Freedom Trail City/Region: Boston The 2.5-mile (4km) Freedom Trail follows a line of red bricks or a painted red line on the pavement linking 16 historic sights associated with the early struggle for freedom from British control and the events leading up to the revolution. Markers identify the stops and provide information from downtown to the North End to Charlestown and Bunker Hill Monument. Sights along the way include the Paul Revere House, Boston's oldest surviving house that was home to the famous revolutionary, and the
nearby Old North Church where two lanterns were hung in the belfry to warn the revolutionaries of the British movements while Revere went on his famous horse ride to warn of imminent British attack. The elegant Old State House was the seat of British colonial government and where the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776. There is a museum of Boston history inside. At the Old South Meeting House Samuel Adams addressed the revolutionaries in the significant meeting prior to the Boston Tea Party and a circle of cobblestones marks the site of the Boston Massacre. In Charlestown the USS Constitution, known as 'Old Ironsides' is the oldest warship still afloat and was named after the sinking of the British frigate, HMS Guerriere during the war of 1812. Bunker Hill Monument is the site of the first formal battle of the America Revolution that was fought in 1775. Also along the trail is the beautiful white steeple of Park Street Church, the site of several important anti-slavery speeches, the Old Granary Burying Ground where a number of revolutionaries are buried, and the Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall that once was the meeting place for revolutionaries as well as a bustling marketplace. Although a complete self-guided trail, the National Park Service also conducts free tours with guides in historic costumes that cover some of the trail's highlights. Address: The trail starts from the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common Phone Number: (617) 357 8300 Email Address: info@thefreedomtrail.org Website: www.thefreedomtrail.org Transport: Park Street subway station Hours: Most sites along the trail are open daily from 9am to 5pm (10am to 4pm in winter) Admission: Most sites are free except for the Old South Meeting House, Old State House and Paul Revere House that charge a $3 or $5 entrance fee
Black Heritage Trail City/Region: Boston Today Beacon Hill brings to mind images of affluence and luxurious living, yet until the end of the 19th century it contained a community of free blacks and escaped slaves from the southern states who owned businesses, built houses and schools, and worshipped together in the churches. Although the black community has since shifted to other parts of Boston, the Black Heritage Trail covers 14 sites that are part of the local black history. Massachusetts was the first state to abolish slavery in 1783 due in part to the black participation in the Revolution. Beginning at the Boston Common there is a memorial to slave abolitionist Robert Shaw who led the first black regiment recruited during the Civil War. Various sites on Beacon Hill include homes of famous citizens, the city's first racially integrated public school with exhibits portraying the struggle for equal school rights, and a house that was part of the famous 'Underground Railroad', sheltering runaway slaves from their pursuers. The African Meeting House, part of the Museum of Afro-American History, is one of the most interesting sights and was the first black church in the United States, known as 'Black Faneuil Hall' during the anti-slavery campaign. It was here that famous abolitionist speeches were made and black people were called to take up arms in the Civil War. There is an informative audiovisual presentation in the gallery. Although this is a complete self-guided trail with brochures and maps provided by the Museum of Afro-American History, park rangers also give free daily two-hour tours, which start at the National Park Service Visitor Center. Address: The trail starts from the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common or at the Museum of Afro-American History at 14 Beacon Street, Suite 719 Phone Number: (617) 725 0022 (Museum of Afro-American History), or (617) 742 5415 (guided tours) Email Address: history@afroammuseum.org Website: www.afroammuseum.org Transport: Park Street subway station Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm; guided tours by appointment year round and 10am, 12pm, and 2pm (July and August)
Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum City/Region: Boston Moored to the bridge is the Beaver II, known as the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, and one of the three ships stormed by patriots in 1773 as an act of rebellion against British rule and in particular against the new tax laws imposed on tea. A group of revolutionaries disguised as Mohawk Indians burst from the South Meeting House and boarded the ships that were loaded with tea. They emptied the crate contents into the harbor, an event that became known as the Boston Tea Party. The Beaver II is an exact replica of the original Beaver I and visitors can learn about the event on board the ship. *Note: The Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum is currently closed for renovations and plans to open again in mid-2007.* Address: Congress Street Bridge Phone Number: (617) 269 7150 Email Address: teapartyship@historictours.com Website: www.bostonteapartyship.com Transport: South Station subway
Cambridge City/Region: Boston Just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is actually a city in its own right although the two cities are so closely associated that many people believe them to be one and the same. Cambridge is home to two of the most prestigious centers for education in the country, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has a young and vibrant atmosphere due to the 30,000 university students from around the world that reside and study here. The city is centered on Harvard Square and is a gathering spot that reflects the international culture of its learning community as well as the influence of its students, residents and business owners. Surrounding the square and lining the streets that spread out from Harvard Square are dozens of bookstores and music shops, cafes and coffee houses and restaurants. Harvard Square is a lively mixture of students and professors, buskers, the homeless, evangelists and political campaigners, and is a great place to have a cup of coffee, watch the activity and soak up the atmosphere. Harvard University occupies one side of the square. Website: www.harvardsquare.com Transport: The subway Red Line to Harvard Square from Boston Common's Park Street Station
