Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • My Book Announcements
    • We Sing From the Heart wins Julia Ward Howe prize for children’s literature!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Carter G. Woodson Book Award Honoree!
    • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco featured in Booklist
    • Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO
    • Book Announcement: A Place to Call Home! {and a new title …}
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
Menu
Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail

Lessons From The Boston Freedom Trail

Posted on June 27, 2013May 21, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Can you believe that I have not chaperoned a field trip for PickyKidPix since she was in Kindergarten?! And now she is about to graduate from 5th grade to start Middle School!

I had two choices, The Museum of Fine Arts and The Freedom Trail so I asked my daughter to choose and she asked me to come on The Freedom Trail. I had not been on The Freedom Trail myself in over 12 years since we moved to Boston!

 

A History Lesson from The Freedom Trail

We met at Faneuil Hall, the cradle of liberty, where I discovered that this was a guided tour.  This is Bob Miller, our tour guide, from Lessons on Liberty: Boston Freedom Trail walking tours with an 18th century living historian.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Originally the Freedom Trail was a red-painted line created to help tourists sightsee since Boston is a crazy, confusing city to navigate.

My mom friend Melissa sussed out that he was a graduate of the North Bennet Street School of fine carpentry, the Harvard of cabinet making. We also passed his school on the tour.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Bob Miller of Lessons in Liberty in front of Faneuil Hall and Sam Adams statue.

Our tour guide seemed to be particularly expert in architecture which made me pretty happy! I love hearing about the built environment. The first interesting factoid I learned about John Hancock was how wealthy he was. The example he gave is that someone like Paul Revere, who was comfortably middle class, owned two sets of clothes. One set was for Monday through Saturday (worn 6 days in a row) and the other was Sunday Best. When Sunday Best got worn out, it was downgraded to every day and a new set would be made for Sunday Best.

When John Hancock went to England to shop for clothes, he had so many made that he had to hire an entire ship to bring it back! John Hancock was a billionaire by American Revolution standards!

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

He built this house for his brother, who, as the younger brother, did not inherit the same vast fortune as he did.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Ebenezer Hancock’s house served as a kind of Federal Reserve storing the money used to finance the war.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

It’s the sideways bricks that reveals the extravagant cost of the house. The narrow bricks are bricked turned in, thus making the walls stronger. The more narrow bricks, the more costly the building. This would be considered a “McMansion” in Colonial times.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Ye Olde Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in America, built in 1714  and 1715.  In 1771 printer Isaiah Thomas published his newspaper, The Massachusetts Spy, from the second floor.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Paul Revere’s house is the two-story dark house in the middle with the small windows.

Paul Revere is known as a silversmith but he was actually much more than that. It’s just that his silverware, since it was used only for special occasions, survived. Besides making pewterware, he also made church bells and had a cannon factory. He did dental work and was the the first health inspector determinng that a dead body must be buried six feet deep. And he was the one who covered the State House dome in copper.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Only this plaque marks Governor Hutchinson’s house. It was razed during the American revolution and he was forced to return to England despite having been born and raised in the Colonies.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston, Old North Church, Old North Church tower,

The Old North Church was the site for the lantern signal of One if by Sea and Two if by Land. Bob corrected history as Paul Revere was the third person to give word that the British were coming, but the lesson here is that P.R. is everything. William Dawes had arrived an hour before to give warning but it was believed that Israel Bisel who was the first one there.

The actual phrase used was, “The regulars are out.” NOT “The British are coming. Everyone was British at this time.

A son-in-law of Paul Revere’s wrote the famous poem 90 years later to ingratiate himself and he took certain liberties in his poem that we all now think was fact.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston, excavation

We were lucky to watch an archeological dig on the way to the Old North Church. The small backyards served as each family’s “town dump” for all their garbage so excavating through the layers produces a snapshot in time of what people ate and how they lived.

 

The Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum

I had been to the Boston Tea Party Ship  and Museum more than a decade ago but this was my first time after their extensive renovations. The exhibit is now an interactive experience recreating both the before and after consequences of the Boston Tea Party.

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston, Boston Tea Party ship, Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party ship replica has tea barrels to throw overboard.

