Boston, MA
Best Historic Sites (Attractions & Activities)
(10 Overall Closest) |
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Boston Common |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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Boston 02108 • 617-426-3115
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. One of the nation's oldest existing public parks, Boston Common encompasses nearly 50 acres and was once reserved as pasture land by Puritan settlers. In 1634, the area was also used by the military. Today, the park is a popular destination for recreational athletes, joggers, and protesters eager to dedicate themselves to a cause. During winter months, the Frog Pond is a favorite of ice skaters as well. |
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Boston's Freedom Trail |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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Boston • 617-227-8800
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Description:
This is a wonderful way to see Boston! Put on some comfortable shoes and experience the 2.5-mile trail full of historical information. The tour starts at Boston Common, but can easily be picked up at any point along the way just by following the signs throughout the city. The path allows you to visit sites that are very important to the city's history, including the Paul Revere House, the statue of Benjamin Franklin, and the site of the Boston Massacre. Should you have any questions, the men and women dressed in colonial attire will be glad to answer them. |
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User Rating: 6.5
/ 10 |
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Bunker Hill Monument |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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Monument Sq, Charlestown 02129 • 617-242-5601
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Description:
CHARLESTOWN. This 221-foot granite obelisk remembers the Battle of Bunker Hill. Rangers provide details about the history of the crucial battle, and seasonal musket-firings add a note of authenticity. Make the 294-step climb to the top of the monument for breathtaking views of Boston. Two little-known facts: the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill, and the Bunker Hill Monument is actually located atop Breed's Hill. The true Bunker Hill is actually a quarter-mile from the monument. |
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Custom House |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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Derby St, Salem 01970 • 978-740-1660
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Description:
Located across the street from the harbor at Salem Maritime Historic Site, the Custom House was built 1789 for storing cargo and housing government offices. Nathaniel Hawthorne, who worked here for three years, made the building famous by mentioning it in The Scarlet Letter. Tours of the home are available through the Salem Maritime Historic Site. Call ahead for times. |
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Gore Place |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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52 Gore St, Waltham 02453 • 781-894-2798
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Description:
WEST METRO. Built in 1806, this beautiful mansion was once the home of Christopher and Rebecca Gore. Christopher Gore was a successful lawyer and the son of a wealthy merchant. The home includes forty-five acres of well-manicured lawns and gardens. Guided tours are available April-November. A museum shop is also on the premises for buying postcards and visit souvenirs. A variety of musical concerts and educational opportunities are held at the mansion throughout the year. Call ahead for details. |
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User Rating: 10
/ 10 |
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Granary Burial Ground |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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1 Park St Park Street Church, Boston 02108 • 617-523-3383
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. This small cemetery serves as the final resting place for a number of people whose acts or character changed American history. Situated near a pre-Revolutionary grain storehouse, the cemetery houses the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, citizens killed in the Boston Massacre, and the woman whose tales provided her the moniker of "Mother Goose." Other notable graves include those of Benjamin Franklin's parents and Sam Adams. |
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User Rating: 8
/ 10 |
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House of the Seven Gables |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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54 Turner St, Salem 01970 • 978-744-0991
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Description:
Built in 1678, this curious home inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, House of the Seven Gables. On guided tours, visitors learn about many of the legends associated with the home and even get to explore its secret staircase. |
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John F. Kennedy Birthplace |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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83 Beals St, Brookline 02446 • 617-566-7937
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Description:
BROOKLINE. Situated near Coolidge Corner, this modest residence was former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's birthplace and home during his early years. Three of the president's siblings were also born here (Joe, Jr., Rosemary, and Kathleen). Now a museum, the site was established as a national historic landmark in 1965 and has seen more than a million visitors since it first opened to the public. A narrated tour produced by Rose Kennedy guides visitors around the space. The park service also offers occasional tours around the neighborhood where the family played, attended church and went to school. |
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Old South Meeting House |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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310 Washington St, Boston 02108 • 617-482-6439
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. Built in 1729, this venerable meeting house is Boston's second-oldest church. A number of heated town meetings that led to the Revolution were held here, including one called by Samuel Adams to protest dutiable tea and get it returned to England. Old South was also site of the pre-party assembly that set the mood for the Boston Tea Party. Today, visitors can take guided tours of the building and learn from exhibits and interactive displays what took place during those historic meetings. |
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Salem Maritime National Historic Site |
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(Attractions & Activities - Historic Sites) |
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193 Derby St, Salem • 978-740-1660
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Description:
The Salem Maritime Historic Site overlooks Salem Harbor and includes the Orientation Center, Custom House, Derby House and garden, the Friendship of Salem ship and West India Goods Store. It's a great one-stop experience for visitors who have only a few hours to learn about the town. Friendship is open to the public, and guided tours of several of the buildings are available through the Orientation Center. A free film about Salem's Maritime History is shown every half-hour at the Orientation Center. |
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