Boston National Historical Park ⓘ

The Freedom Trail ® is an iconic symbol of Boston. Its red brick line snakes through some of the oldest parts of the City. Use the map and the stop list below to explore and listen to stories about each site. The content can be used as a completely virtual tour, or as your own Park Ranger to take along as you walk the Trail. Many choose to begin at Boston Common and follow the trail, but you can explore in person or virtually in any order you wish. If you would like to download the entire tour ahead of your visit, download the official NPS App for free! Search "Boston National Historical Park" and look for "The Freedom Trail ® " under "Self-Guided Tours." See instructions at the bottom of the page. Total run time of all 23 audio clips: 94 minutes, 28 seconds. Freedom Trail Audio Tour - Español Freedom Trail Audio Tour - Français

Download this tour and discover many more using the free NPS App! How to find the Freedom Trail Tour on the NPS App Download the free NPS App from your preferred app store Tap "Find a Park" and search "Boston National Historical Park" Select "Boston National Historical Park, Massachusetts," which will take you to the park homepage on the App Tap "Self-Guided Audio Tours" Select "The Freedom Trail"

Interested in reading about the stories highlighted in this tour? Check out our History & Culture page to explore more.

Massachusetts State House : President-Elect John F. Kennedy's "The City Upon a Hill Speech" Credit: WBZ Radio. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Faneuil Hall: Thank you to Yvonne Abraham from the Boston Globe for permission to use a selection of her April 27, 2008 column.

"A Brief History." King's Chapel. Accessed April 1, 2023. http://www.kings-chapel.org/briefhistorykc.html.

"A Tour of the Massachusetts State House." Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/trs/trsbok/trstour.htm

Abdalian, Leon H. "Capt. Daniel Malcolm, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Mass." Photograph. [ca. 1920–1960]. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/fj2372607 (accessed April 01, 2023).

"Abigail Adams to John Adams, 18 June 1775," Founders Online , National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0150 . [Original source: The Adams Papers , Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776 , ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 222–224.]

"Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 July 1776," Founders Online , National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-02-02-0033 . [Original source: The Adams Papers , Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 2, June 1776 – March 1778 , ed. L. H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 55–57.]

"Anne Hutchinson Banished." MassMoments. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/anne-hutchinson-banished.html.

Archer, Richard. As If an Enemy's Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution . New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

Visit Historic Sites and Museums As you walk along The Freedom Trail ® , explore the many historic sites and museums that dive into the history of this city and the nation. Start your visit at either the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center or the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center. There you'll find park maps and information, as well as park rangers and volunteers who can help you plan your visit to Boston's historic sites. View the list of places below, or go to Plan Your Visit to learn more about the historic sites in the park. Looking for other activities to do in and around Boston? Check out nearby National Park sites and units .

Join a Guided Tour or Program Boston National Historical Park preserves and interprets Boston's involvement in the American Revolution and the establishment of one of the first navy yards in the United States. Discover the human story of the struggles, ideals, and sacrifices Bostonians made for the fight for freedom. We offer free ranger-led tours and talks for school groups, organizations, and any other group interested in learning about the importance of Boston and its history. Explore the variety of programs we offer in the below list. For scheduled tours and programs, please see our calendar .

Self-Guided Experiences Looking for things to do on your own schedule? Check out these self-guided opportunities.

For Kids Become a Junior Ranger or color Faneuil Hall! There are various activities for kids both at the park and at home. To see a full list of activities, please visit our Kids & Youth page. For more information about activities for youth and families during school vacation weeks, please see our School Vacation Programming page. For more information on programs for classes and youth groups, please see the Education page.

Learn about the role of "Old Ironsides" in US Naval history, and what it was like for sailors serving on board.

Visit Bunker Hill to learn about the history and legacy of the Revolution's first major battle.

Decide who the real "Enemies to This Country" were in the months before the breakout of the War for Independence.

Join National Parks of Boston Rangers in recreating historic town meetings at Faneuil Hall

Join a ranger to learn about the history and legacy of the Revolution's first major battle.

Listen to a ranger dressed in period clothing discuss why three men from different backgrounds stepped onto the battlefield.

Join a Park Ranger as they guide you on themed specialty tours exploring Boston's rich history.

Explore above and below the main deck of USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793), a Fletcher-class Destroyer.