We started off in a meeting room — the overflow when Faneuil Hall filled up — led by a charismatic Sam Adams.

This lovely Daughter of Liberty taught us the local lingo of the time that included “Fi” accompanied by a hand twiddling along one’s nose, hissing, and booing. We raised our fists to display enthusiasm with a “Huzzah” as well.

Boston Tea Party, The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Each ticket holder received a card with an actual person who was there that fateful day along with their short bio. This was a nice touch to really feel what it must have been like.
The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston, Boston Tea Party membersThe Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston

Finally, a fun fact. This is the narrowest building in America! It’s also on the Freedom Trail!

The Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail, Freedom Trail Boston, Paul Revere Boston, narrowest house in Boston

Trip map courtesy of Wanderlog, a vacation planner app on iOS and Android

 

p.s. I’ll be posting next on American Revolution chapter books for kids if you want background reading before or after your walk.

p.p.s. A mom friend told me about a free app that also gives background history about the Boston Freedom Trail as you walk it.

Freedom Trail Walking Tour

Boston Freedom Trail app

Freedom Trail Walking Tour is the ultimate interactive app that introduces you to Boston’s famous Freedom Trail. This app makes it fun to learn about Colonial Revolutionary Boston. You get maps, pictures, descriptions and YouTube videos of all 17 historical stops on the trail.

p.p.p.s. Our tour did not include the location of the Boston Massacre:

The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by British regulars on March 5, 1770. It was the culmination of tensions in the American colonies that had been growing since Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 to enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts.

Unlike the Boston Tea Party which exact location is still disputed. The location of the Boston Massacre is well known. It is the intersection of Devonshire and State streets in downtown Boston. There is a circle of cobblestones in front of the Old State House that commemorates the Boston Massacre.

site of Boston Massacre

image of Old State House from Ask Miss A

Boston Freedom Trail, The Freedom Trail

Here are American Revolution Chapter Books to accompany this trip.

 

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

 

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
  • Starred review from School Library Journal
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

cover for Sumo JoeChanging the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison FoleyAsian Pacific American Heroes

18 thoughts on “Lessons From The Boston Freedom Trail”

  1. maryanne @ mama smiles says:
    June 27, 2013 at 8:21 am

    Love this post! We walked the Freedom Trail when we first got to Boston (Emma was a baby!), but your post makes me want to go walk it again.

    And we need to go to the Tea Party Ship – haven’t done that!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 27, 2013 at 8:47 am

      Hi MaryAnne,
      The Tea Party Ship got a huge makeover so it’s totally different experience from when I first saw it more than 11 years ago. I think your kids would like it when they are older though but they would probably all like to walk a short portion of the Freedom Trail. I’d suggest starting at Paul Revere’s house and then making a detour to the North End for gelato and pastries since they are young and might get tired or bored. If you don’t mange to squeeze it in this summer, you can also come back to visit here and do it then!

      Reply
      1. maryanne @ mama smiles says:
        June 28, 2013 at 9:33 pm

        I like the idea of seeing everything by coming back when the kids are older!

        Reply
        1. Pragmatic Mom says:
          June 29, 2013 at 10:26 am

          Hi MaryAnne,
          And we’d love to have you back to visit!!

          Reply
  2. Holly says:
    June 27, 2013 at 10:47 am

    Thank you!! My family is heading to Boston Saturday for the first time! Your article and app suggestion are exactly what I need! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 28, 2013 at 12:38 pm

      Hi Holly,
      Hopefully the thunderstorms hold off! Have a wonderful trip!

      Reply
  3. bamauthor says:
    June 27, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    Mia, I think you made the right decision. The Freedom Trail is a favorite of mine. I have not been to the Tea Party Ship, but I will definitely put that on my list.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 28, 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Barbara,
      I really did enjoy that field trip and I was really impressed with the newly redone Tea Party ship. There is so much more to experience now on it and I think the kids really liked it.

