Memorial Day

For Memorial Day I had several stops planned before I headed back home. I didn't have the time to ferry out to the Boston Harbor Islands so I had to settle for visiting the islands that are accessible by car. Deer Island that I stopped at on Saturday was one of those. I headed out to Worlds End first. It is managed by the Trustees of Reservations which means there is a fee. At least I got a map but I did not find it very helpful. I ended up walking a huge loop back to the parking lot before I got re-oriented and set off to find the view of Boston. This site was also planned by the legendary Frederick Law Olmsted so it was gorgeous. I can just picture a horse and carriage meandering through there.

Carriage roads

I did finally end up in the right place to check out a gorgeous view of the Boston Skyline. It was a bit overcast but by the time I walked back to my car the sun was out.

Just down the road is Webb Memorial State Park:  It is a more urban park and there are great walking trails that go around and through the island. There were plenty of people out enjoying the day.

My next destination was Adams National Historic Park. On the way, I passed by a  cute little down that had red, white, and blue stripes on the road. How patriotic!

I also swung by the Abigail Adams Birthplace which is just on the roadside. 

 

In Quincy, the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces are the oldest presidential birthplaces in the United States (and only 75 feet apart!)  

 

 

I headed into downtown Quincy to the Visitor Center to inquire about a tour but decided not to take one. The next one didn’t start for over an hour and the tours last 2 hours because they have to trolley you around between the different locations and I didn’t have time. 

While I was checking out the church where the Adams’ are buried the Memorial Day parade started so I sat and enjoyed it for a bit. There were no vintage cars or tractors though which was weird (must be a Scottsville thing).  I walked over to the Old House at Peace Field which was the residence of the Adams family for four generations from 1788 to 1927.

My final stop was Nut Island. There really was just a fishing pier there but it allowed me one last look at Boston before hopping back in my car and cruising back home. 

I was really daunted by this trip because there was so many stops I had to see but because none of the sites are too expansive, it was quite manageable. You'll notice that my pictures are much darker and that's because my camera battery died and when I reached into my bag to replace it, I realized I had left my spare battery at home, charging in the wall. Luckily I had my underwater camera as a backup. All in all, it was a great trip and I really enjoyed soaking up all the NPS sites in Boston.

Freedom Trail Part II

Continuing on the Freedom Trail...

Old South Meeting House:
When it was built in 1729, it was the largest building in colonial Boston. It is best known as the site of where the Boston Tea Party began.

 Old State House: This house was occupied by the British during the Revolution. On July 18, 1776, citizens gathered in the street to hear the Declaration of Independence read from the building's balcony, the first public reading in Massachusetts.

Boston Massacre Site: In front of the Old State House, there is a circle of cobblestones to commemorate the Boston Massacre. 5 colonists were killed.

Faneuil Hall: I had been here before when I went to downtown Boston to celebrate Amy's 21st birthday. However that was on a cold December night when there wasn't much going on. Coming back in May, it was much more hopping. Faneuil Hall is basically a huge marketplace and has been since 1742. The NPS visitor center recently moved here.

Quincy Market: By the time Boston was incorporated as a city in 1822, downtown commercial demand grew beyond the capacity of Faneuil Hall.To provide an expansion of shop space, Quincy Market was built, as an indoor pavilion of vendor stalls. It is quite overwhelming to walk through and I just pushed my way through as I wasn't interested in buying any food. The smells are all quite delicious though.

North market is another extension of Quincy Market.

 

  Paul Revere House: The oldest building in downtown Boston (built around 1680). It was the home of silversmith Paul Revere and his family from 1770 to 1800.

Old North Church: Boston's oldest Church building. The steeple is 191 feet tall, making it the tallest steeple in Boston.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground: Boston's second oldest burying ground.

Then it was time to cross the water for the last leg of the Freedom Trail.

Charlestown Bridge

  The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. You have to go through security to enter the visitor center and can then decide to go on a guided tour that goes into the ship or a self-guided tour that just allows you to explore the deck. Due to timing, I opted for the deck. I had never been on a ship this big before and it was a lot to take in.

     The USS Cassin Young was the other ship at the Yard. I had never seen a ship in dry dock before and it was really cool, especially learning about the process.

My final stop of the day was at the Bunker Hill Monument. It is 221 feet tall. My feet were so tired from walking all over that I sat on the hill overlooking Boston and got a good rest before I had to head back to the subway station. I got there after 5pm so I was unable to climb it but I honestly didn't have the energy even if it had been open.

