Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
houses the weapons collection and historical exhibits of the
Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company of Massachusetts.
To continue on the Freedom Trail:
Leave Faneuil Hall, cross North Street, and fol-
low the trail through the “Blackstone Block.” These buildings, among the oldest in the
city, give a sense of the scale of 18th- and 19th-century Boston. In the park at the cor-
ner of North and Union streets are two sculptures of legendary Boston mayor (and
Congressman, and federal prisoner)
James Michael Curley,
the inspiration for the
protagonist of Edwin O'Connor's
The Last Hurrah.
Pause on Union Street.
Dock Sq. (Congress St. and North St.).
&
617/242-5675.
Free admission. Daily 9am-5pm; no public access during
special events. T: Green or Blue Line to Government Center, or Orange Line to Haymarket.
The New England Holocaust Memorial
Erected in 1995, these six glass
towers spring up in the midst of attractions that celebrate freedom, reminding visitors
of the consequences of a world without it. The pattern on the glass, which at first
appears merely decorative, is actually 6 million random numbers, one for each Jew
who died during the Holocaust. As you pass through, pause to read the inscriptions.
To continue on the Freedom Trail:
You now pass through an area that encapsulates
the benefits and drawbacks of the Big Dig. The Rose Kennedy Greenway—the strip of
parkland that runs perpendicular to this section of the Freedom Trail—is part garden,
part road, part construction site. Follow Hanover Street across the Greenway to reach
the North End, which begins at Cross Street. Take Hanover Street 1 block to Rich-
mond Street, passing the post office on your right. Turn right, go 1 block, and turn left.
Union St. between North and Hanover sts.
&
617/457-8755.
www.nehm.org. T: Orange or Green Line to Haymarket.
Paul Revere House
One of the most pleasant stops on the Freedom Trail,
this 2
1
⁄
2
-story wood structure presents history on a human scale. Revere was living here
when he set out for Lexington on April 18, 1775, a feat immortalized in Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow's poem “Paul Revere's Ride” (“Listen, my children, and you
shall hear / of the midnight ride of Paul Revere”). It holds neatly arranged and iden-
tified 17th- and 18th-century furnishings and artifacts, including the famous Revere
silver, considered some of the finest anywhere. The oldest house in downtown Boston,
it was built around 1680, bought by Revere in 1770, and put to a number of uses
before being turned into a museum in 1908.
The thought-provoking tour is self-guided, with staff members around in case you
have questions. The format allows you to linger on the artifacts that hold your inter-
est. Revere had 16 children (he called them “my lambs”)—eight with each of his two
wives—and supported the family with a thriving silversmith's trade. At his home,
you'll get a good sense of the risks he took in the events that led to the Revolutionary
War. If you're visiting in 2008, check ahead for info about special events celebrating
the building's 100th anniversary as a museum.
Across the courtyard is the home of Revere's Hichborn cousins, the
Pierce/Hich-
born House
. The 1711 Georgian-style home is a rare example of 18th-century mid-
dle-class architecture. It's suitably furnished and shown only by guided tour (usually
twice a day at busy times). Call the Paul Revere House for schedules and reservations.
Before you leave North Square, look across the cobblestone plaza at
Sacred Heart
Church.
It was established in 1833 as the Seamen's Bethel, a church devoted to the
needs of the mariners who frequented the area. Wharves ran up almost this far in colo-
nial days; in the 19th century, this was a notorious red-light district.
