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Major Sights in Boston

Boston was the epicenter of the American Revolution and the birthplace of the fighting spirit that gave way to the independence of the United States. Boston attractions pay careful attention to preserve this history, which makes it a haven for history enthusiasts.

Boston became a one of the major seafaring ports on the Atlantic, thus bringing wealth and prosperity to the people who lived there and urban growth like few others of its day. The city was key during the independence of the United States. In 1768, England fortified the colony’s cities with troops to give an impression of force to help gain the acceptance of the taxation imposed within the Townshend Acts. This event led to the famous Boston Tea Party.

Visiting Major Boston Attractions Today

You can see evidence of this early American revolutionary spirit and its long history when you visit Boston today. Every street and sidewalk in Boston reflects the progress and change that has taken place in America over the last few centuries, and the major attractions in Boston are often the same places featured in history books on the Colonial era and the Revolutionary War.

A 2.5-mile path in downtown Boston called Freedom Trail leads to 16 different preserved pieces of history. You can explore the path on your own or take a guided tour. Outside of the Old State House, you can see where the Boston Massacre happened. And take a look inside the Old State House where Samuel Adams proposed the idea of taxation without representation.

Farther down Freedom Trail, you can see the Paul Revere House, which is the oldest building in Boston, and where Revere lived with his family the night he became famous. The Old North Church, which dates back to 1723 and also played a part in the Independence of the United States, is also on Freedom Trail.

While walking through Freedom Trail, take note of the Skinny House on Hull Street across from the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground near the Old North Church. The four-story house is sandwiched between two larger properties, spanning just 10.4 feet in width. No one knows the exact history of the house, though rumor indicates that there was a neighborly dispute and the house was build out of spite.

The city’s rich history is evident everywhere you go in Boston. The Sam Adams Brewery, named after the early US patriot, combines history with beer with their brewery tours. In Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, hundreds of 19^th-century brownstones host restaurants and boutique shops that range from specialty stores with unique gifts to upscale designer retail stores.

If the gorgeous view of the bay inspires you while in Boston, a stop at the New England Aquarium is an absolute necessity. View over 20,000 animals in this massive 75,000 square-foot space located on the wharf by the sea.

If baseball history is your thing, you can’t miss Boston’s Fenway Park, which was built in 1912, making it the oldest Major League Baseball stadium in use today.

Even the local colleges are filled with deep history. Harvard University was established in 1636 and is the oldest in the entire nation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in 1861 to help supply the emerging industrial revolution with the science required for research and innovation.

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Major Sights in Boston