Vacation- Boston

The second week of our vacation we met up with Matt's family in Boston, MA. We rented a house in a little town- Sherborn- and made the trek into Boston a couple of days. Here are some highlights!

This is the State House-built between 1795 and 1797 on Beacon Hill; which overlooks the Boston Common. The site was orginally pasture land owned by John Hancock.

We followed the Freedom Trail throughout Boston. You simply follow the brick path that has been laid in the sidewalk and it takes you from site to site!

This is the Old State House- this building was the center of Boston's civic life in the 18th century and the scene of some of the most dramatic chapters in the lead-up to the American Revolution. This is where Samuel Adams, James Otis, and John Hancock debated the future of the British colonies. Just outside the building, five men were among the first casualities of the battle for independence, in what would be later known as the Boston Massacre. The declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony to the citizens of Bostin in 1776.

This is the Old South Meeting House. The meeting of more than 5,000 colonists on December 16, 1773 which started the Boston Tea party to meetings today, the Old South Meeting House has been an important gathering place for nearly 3 centuries. Renowned for the protest meetings held here before the American Revolution, this National Historic Landmark has long served as a platform for the free expresseion of ideas. Today, the Old South Meeting House is open as a museum and continues to provide a place for people to meet, discuss, and act on important issues of the day.

This is Faneuil Hall (Marketplace). It has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It is the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of Boston National Historical Park.

This is a man dressed up for the parade they have every year on June 1st. It is a parade to honor those fallen soldiers.

Paul Revere's House -On the night of April 18, 1775, silversmith Paul Revere left his small woodend home in Boston's North End and set out on a journey that would make him into a legend! This home is the oldest building in downtown Boston and one of the few remaining from an early era in histroy of colonial America. The home was built in 1680 on the site of the former parsonage of the Second Church of Boston. Paul Revere purchased the home in 1770 from Robert Howard, a wealthy merchant. This is Old North Church - One if by Land, Two if by Sea... The Church was built in 1723 and is the oldest standing church building in Boston. On the evening of April 18, 1775, Robet Newman- the church sexton, climbed the steeple and held hight two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. This fateful evecnt ignited the American Revolution.This is The USS Constitution - She is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world! Constitution launched in 1797. Her first duty was to provide protection for Amercian merchant shipping during the Quasi War with France. Her most famous era of naval warfare was the War of 1812 against Great Britain. Her mission today is to promote understanding of the Navy's role in war and peace through education outreach, historic demonstration, and active participation in public events.

Bunker Hill Monument- built to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill. The 221 foot granite obelisk was erected between 1827 and 1843 in Charlestown, MA. There are 294 steps to the top. The monument is not on Bunker Hill, but instead on Breed's Hill, where most of the fighting in the misnamed Battle of Bunker Hill actually took place. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major conflict between British and Patriot forces in the Revolutionary War, fought there June 17, 1775. Taken from the top of Bunker Hill monument.Boston North End at night.

Thanks for visiting! :)