The Freedom Trail is a great way to spend a day because it offers a little bit of everything and all you have to do is follow the red brick road!

Walking the Freedom Trail: Part I

Sunday morning was time to explore the heart of downtown Boston. First though, I stopped off at the Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic site. There really wasn't much there but I got to see some pretty parks on the drive to his home.Highland Park in Rochester (home of the famous Lilac Festival) was designed by Olmstead so I was pretty familiar with his work.

 
 










My next stop was the birthplace of JFK in Brookline. I was expecting a guided tour but that weekend they had an open house to celebrate his birthday. The house actually wasn't all that big but I got to see the room that he was born in which was pretty neat.
He only lived in the house until he was about 3. In the backyard they had cupcakes and lemonade and also some photos of JFK through his life which was enjoyable.

Then it was time to hop on the subway (since I was tired of dealing with Boston traffic). My first stop was in Cambridge, home of Harvard University. Actually my destination there was the Longfellow house.

It actually is famous for 2 reasons. It was the home of Henry W. Longfellow, one of the world’s foremost 19th century poets. The house also served as headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston, July 1775 - April 1776. The house wasn't open for tours but the grounds were absolutely gorgeous. The flowers were all in full bloom and were stunning.
 
Since I was in Cambridge I decided to walk over to Harvard and check out the business school. During my MBA, every class utilized Harvard Business Review cases so it was nice to stand on the hallowed, ivy covered grounds.

I made it to Harvard!

I hopped back on the subway and headed into Beacon Hill to the Boston African American National Historic Site. There's a walking tour that goes all through Beacon Hill. It is known for its narrow streets and brick sidewalks.

What was weird was that there was literally no traffic. Cars were lining the sidewalks but I only saw a car or two actually driving through the streets. I guess no one wants to lose their parking spot. It is a very picturesque neighborhood and with the shaded streets, a nice walk on a hot day. I was hungry after all that hilly walking so I stopped at UBurger next to Boston Common and has a delicious lunch. Fortified, I set off on the Freedom Trail. It is a great walking tour through downtown Boston. The best part is that all you have to do is follow a brick path on the sidewalk for 2.5 miles and it takes you past 16 significant historic sites. Markers along the way explain events, graveyards, notable churches and other buildings. I wish every city had such a thing. For more information check out their website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/default.asp
Come along with me and walk the trail!

Boston Common: The starting point of the Freedom Trail, Boston Common is the oldest park in the country. It was funny to see old images of cattle grazing on the common. Public hangings also took place here. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution.

    Massachusetts State House: This looms over the Common and is gorgeous. The dome is the focal point and it is covered by 23 karat gold which was added to prevent leaks into the State House.

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial: Across from the State House is this memorial to the group of men who were among the first African Americans to fight in the Civil War.

 

    Park Street Church: A cool fact I learned here: The church is located at Brimstone Corner which may have received its name because preachers spoke of fire and brimstone in Hell to their congregation or because sulfur was stored in the basement of the church.

  

 Granary Burying Ground: The third oldest burying ground in Boston. Among it most famous "residents" are Samuel Adams and John Hancock as well as Paul Revere.

King's Chapel and Burying Ground: This is the oldest burying place in Boston. So named because King James II ordered an Anglican parish to be built in Boston to insure the presence of the Church of England in America.

The interior of the church was actually really cool. The pews were set up like little booths. Although it didn't make sense because if you sat facing the other way, you couldn't see the preacher. 

First Public School Site and Ben Franklin Statue:  Benjamin Franklin overlooks the former site of Boston Latin School which Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock once attended. 

 

My favorite part of this site was the statue of a donkey. It signifies the Democratic Party. In front of the donkey are 2 bronze footprints where you can "stand in opposition". 

There's also a plaque explaining its origin as the party's symbol which is very interesting: It's history dates back to 1828 when Andrew Jackson established the Democratic party and ran for president using the populist slogan, "Let the people rule." His opponents thought him silly and labeled him a "jackass". Jackson, however, picked up on their name calling and turned it to his own advantage by using the donkey on his campaign posters. Over the years this donkey had become the accepted symbol of the Democratic party.

Former Site of the Old Corner Bookstore: Many famous books were published here, including The Scarlet Letter, Walden, and the Atlantic Monthly magazine.