Harvard University City/Region: Boston Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest in the country and one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the USA. It is famous for its brilliant faculties that have produced economists, biologists, prize-winning poets, and famous graduates like former president JF Kennedy. It is also as well known for its famous dropouts such as actor Matt Damon who left in second year to write the Oscar-winning film 'Good Will Hunting', and businessman Bill Gates who left to start up a small software business, also dropping out in his second year. The focal point of the university is Harvard Yard, a courtyard surrounded by ivy-covered colonial buildings from the 18th century until the present that was named for John Harvard, a graduate of Cambridge University in Britain, who died leaving the college half his estate and his entire library. The shoe of his statue is rubbed for good luck. Harvard also has four outstanding museums that include the Harvard Art Museums and the Museum of Natural History. The Fogg Art Museum is the most famous art museum with a huge collection covering works from the European Renaissance period to the modern day, including works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and Klee. The Bush-Reisinger and Arthur Sackler Museums are included in the same ticket. The Natural History Museum is renowned for its display of hand-blown glass flowers. Address: Harvard University Events and Information Center, Holyoke Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue Phone Number: (617) 495 1573 (Harvard University Events and Information), (617) 495 9400 (art museums), (617) 495 3045 (Museum of Natural History) Email Address: icenter@camail1.harvard.edu Website: www.harvard.edu Transport: The subway Red Line to Harvard Square from Boston Common's Park Street Station Hours: The Information Center is open from Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Art museums: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Museum of Natural History: daily 9am to 5pm Admission: There are free student-led campus tours available. Combined art museums ticket $7.50; free on Saturdays 10am to 12pm. Museum of Natural History $7.50; free on Sundays 9am to 12pm and Wednesdays 3pm to 5pm (September to May)
Martha's Vineyard City/Region: Cape Cod Believed to have been named by mariner Bartholomew Gosnold's for his daughter Martha, with the 'vineyard' referring to the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island, Martha's Vineyard is a favorite summer destination for the area's wealthy elite. Tourism is the main economy, boosted by celebrity regulars like actress Sharon Stone and the Clinton family, but they are usually tucked away in their private houses and on their private beaches. It is far less developed than Cape Cod, but more sophisticated than neighboring Nantucket Island and simple pleasures such as the weekly farmers' market, miles of coastal pathways to explore and an agricultural fair blend with the concerts, outdoor theaters, galleries and nightlife that keeps the towns buzzing throughout the summer. The six towns have distinct characters, from the upmarket Vineyard Haven that is the island's main port, receiving ferries as well as private yachts, to the fun center of Oak Bluffs where the old Flying Horses Carousel, pizza take-aways and ice-cream parlours cater to the young and carefree. The graceful Edgartown has quaint inns, historic whaling captains' homes and stylish boutiques lining the narrow streets, and is the island's oldest settlement. The pace is decidedly laid-back although the hassles of summer crowds, traffic and high prices have led to more visitors discovering the appeal of the off-season, with peaceful roads, friendly folk and private beaches that are opened to the public. Website: www.mvy.com Transport: Ferries from various locations on Cape Cod either arrive at Oak Bluffs, Edgartown or Vineyard Haven and there is a regular bus service between the three main communities on the island. Bringing a car across in summer is expensive and unnecessary as the roads are congested and a bike is an easier and more pleasant alternative. Ferries from Falmouth Harbour to all three are passenger services only. Car ferries depart from the main ferry terminal at Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. There is also a passenger ferry from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs.
Nantucket City/Region: Cape Cod Thirty miles (48km) off the coast of Cape Cod, the island of Nantucket is smaller and more remote than Martha's Vineyard, and is an escape from city stress and the chaos of everyday life. Miles of unspoilt beaches, rolling wind swept moors, solitary windmills and lighthouses, church steeples, quaint cottages and peaceful lanes are the attractions on the island. Its only town, Nantucket Town, was once the whaling capital of the world and has retained much of its 17th to 19th century character with historic mansions, old fashioned street lamps and cosy inns lining the cobblestone streets. The rest of the island is mainly residential except for a few villages, and there is not a billboard, fast-food franchise or flashing neon light to be seen anywhere. Nantucket has long appealed to wealthy visitors and has grown to a summer vacation retreat for nearly 50,000 tourists, and despite the increasing amount of luxury houses going up, over 36 percent of the land is protected from development, and the island still feels like a romantic paradise. The excellent Whaling Museum is an added attraction to the beaches, strolling and biking, and window-shopping at the exclusive boutiques. July and August are the most popular months and the busiest times, and although off-season has its charms the island is often covered in thick fog at this time. Website: www.nantucketchamber.org Transport: Car ferries leave from Hyannis on Cape Cod and once on the island there are plenty of bikes for rent or shuttle buses to get around. A ferry also links Nantucket to Hyannis via Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard and a passenger ferry operates in season between Harwich Port and Nantucket
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