Freedom Trail and Salem Witch Trials Self Guided Audio Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Freedom Trail

  Explore early Boston and U.S. history on the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail with a self-guided walking audio tour. Pass 16 historic sites, from downtown Boston through the North End to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Highlights include Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, and the USS Constitution. Note: The tour is over 3 miles long, with more than 51 audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours to complete.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Boston Common

  Embark on this adventure into America's Revolutionary past at the heart of old Boston: the Boston Common. This spacious green has been a part of the city since it's early colonial beginnings. We'll begin the tour by the Visitor Center and find the red-brick path. As we follow the path, we'll dive back in time to the 1700s and set the scene....

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Massachusetts State House

  The first stop along our red-bricked Freedom Trail tour is right at the corner of Boston Common: the Massachusetts State House! This building is both historic and architecturally beautiful.... and of course, we can't forget about it's eye-catching golden dome! We'll pause in front of the State House to catch up on a couple of key Revolutionary War characters (and soon-to-be American heroes) and a little colonial history. We'll also take a look at the Robert G Shaw and 54th Memorial, which stands opposite the State House. Who was Shaw and what made the 54th Regiment so significant? We'll get into all of those details right here.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Park Street Church

  From the State House and Shaw Memorial, we'll continue following the Freedom Trail. That brings us through Boston Common and out to the Park Street Church. As we walk, we'll dive into the most important question of all: what prompted the Revolutionary War? As we peel back the layers, we discover that the battle for American Independence was one falling domino in a long chain of dominos stretching across multiple continents and older wars...

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Granary Burying Ground

  This brings us to the truly ancient Granary Burying Ground! Established in 1660, this is only Boston's third-oldest burying ground. Can you imagine what's changed in the last 400 years? Well for one thing, this ground is so old it actually holds the grave of Mother Goose. We still hear her stories today! We'll also visit the graves of American legends like Paul Revere, Robert Paine, and James Otis. And we can't miss John Hancock and Sam Adams' graves either! Lastly, we'll visit the graves of those killed in the Boston Massacre, one of the stepping stones to the full-blown revolution. We'll be heading to the site of this Massacre later.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6

  A few steps down from the Latin School, we'll find the Irish Famine Memorial. Here we'll jump a bit later into Boston history and talk about the new wave of immigrants after the revolution. We'll learn about the hardships they faced and overcame... and where these communities are today.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Old South Meeting House (Pass by)

  Just across the street from the Irish Famine Memorial, we'll find the historic Old South Meeting House. This small, tucked-away building is easy to miss but we'll pause in front of it. Here, we'll be transported back in time to one of the most fateful events leading up the Revolutionary War... the Boston Tea Party. We'll learn all about the organizers, their motivations, and of course the consequences of their "tea party".

  Admission ticket free
• Old State House (Pass by)

  Our red-brick road finally brings us to the one of the most popular stops along the Freedom Trail: the Old State House. We'll pause here to identify key architectural features and learn about it's significance (and long history!). Then, we'll walk around to the other side....

  Admission ticket free
• 7
  Boston Massacre Site

  to see the site of the infamous Boston Massacre! But was it a massacre? Or just a rowdy riot, as the British said? We'll dive into the thrilling tale while standing at the very spot where history unfolded. We'll also learn about Crispus Attacuks, an honored American hero.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 8
  Faneuil Hall Marketplace

  We'll follow the Freedom Trail to another popular resting spot: Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market! First we'll explore the site's fascinating history and then explore it's huge range of food options!

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9

  As we continue our journey along the red-bricked path of the Freedom Trail, we'll also dive into the story of the historic Haymarket, the new and striking Holocaust Memorial out in front, and the stunning view of the Custom House Tower a little beyond. We'll learn a bit about each of these sites as we make our way to another popular stop.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• The Paul Revere House (Pass by)

  Our path brings us to another popular stop along the Freedom Trail: Paul Revere's House! Here we'll learn about Paul Revere's famous "Midnight Ride", it's immortalization in a poem by Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow, and the truths and myths behind this historic moment.

  Admission ticket free
• Old North Church & Historic Site (Pass by)

  From Paul Revere's House, we'll make our way to the Old North Church. This is the iconic site where the "one if by land, two if by sea" lanterns were lit, silently signalling the British troops' movements to colonial revolutionaries.

  Admission ticket free
• Copp's Hill Burying Ground (Pass by)

  From the Old North Church, we'll follow the Freedom Trail farther up to the historic Copp's Hill Burying Ground. This historic cemetery in Boston's North End is older than the Granary... but only by a year!

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Our last few stops are a little farther along, over the bridge and into the Charlestown Navy Yard. There we'll see the historic and impressive USS Constitution -- and learn all about her epic battle against the Guerriere. We'll explore the naval battles of the War for Independence in more detail while at this historic site.

  Admission ticket free
• 10

  Finally we'll follow the Freedom Trail up to the Bunker Hill Monument, built to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill. We'll walk around this hill, exploring the site of this epic battle and getting an understanding of the brutality and intensity of the battle for freedom. This site is the last along our comprehensive tour along Boston's historic Freedom Trail.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  John Ward House

  At the Joshua Ward House, up next, you'll get a glimpse of what remains of the residence once belonging to Sheriff George Corwin, who signed the arrest and execution warrants of those accused of witchcraft

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12
  Saint Peter's Episcopal Church

  After that, you'll arrive at St Peter's Episcopal Church, which sits on land the town confiscated after the owners, accused of witchcraft, skipped town

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Old Burying Point Cemetery (Pass by)

  Up next is the graveyard where most of the witch trial victims are buried. Ironically, this is also the final resting place of the chief investigator during those trials, who directly caused many deaths Note: The tour is over 1.5 miles long, with more than 35 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

  Admission ticket free
• 13
  Old Burying Point Cemetery

  The Salem Witch Trials are typically associated with women and girls. ... Corey was buried in an unmarked grave in what is now the Howard Street Cemetery, ... on his ghost's bad side, consider joining us on our journey through historic Salem.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 14

  Then you'll pass by an impressive statue of Roger Conant, Salem's founder and first governor, as well as the Witch Museum, filled with all sorts of deep-dive info about the trials and the surrounding mass hysteria

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 15

  Another detour brings you to the Broad Street Cemetery, where Sheriff Corwin ended up after suffering a mysterious heart attack

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 16
  Hamilton Hall

  Then you'll see Hamilton Hall, a venue which has hosted esteemed figures like Alexander Hamilton, FDR, and the Marquis de Lafayette

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 17

  Literature fans won't want to miss the Nathaniel Hawthorne statue, dedicated to one of America's greatest authors

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 18

  You can also visit the birthplace of famous author Nathaniel Hawthorne, which has been preserved in its original condition

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you

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