Boston, Massachusetts
My visit to Boston
In Boston there are many things to do, both educational and fun. There are many historic sites that combine education and fun as well as sites that are just plain fun.
The Freedom Trail
One of my favorite things to do in Boston is to follow the Freedom Trail which is a trail that follows a red line to many of the historic sites in Boston. These sites include:
Boston Common - the nations oldest public park
New State House - the political center of Boston
Park Street Church
Granary Burying Ground - the final resting place for John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere
Kings Chapel Burying Ground - the first Unitarian church in the U.S.
Site for first public school/Ben Franklin Statue
Old Corner Bookstore - gathering place of many famous authors and poets
Old South Meeting House -
many debates and discussions took place here
Boston Massacre Site - a circle of cobble stones marks the site
Old State House - Bostons oldest public building, now a museum
Faneuil Hall - a market place, meeting hall, and a museum all in one
Paul Revere House
Old North Church - Boston's oldest church
Copps Hill Burying Ground
Bunker Hill Monument
Faneuil Hall
One of the most famous sites in Boston is Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The Marketplace consists of four buildings, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Noth Market, and South Market. The four buildings surround an open area where there are many street performers that entertain the visitors.
Faneuil Hall was the original building of the Marketplace, built in 1742 when it was given to the town by the merchant Peter Faneuil. It first served as a central marketplace offering an open food market on the first floor and a meeting area on the second. In 1805 when it became too small for the town, architect Charles Bullfinch designed the expanded structure which still is virtually unaltered today.
The 170-year-old Quincy Market is basically a large food court. There are many food vendors there that offer a very large variety of foods from Boston's famous seafood to frozen yogurt. Around the outside of the building is a partially enclosed mall which is very different from most malls today. Local artisans and entrepreneurs push around carts which contain the crafts they have made, as seen on the picture above.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Musem of Fine Arts is Boston's finest and most comprehensive art museum. It provides art from all periods and cultures. Some of my favorite exhibits are the French Impressionists, the collection of Egyptian sculptures and artifacts, the collection of musical instruments, and the Asian Art gallery.
The French Impressionist gallery includes many pieces of art from Monet, and is one of the museums most popular spots. The collection of Egyptian sculptures and artifacts is quite extensive. It has the largest collection outside of Egypt. The musical instrument collection has many different instruments and is a great catalog of the ways in which people have made music throughout history.