tells the story and the bricks confirm the date of construction.

This beautiful structure is The Old City Hall.

Below King's Chapel, site of the first public school in Boston.

And the 1630 burial ground attached to the Chapel.

On a lighter not but important from a gustatory view is Parker's Restaurant, birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie and Parker rolls! 

My DH's favorite dessert is Boston Cream Pie so of course I had to learn to make it, we do not have it in Australia!

You can tell it is still raining (we did not bring umbrellas) as we walked by Boston Common, the oldest park in the Nation and actual starting point of the Freedom Trail. It encompasses almost 50 acres. Until 1830 cattle grazed there and until 1817 public hangings took place there. British troops camped here before leaving to face the colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Many famous people have given speeches here over the years.

The current State House with it's beautiful golden dome.

This place below is historical for lots of Law students as the old Law School was just across the street, niece says she and her friends had quite a few beers at the Twenty First Amendment!

Last but not least of interest is a more recent addition to the city, the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial.

We have more to explore for another day but it was late and we were all wet, and little dog was nursing a cut on one pad so we had take-out for dinner and headed home!