First Day and Freedom Trail Tour

We continued our tradition of starting the Boston stay with an introduction to the city's historical sites. Our guide for the Freedom Trail tour was--from an 18th century perspective--a colonist who was witness to the events leading to the American Revolution and independence from England. But for those of us in the 21st century, he was an expert in local history, explaining the stories behind the dates and names found in Social Studies textbooks.

Our first stop was Boston Common, previous home of grazing grounds for the town's cattle and other work animals, now a 21st century park complete with playgrounds and paved walkways.

Several stops and further into history, we were in front of the Old South Meeting House, site of a 5,000 person meeting and protest (during a time when Boston had 25,000 residents) that lead to the Boston Tea Party.

We finished the tour at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, which has been a market and meeting place for over 250 years. And though the New England clam chowder is likely much the same as in the 1700s, Starbucks, Abercrombie & Fitch, and other purveyors of fine consumer goods are a more recent addition.