Boston Historic Sites: 7 Must-See Stops for History Buffs

Few, if any, cities can compare with Boston when it comes to history. One of the oldest still-occupied cities in the United States, the venerable City on a Hill has played host to and a major part in many of the most storied episodes of American history, from long before independence right up to the present day.

For that reason, Boston is high on the list for many history enthusiasts who want to see where some of the most important events took place. Here are a few of the Boston historical sites you or history-lovers in your family can’t afford to miss when you visit.

Faneuil Hall

• Location: Boston, MA 02109
• Cost: Free entry
• Hours: 10 AM - 7 PM Monday to Thursday; 10 AM - 9 PM Friday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available nearby

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.”

Boston Common

• Location: 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111
• Cost: Free entry
• Hours: 6 AM - 11:30 PM Monday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available nearby

Boston Common was originally set aside in 1634 as a town common, where the city’s earliest residents could freely cut firewood and graze livestock and where local militia companies drilled throughout the 1600s and 1700s. It was also used as a place of execution for pirates, criminals and suspected witches, as well as religious dissidents like Mary Dyer, who converted to the Quaker faith and was hanged by the city’s Puritan government in 1660. Converted into a public park in 1830, Boston Common is now considered the oldest public park in the United States and a centerpiece of national history.

The Old North Church

• Location: 193 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
• Cost: $10 per person, free for children under 5
• Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM Monday to Saturday; 11:30 AM - 5 PM Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available nearby

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.

The USS Constitution

• Location: 93 Chelsea St, Charlestown, MA 02129
• Cost: Suggested admission is $10-15 for adults, $5-10 for children
• Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM Wednesday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available at 88 Constitution Road, Boston, MA 02129

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.

Bunker Hill Monument

• Location: Monument Sq, Charlestown, MA 02129
• Cost: Free admission
• Hours: 11 AM - 5 PM Wednesday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available at 18 Monument Square, Charlestown

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.

The Old South Meeting House

• Location: 310 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
• Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, $2 for children 12 and under
• Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM Monday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available nearby

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.

Granary Burying Ground

• Location: Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108
• Cost: Free entry
• Hours: 9 AM - 4 PM Monday to Sunday
• Parking: None on-site; available nearby

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.

Join the over a million people who are AAA members and start planning your trip to Boston today. Dream up the perfect trip with our Trip Canvas research tool and use your membership to get the best discounts on hotels, rental cars and entertainment tickets.