It’s impossible to walk the streets of Boston without feeling the sweet sense of nostalgia. Cobblestone paths mark the way through numerous villages, statues depicting some of the nation’s most influential patriots adorn parks, and architecture from colonial times rises from the concrete. In fact, you can still visit some of the places that housed one of the greatest movements of all time – the American Revolution.
Paul Revere’s House
His wild ride through the streets of Boston, as he warned the townsfolk and the Sons of Liberty of the impending arrival of the British, made him a shining star when it comes to historical figures hailing from Boston. Paul Revere spent many years living with his quite large family at the house that is now frozen in time. The silversmith’s home is now a museum. Take a walk through the modest home that has been standing since 1680, and you’ll get a glimpse of what life was like during the Revolutionary era.
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall has been standing as it is since 1762, when it was rebuilt after a fire. Its halls have been home to merchants who sold all sorts of goods to the people of Boston, and were also a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty. Over the years, many important people, from Samuel Adams to Barack Obama, have delivered speeches in this National Historic Landmark. One of its most notable features is the grasshopper weather vane, which was first placed atop the building in 1742. Faneuil Hall is still a marketplace where you can shop and grab a bite to eat while perusing the streets of Boston.
Old North Church
The Old North Church played an important part in the aforementioned wild ride of Paul Revere. On that fateful night, when Revere rode the Boston streets singing, “The British are coming,” the Old North Church gave him the answer he needed. The Sons of Liberty had developed a code. One lantern would be hung in the steeple if they were coming by land, and two if they were arriving by sea. Two lanterns shone brightly from the church’s steeple that night. You can visit the Old North Church today, where you can delve into the lives of the churchgoers of times past.
Old South Meeting House
Head downtown to find the Old State Meeting House. This church was built for the people of Boston in 1729, and was a place of worship, celebration and change. The Old South Meeting House drew a crowd of 5,000 on a cold December evening in 1773. All the colonists who participated in the affair were there to organize the Boston Tea Party. John Hancock led the meeting, and the rest is… well, history! You can visit this notable spot, and stand where freedom was demanded by the nation’s forefathers.
While some of the most impressive, these four buildings only scratch the surface of Boston’s historical sites. If you want to see them all, hop on the Freedom Trail and tour the city like a true colonist.