Location: Beacon Hill
Top Things to do in Beacon Hill
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Things to do in Boston, Massachusetts (MA): The Best Historic Sites
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. Granary Burying Ground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,602 reviews
The burial ground for famous American patriots like Paul Revere, John Hancock and Sam Adams, is also the final resting place for Mother Goose.
Reviewed By MRayTraveler - Orange County, United States
Granary Burying Ground is one stop on the Freedom Trail, and features the final resting places of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams, the victims of the Boston Massacre, Ben Franklin's parents and many more. So much history in such a small space. Stop by for 20 or 30 minutes and enjoy the opportunity to experience a small bit of our nation's history.
2. Boston African American National Historic Site
3. Nichols House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
The Nichols House Museum's mission is: To preserve and interpret the 1804 townhouse that was from 1885 until 1960 the home of Rose Standish Nichols, landscape gardener, suffragist and pacifist. The house was built by Jonathan Mason and is attributed to Charles Bulfinch. The museum educates visitors by providing a unique glimpse into the domestic life in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on Boston's historic Beacon Hill.
Reviewed By RainelleT_13 - Sagamore Beach, United States
We arrived at an awkward time: 1:20. Tours are conducted on the hour, though we'd not been aware of this until reading that info on the door I found to be locked when trying to turn the knob. Not wanting to stagnate for forty minutes, we headed away from the entry....only to be called back by a kindly voice. As no one had come for the 1:00 tour, we were told that we could have one...even though we were between times. Our guide was a young woman named Laura, and she was just wonderful. Her knowledge about, and presentation of the interesting facts about this house on Beacon Hill and the generations of the Nichols family who lived there, were outstanding. She fielded and answered all questions easily. Hope you find a time to visit!
4. The Vilna Shul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
The Vilna Shul is Boston's only authentic Jewish historical, cultural and spritiual site. Located on the North Slope of Beacon Hill, the Old Back of Town, the Vilna continues to be a place of learning (shul) and is portal that allows visitors to step back in time just by walking in the door.
5. African Meeting House
6. Park Street Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 132 reviews
A stop on the Freedom Trail, this 1809 church is noted for its 200-foot steeple.
Reviewed By KimGTravels - Pacific Grove, United States
Located on Boston's Freedom Trail, across from Boston Common is perched this beautiful traditional New England church built in 1809 by architect Peter Banner. Inspired by a church in London designed by famed architect Christopher Wren, its 217 foot steeple at one time was the first Boston landmark visible from afar, while approaching the city. The church became known as "Brimstone Corner", not only for the style of preaching within, but also due to the gunpowder stored during the War of 1812. Henry James claimed it: "the most interesting mass of brick and mortar in America". Services and weddings are still held within.
7. William Hickling Prescott House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 6 reviews
Hours: Saturdays April- October 12-4, Wednesdays June- August 12-4. Check our website or MA Dame on Facebook for schedule modifications. The WH Prescott House, at 55 Beacon Street, and the adjoining home at 54 Beacon are across from the Boston Common. They were built in 1808 for the Boston merchant, James Smith Colburn. These brick town houses were designed by the esteemed American architect Asher Benjamin and are highlighted by two bow-fronts and were voted in the top 8 examples of Federal architecture by Boston Curbed. The American historian, William H. Prescott, lived at number 55 Beacon Street from 1845-1859. Prescott was one of the first English-speaking historians to write about the Spanish Empire. He built a rear addition, which included his extensive library on the second floor, and a third floor study. In 1944 the house was purchased by the NSCDA- MA. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Voted by Boston Magazine "one of 7 house museums not to miss."
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