spotstory: Spots tagged with freedom trail

Freedom Trail Information Center

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:51:17 +0000

The Freedon Trail information center marks the head of Boston's Freedom Trail. The center is located in Boston Common steps away from the Park Street subway station.Guide Pictured is from The Histrionic Academy LLC. ResourcesThe Freedom Trail Foundationwww.freedomtrailtours.com

King's Chapel Burying Ground

Tue, 01 May 2007 16:27:29 +0000

King's Chapel Burying Ground dates back to the early founding and settlement of Boston itself in 1630. Though the exact date of establishment is unknown, the earliest recorded interment is that of Governor Winthrop in 1649. The last known burial occurred in 1796.The burying ground contains the remains of many other Winthrops, as well as members of other leading Boston families of the time including the Mathers, Leveretts, and Wendells. Two more Massachusetts Governors...

The Old North Church

Tue, 01 May 2007 21:30:29 +0000

The Old North Church, officially known as Christ Church, is the church from which shone the famous lanterns—"one if by land/two if by sea"—which initiated Paul Revere’s famous ride to Lexington and Concord.The church was built in 1723 and is in the Georgian style. The steeple has actually been rebuilt twice: once after a storm in 1804, and after Hurricane Carol in 1954. The first replacement was designed by Charles Bulfinch.The steeple holds eight...

Park Street Church

Wed, 02 May 2007 00:09:31 +0000

The Park Street Church was erected in 1809. The main part of the building is of brick. The wooded spire reaches a height of 217 feet.The church stands on the corner of Tremont Street and Park Street, which was once supposedly known as "Brimstone Corner." It's unclear if this appellation is a product of the gunpowder that was stored in the crypt during the War of 1812, or for the nature of the oratory delivered from the pulpit.In 1902, the church and its site were sold to...

The Paul Revere House

Wed, 02 May 2007 15:53:34 +0000

The Paul Revere House in tiny North Square was built circa 1680 and was occupied by Revere's family intermittently from 1770 to 1800.The timber house was built on the former location of the Second Church of Boston's parsonage. This was home to the famous Puritan Pastor Increase Mather and his reverend son, Cotton Mather. That building was lost to the Great Fire of 1676.The 1680 house underwent many renovations. A rear kitchen area was added during the 17th...

Old South Meeting House

Wed, 02 May 2007 19:46:34 +0000

The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 and is one of the oldest churches remaining in Boston.The Georgian style brick structure stands in the same spot as its wooden predecessor which was built in 1669. Benjamin Franklin was baptized in that building.The meeting house was often used for gatherings when the crowd was too large to fit in nearby Faneuil Hall. The most famous of these is the meeting of 5000 people which preceded the Boston Tea Party.During the Siege of Boston,...

Copp's Hill Burying Ground

Wed, 02 May 2007 21:52:16 +0000

Copp's Hill Burying Ground sits atop Cop's Hill, one of the three hills of Boston, in the North End. The hill and the grounds are named after William Copp, a local shoemaker, who was the original land owner.The burying ground is actually four different cemeteries, the first of which dates back to 1659.The most notable people interred are the preachers Increase Mather and Cotton Mather.Originally, the hill was known a "Windmill Hill" after the wind-driven corn mill was...

King's Chapel

Thu, 03 May 2007 21:14:01 +0000

Construction of King's Chapel began in 1749, though due to scarcity of funds, the construction proceeded slowly and was not completed until 1754. For the same reason, the church spire was never constructed.The chapel was constructed around the smaller all-wood 1688 church that it replaced.The building is made primarily of granite, though some wood is employed for the columns. The granite comes from Quincy, MA and Braintree, MA. The church bell was cast by Paul...

The Old Corner Bookstore

Thu, 03 May 2007 22:38:36 +0000

The Old Corner Bookstore is one of the oldest buildings in Boston. It was built in 1712 by Thomas Crease as its predecessor was lost to the Great Fire of 1711.Originally, the building housed an apothecary on the lower floor and as a residence above. It first served as a bookstore in 1828 and did so into the twentieth century. It is currently home to a jeweler.