      Reply
  4. Lucía says:
    June 28, 2013 at 7:12 am

    Thanks for the post! We are visiting Boston July 16-19 and we’ll come back after 5 years . We did the red line then but Ines and Angie were 9 and 7 at the time total different experience now!!!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 28, 2013 at 12:44 pm

      Hi Lucia,
      I hope you get great weather! If you do decide to the Freedom Trail again, I honestly would recommend the guided tour. He sells tickets on his site and it’s pretty reasonable. If DIY is better for you, I heard the app is great. It’s geo-tracked so the info matches where you are standing.

      Reply
  5. Ann says:
    June 28, 2013 at 9:57 am

    I can’t believe I’ve never walked the freedom trail. I need to make a summer bucket list!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 28, 2013 at 12:48 pm

      Hi Ann,
      Pick a day when it’s not too hot or too cold. This outing is so weather dependent. And be sure to stop by the North End for a break. There are great cafes, gelato shops and pasty stores. It’s right there too near Paul Revere’s house! I need to take the family on this as well. We’ve never done it as a family.

      Reply
  6. Asianmommy says:
    June 28, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    Cool–we’ll be in Boston this summer and will have to add this to the list!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 29, 2013 at 10:25 am

      Hi AsianMommy,
      Have a wonderful time in Boston. If you decide to do the Freedom trail, please be sure to stop off in the North End (near Paul Revere’s house) at any of the cafes or gelato shops. It makes a nice break and the kids love it. There are also amazing “Cake Boss” Italian pastry shops. My kids love those! I am posting today with chapter books that make the American Revolution come alive so if you can get your kids to read any of them, they will be excited to see the Freedom Trail.

      Reply
  7. Eric VanRaepenbusch says:
    January 25, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    Thank you for sharing your post with me. I think I was probably in the fifth grade when I last was in Boston! I do not remember much for the trip except going to some really cool museums. Your post makes me think that my daughter (3rd grade) would really love to visit in the next few years!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 26, 2014 at 11:23 am

      Hi Eric,
      I’d recommend coming in the summer (as I type and it’s bitter cold outside!). The Freedom Trail is really fun for a wide range of ages, I’ve noticed, especially for your kids since they are learning so much from celebrating authors and their birthday. Our tour guide pointed out where the Great Molasses Flood actually happened, why it happened and the consequences. There are actual marks on some of the buildings where you can see the molasses line as it came up on the street!

      Reply
      1. Eric VanRaepenbusch says:
        January 26, 2014 at 11:33 am

        That is interesting! Wow! If we are ever in Boston we certainly be checking that out! Thanks for sharing that with me!

        Reply
        1. Pragmatic Mom says:
          January 27, 2014 at 6:56 am

          Hi Eric,
          And I’ll be sharing your Molasses Post with my kids! Thank you too!

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Linktree (click for my links & socials)

my linktree

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
Read Your World is Multicultural Children's Book Day

ClothingRIC- A Premium Coupon Website!

ThingsFromMars- The Wondrous World of Wacky Gift Products!

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress

AdvancedWriters.com is an expert writing service which helps students with academic writing.

educational toys

CEX.IO is a versatile crypto exchange platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as well as access resources and tools to learn how to trade effectively.

MyPaperDone.com
is surely one of the best when it comes to paper writing assistance.

My Custom Essay
will guide you through academic life.

Essay Writing Services

If you ask "write my essay", Topessaywriting can help you with paper writing

TranslationReport can help you to choose the best translation service

If you are looking for the most trusted essay writing service, check this article about best essay writing service reviews at Econotimes

educational toys from dhgate stores

Assignment Writing Services Offer Assignment Assistance In UK Based Company 50% Discount Students

Playing at online casinos can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and you can find the best options at casinoszondercruksonline.com. 

For those seeking a safe and reputable gambling experience, the Meest betrouwbare buitenlandse casino lijst is an invaluable resource.

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

Archives

I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • Read Your World Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month Virtual Event July 16, 2025
  • The Traveling Taco Unboxing! July 14, 2025
  • The 2026 PADIBA Awards are now open for submissions! July 11, 2025
  • We Sing From the Heart wins Julia Ward Howe prize for children’s literature! July 9, 2025
  • Changing the Game’s 4th Birthday & 4 Signed Book GIVEAWAY! July 7, 2025

Categories

© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT