The Old South Meeting House is a must see. Much history has been made within the walls of the Old South Meeting House. This building began as a Puritan house of worship. This is the building from which a group of outraged citizens, led by Samuel Adams, began the Boston Tea Party. Inside, you will find a permanent display entitled "Voices of Protest" which tells the story of the people and oratory that have made history here. The Old South Meeting House is open daily from November to March from 10:00 am to 4:00pm and April through October from 9:30 am to 5:00pm.
The Old State House
The next stop is the Old State House. This building began as the British governing headquarters in Boston. In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place just outside the doors of the Old State House. The actual site of the massacre is now marked by a ring of cobblestones acting as a traffic island. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Boston from the balcony of the Old State House. Today, this building holds a museum of Boston history. The Old State House Museum is only closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. All other days, it is open from 9:00 am to 5:00pm.
Faneuil Hall
A perfect stop for lunch and a little shopping is the next building on the Freedom Trail. Faneuil Hall was built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil and given to the town. For over 250 years, Faneuil Hall has been a meeting and market place for the people of Boston. The first floor served as the marketplace for local merchants to sell their goods. It is still used for that purpose today. Faneuil Hall is an excellent stop on the Freedom Trail for lunch. The second floor served as the town meeting hall where the people of Boston declared "No taxation without representation." This is also the location where Wendell Philips, William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglas spoke to the people of Boston about abolition. Faneuil Hall is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and historical talks begin every thirty minutes from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.