Last updated: September 2, 2021
Place
Start the Freedom Trail
NPS Photo/Woods
Quick Facts
Location:
Outside the Boston Common Visitors Center
Significance:
The beginning of Boston's Freedom Trail.
Welcome to Boston’s Freedom Trail. Originally designed in the 1950s, the Freedom Trail is an iconic symbol of Boston. Its red brick line snakes through some of the oldest parts of this City, leading visitors to notable historic sites in the Downtown, North End, and Charlestown neighborhoods of Boston. The trail introduces visitors to Boston's storied, complicated, and multi-faceted history. While many sites are primarily recognized for their role in the American Revolution, all the sites on the Freedom Trail have stood as the backdrop of subsequent social, political, and religious movements, controversies, and challenges.