Welcome to the Freedom Trail
Take a deep dive into six of the Freedom Trail historic sites and learn about the events that sparked the start of the Revolutionary War.
About this Tour
We will begin the tour at the Well Coffee House. Feel free to buy something there while we get acquainted and begin our exploration of the people and events of the founding of Boston and the early years of the American Revolution. We will then head out on foot to walk a portion of the Freedom Trail.
We will see the Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old Corner Bookstore, and the Irish Famine Memorial. We will also visit the Old South Meeting House, where the Tea Party started.
Next, we'll head up School Street to learn about the Old City Hall and visit the site of the first public school in America. We'll step into the Omni Parker House, the oldest continuously run hotel in America, and explore the rich history of this beautiful hotel.
Then we will head to King's Chapel Church and the oldest burial ground in Boston. We will see the brutalist masterpiece, the New City Hall, and conclude at the Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market area.
Tour Details
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Tour Duration
2 Hour Tour - we will see 6 sites.
1 Mile - uneven sidewalks and slight inclines.
Starting Location
We will meet at the Well Coffee House, 212 Washington St, Boston.
Ending Location
The tour will end at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Area.
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Weather
The tour goes in all weather. Please watch to forecast and dress accordingly.
COVID-19
Until all COVD-19 restrictions are lifted, all tours will remain outside.
“I sincerely hope my review is not limited by space or size! I contacted Ellen about a private “Welcome to the Freedom Trail” tour. After our conversation, I knew I’d met a kindred spirit! My family, containing my husband, two children, and their spouses, 3 grand-princesses, and one precious grandson, met with Ellen with high hopes she’d live up to her great reviews.
SHE BLEW OUR EXPECTATIONS THROUGH THE ROOF!
Seriously, her knowledge of Boston in general in addition to the Revolutionary War period was insightful and fun enough to keep our 6, 8, and 11-year-old granddaughters involved.
Ellen is funny, knowledgeable and most of all, a good sport! Soon after we started, the rain tried to dampen our fun - Ellen didn’t skip a beat with rainfall!
I would recommend Ellen specifically for her “Welcome to the Freedom Trail” tour. Once we take her other tours I’ll be back on posting what I’m sure will be another glowing review.
Bottom line: our family loved her!!”
— Barbie and John
Reviews
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Phenomenal!
“Ellen’s walking tour is phenomenal! This was the first time we visited Boston, so we wanted to get a sense of the historical significance of the location. Ellen is well informed and passionate about the history of Boston! She is friendly and professional, and she went out of her way to accommodate our larger group. I would 10/10 recommend this tour to anybody — whether you’re new to Boston and its history or you want to brush up on your facts. Thank you Ellen for such an unforgettable experience!”
— Carolina
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Ellen was great!
“She takes a unique approach to the Freedom Trail tour by including the stories of historically marginalized groups or historical figures that are not as well known. You can tell she is passionate about the history of Boston through her storytelling and through the preparation of printed pictures and maps. Looking forward to my next tour with Ellen!”
— Brendan
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Can't wait to take another tour!
“I’d recommend this tour to anyone wanting to leave with a better understanding of Boston, its history, and the people that influenced it. Ellen was so kind, thoughtful, organized, and most importantly passionate! You can tell she really enjoys making history come alive. Can’t wait to take a different tour with her on my next trip to Boston. Thanks, Ellen!
PS. kids will be interested in the content because of her approach to the tour :-)”
— Megan
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This tour is a must!
“I brought a group of 30 teenage students from Mexico on this tour. It was very cold, windy and there was freezing rain. These students are used to sun and heat. Ellen was a superstar with the students! She is a true professional. She captured the students' attention with her enthusiastic energy as she recounted the history of Boston. Ellen kept the students engaged and was very interactive. She adapted to the group and the weather. She was able to reconfigure the tour so that we were not outdoors too long. She made learning history fun! This tour is a must for anyone visiting Boston!”
— Diana
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This was absolutely fantastic.
Ellen was personable, warm, inclusive, welcoming, and absolutely brimming with fun facts and tidbits. She personalized her experience perfectly, meeting me in the middle where my "untrained enthusiast" met her "experienced tour guide" level of knowledge. She was quick, efficient, and the tour was planned out to perfection. Ask her any question and you'll get an honest and clear answer. She not only tells you the facts about the freedom trail, but really helps uncover the hidden/less known facts and makes history come alive as you are standing in the actual locations where it happened. Cannot recommend highly enough!
— Maren
Freedom Trail FAQ
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The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) pedestrian trail marked by a red brick path that winds through Boston's historic neighborhoods and passes by 16 important landmarks that tell the story of the American Revolution.
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The 16 historical sites along the Freedom Trail are:
Massachusetts State House
Boston Common
Park Street Church
Granary Burying Ground
King's Chapel and King's Chapel Burying Ground
Boston Latin School Site/Statue of Benjamin Franklin
Old Corner Bookstore
Old South Meeting House
Old State House
Boston Massacre Site
Faneuil Hall
Paul Revere House
Old North Church
Copp's Hill Burying Ground
Bunker Hill Monument
USS Constitution
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The Freedom Trail starts at the Massachusetts State House.
The end of the trail is at the USS Constitution Museum.
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The Freedom trail can take from 90 minutes to a full day to complete.
For the whole experience, I recommend breaking up the trail into two or three segments.
I recommend taking a half-day to walk the Charlestown portion, and you do not need a guide for those stops (there are museums and navy officers for the USS Constitution).
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Yes, upon request. Free maps of the Freedom Trail and other historical sites are also available at the Visitor Center on the first floor of Faneuil Hall.
