Freedom Trail Part 2

 Faneuil Hall was built as a center of commerce in 1742, however it is the 2^nd floor meeting hall that has the greater legacy. It was here that Americans first protested the Sugar and Stamp Act setting the doctrine that would come to be known as taxation without representation. The statue of Samuel Adams could not be better placed for it was here that he did his greatest work, dominating public meetings and staging the funeral for the victims of the Boston Massacre.

Faneuil Hall

Samuel Adams

 On top of Faneuil Hall sits a grasshopper weathervane. Tradition has it that is was used during the War of 1812 to spot spies. Anyone who did not know the question What is on top of Feneuil Hall? in those days invited suspicion. 

Grasshopper on top of Fanueil Hall

 Paul Revere's house is downtown Boston's oldest building still in existence. He lived in this house when he participated in the Boston Tea Party and on the night he set forth to make his momentous ride to Lexington on April 18, 1775. At any one time he would have been sharing this house with his mother, between 5 and 9 of his 16 children and one of his wives.

Paul Revere's House

 The Old North Church is the oldest standing church building in Boston first opening its doors on December 29, 1723. Its 191 foot steeple is the tallest in Boston. On the night of Paul Revere's famous ride, he met up with sexton Robert Newman to tell him how many lanterns to display in the church's steeple to signal how the British troops were approaching. The British were approaching by boat across the Charles River. These lanterns heralded the battles of Lexington and Concord and the beginning of the American Revolution.

Old North Church

Paul Revere

 Copp's Hill Burying ground dates back to 1659 and is the final resting place of merchants, artisans and craftsman who lived in Boston's North End. Because of it's height, the British used this high point to aim their cannons on Charlestown during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. The next stop was to see the USS Constitution. 

Copp's Hill Burying Ground

The oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world became known as “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 as cannonballs bounced off it as if it were made of iron. It was so durable due to the sandwiched layers of wood from all across America. The ship is permanently berthed In Charlestown Naval Yard and sails 6 to 8 times a year into Boston Harbor. Today it is in dry dock undergoing repairs.

USS Constitution

 The Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill which took place on June 17, 1775. While technically a British victory, the British suffered 1000 casualties and the battle proved that Colonial forces could fight effectively against the British.

Bunker Hill Monument

After our visit to Bunker Hill, we got lost trying to get back to our car in Cambridge. Jack finally stopped to talk to a woman who was in a car in a parking lot. I could see her arms trying to signal the directions and turns and thought it looked complicated. Jack motioned to me to come over and get in the car, as Sue was going to drive us to a place where we could find our way. Who says people in Boston aren't nice? She was a great driver, but rarely kept her hands on the wheel as she used them to tell us stories. After she learned about our trip and that we were driving, she told us how much she hated to fly. She had us laughing so hard! She told us her family no longer allowed her to fly as they were afraid she would get arrested. She said she used to go on her flight and interview the people in the exit row to make sure they were competent to lead the plane in an evacuation if an event ever occurred. She said she would call out to the stewardess if an obese person got on as she was worried they would tip the plane in the direction they sat! We were howling. Soon we realized she was driving us into an area we recognized and sure enough, she dropped us right in front of where our car was parked! Fabulous. Thank you Sue from Boston. The last thing she said after we thanked her and said goodbye was that if we ever came back to Boston, that we should come and see her as she would probably be sitting in the same parking lot! We drove to cousin Jeannine and Beth's house and had a great time catching up on their work and life and enjoying their company and beautiful home. Jeannine cooked us a fabulous dinner of chicken pesto pasta, bruschetta and salad. Yummy, a home cooked meal!