Boston Historic Sites: 9 Must-See Stops for History Buffs

Few, if any, cities can compare with Boston when it comes to history. It’s one of the oldest still-occupied cities in the United States. Referred to as the venerable City on a Hill, it has played host to and a major part in many of the most storied episodes of American history. Often referred to as the city where the Revolutionary War began, Boston’s history is told in its buildings, architecture and people.

Boston is at the top of the list when it comes to American cities with architectural and historically valuable sites to explore. You can walk the same streets, see many of the same buildings and experience the sights and sounds that built a nation here. Below, we detail nine Boston historic sites, must-see stops for history buffs.

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Faneuil (pronounced FAN-yull) Hall is an indoor marketplace and meeting hall commissioned by Peter Faneuil in 1742. For generations of 18th-century Bostonians, it was the place to buy goods from local merchants and to take part in the city’s long-established tradition of grassroots politics. It was also where, in the decade preceding the Revolutionary War, leaders of the Sons of Liberty like Samuel Adams and Dr. Joseph Warren, protested against British colonial rule, earning it the nickname “the Cradle of Liberty.”

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Boston Common was originally set aside in 1634 as a town common. This is where residents could freely cut firewood or graze livestock. It’s where the local militia drilled from the 1600s through the 1700s, ready to defend. It’s also where executions took place for pirates, criminals and suspected witches, along with religious dissidents like Mary Dyer, who converted to the Quaker faith and was hanged by the city’s Puritan government in 1660. In 1830, the Boston Common was converted from its storied grounds to a public park. That makes it one of the oldest public parks in the United States and a critical historical landmark as well.

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The Old North Church, located in Boston’s North End, is one of the city's most iconic and historic landmarks. Built in 1723, it is the oldest standing church building in Boston and gained fame during the American Revolution when it became known for its pivotal role in the legendary "One if by land, two if by sea" signal, which warned Patriot militiamen of the approach of British troops before the Battles of Lexington and Concord. While there, you can also see gifts of artwork made by parishioners over the centuries and tour the crypt, where over 1,000 people have been buried, including Samuel Nicholson, the first captain of the USS Constitution.

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For military history enthusiasts, Boston has a lot to offer, but the USS Constitution is the star attraction. Built in 1797 as one of six frigates commissioned to help the fledgling United States Navy defend the young country’s shores, it’s now the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. Nicknamed “Old Ironsides” for the way cannonballs bounced off its hull during the War of 1812, the Constitution has served around the world and remained a beloved symbol of Boston since its earliest days.

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Generations of Americans will remember the Battle of Bunker Hill as the decisive moment when the Thirteen Colonies made it clear that they would no longer accept British rule. After British troops met a force of militiamen from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island at Bunker Hill, they realized that the colonists would not give up easily, making it one of the most significant events on the path to independence.

To commemorate the event, a group of Boston notables commissioned the Bunker Hill Monument, completed in 1842, to stand on Breed’s Hill in Charlestown, where most of the fighting took place. Visitors can’t afford to miss the chance to climb to the top and survey the place where American independence was born first-hand. Afterward, head to the Bunker Hill Museum across the street for more information on this fascinating and pivotal moment.

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Constructed in 1729, the Old South Meeting House originally served as a place of worship for the city’s Congregationalists, later becoming a central hub for political, social and religious assemblies. Patriots regularly met there between 1770 and 1775 to commemorate the victims of the Boston Massacre, but its most notable moment came on December 16, 1773. That day, 5,000 colonists met within its walls to protest the British Tea Act, after which over 100 attendees raided three tea ships in the harbor, now known as the Boston Tea Party.

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Just around the corner from Faneuil Hall and the Old State House is the Granary Burying Ground, where over 5,000 Bostonians from all walks of life are believed to be buried. Originally part of Boston Common and named for the large granary that once stood on the present site of Park Street Church, it was opened in 1660 to accommodate the rising demand for burial space as the city grew. Today, visitors to the Granary Burying Ground can look for such notable names from American history as Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Crispus Attucks and Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Wikimedia / Rob Young / CC BY 2.0

Dating back to around 1680, the Paul Revere house is a seemingly simple, three-story house. It’s the oldest surviving house in the Downtown Boston area. Its fame comes from being the home of Paul Revere, the American Patriot and Founding Father. Today, the home is a nonprofit museum run by the Paul Revere Memorial Association and although a modest admission fee is charged, a tour of this stunning home is very much in order for anyone who wants to step back in time. The home, which was the former site of the Second Church of Boston’s parsonage, which was destroyed by a fire in 1676, uses Massachusetts Bay timber in its construction. Be sure to note the overhead beams and massive chimney bay.

When you visit the 3,500-square-foot visitor and education center today, you’ll be able to tour the early Georgian house. Numerous organizations have painstakingly renovated it to continue to maintain the exterior appearance and keep as much of the architectural integrity as possible.

GBCVB / Kyle Klein

Virtually every American history book tells the story of the Boston Tea Party and it’s clearly a testament to the determination and passion of every Bostonian. A visit to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum allows you to see and experience that treacherous night up close. The location tells the store with live theatrical performances to reenact the event.

With technology that creates a very realistic experience, a colonial character guides you through the museum experiences. There are interactive opportunities with characters like Sam Adams and you’ll get to participate in a re-enactment of the destruction of tea. Visitors can board a tall ship to learn what it was like to be on board. There, on board, you’ll see one of only two known surviving tea crates from the event. There’s a short film after to provide additional insights.

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