Boston, Massachusetts
Our next destination was a great history lesson for our boys, although they had a pretty good foundation from 8th grade US History with Mr. Beck!
Can you travel to a Big City with an RV?
This was our first time trying to visit a big city with an RV. It was a pretty good experience and was less driving than we did when we were touring Yellowstone NP. In this kind of situation, patience is a must. To get into Boston we had to drive 45 min to the Redline of the MBTA (took us an hour the 1st day), parked in a parking garage ($7 a day to park), and bought a Charlie Card to pay our fair. It cost $2.25 for a 1 way ride per person. A total of around $18 a day for the 4 of us. There are other options like day passes or weekly passes but for what we were doing it was cheaper this way. I did my research ahead of time, knew where to catch the MBTA, where to change trains, and which stop to get off to allow us to start the Freedom Trail. I am not a city girl so I was very proud that I got us from point A to point B without getting lost. Total travel time from campground to Bunker Hill (2hrs). |
| Boston/Cape Cod KOA. Not near Boston or Cape Cod, don't let the name fool you. |
Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on July 17, 1775, in Charlestown, MA. That afternoon, New England countrymen, subjects of the King, stood up to the British army for the first time in pitched battle. They won two assaults before retreating during a third. Although the British Army won the battle 1,200 of their 2,000 were either killed or wounded. It was this battle which drew the line in the sand, there was no turning back in the fight for independence.
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| The monument cornerstone was laid in 1825 and was finished in 1843. |
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| Brodey and Dunovan climbed the stairs to the top. |
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| Doug and I waiting for the boys at the bottom |
The Freedom Trail
The freedom trail is a 2.5 mile long path through downtown Boston that passes 16 significant locations in American History. The nice part is that it is an actual brick path embedded in the sidewalk to follow. It helps us tourists to "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," well, almost, it is actually red brick.
USS Constitution
Bring your ID or Passport if you are over 18 and be prepared to have your bags searched and walk through a metal detector to get onto "Old Iron Sides". But it is so worth it. This historic ship, along with Bunker Hill, are part of the National Park System. (Surprisingly, not everything is in Boston). The wooden-hulled. three masted, heavy frigate is owned and operated by the US Navy, so all tour guides are current active military. Wouldn't that be a neat post to have if you are in the Navy? This vessel still sails around Boston at least once a month but if you want to take a ride you have to put your name into a lottery and hope your name gets picked.
The USS Constitution is also referred to as "Old Iron Sides" because during the battle of 1812, cannon balls from other ships hit and bounced off the ship leaving no damage. She remained in service until 1907, when she was retired and designated a museum ship.
I think touring the USS Constitution was my favorite thing we did in Boston.
Copp's Hill Burying Ground
Established in 1659, it was originally named "North Burying Ground," and was the 2nd cemetery in Boston. It is the final resting place for the merchants and craftsmen in the North End of Boston. Named after shoemaker William Copp. British also used this hill to site their cannon's onto Charlestown during the battle of Bunker Hill.
Old North Church
The bell tower in Old North Church was the setting for the lanterns made famous in the instructions "One if by Land, Two if by Sea." Founded in 1723, Christ Church, or Old North Church, is still an active congregation today. With its unique pew boxes, which parishioners once had to purchase to help maintain the church, as well as your status within the church, and its white columns, this church just screams colonial America. It played a pivotal role in the ignition of the American Revolution, when on April 18, 1775, Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling, Jr. climbed the steps of the Old North Church Tower and placed two lanterns in the windows signifying that the British were marching toward Lexington and Concord by sea across the Charles River.
Even though this church is part of the National Park System it is operated by a private organization and it will cost you a fee to enter.
Paul Revere Mall and House
Break Time!
At this point we stopped and had lunch at North Quincy Market- Dunovan even played the piano and onlookers applauded. Did some shopping then went to finish the freedom trail.
Freedom Trail South of Quincy Market
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| Old State House: The Declaration of Independence was first read here, the Boston Massacre took place just outside its doors, once acted as the state capital, and is now a museum (you can tour it for a fee). |
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| The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770 outside the Old State House, when British soldiers shot into a crowd killing 3 on site and several others died later of their injuries. Eight British soldiers were charged with murder, 6 were acquitted and 2 were convicted of manslaughter. |
The Old Corner Bookstore was built in 1718 as an apothecary store, then later became a publishing house. This historic landmark today hosts a Chipotle. Since Dunovan loves to eat Chipotle he said. "That's some history I can sink my teeth into!"
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| Old South Meeting House: On December 16, 1773, as many as 5,000 colonists packed this meeting hall to protest a shipment of taxed tea. After this meeting is when the colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor, known today as the Boston Tea Party. This building is a Boston Historical Park Partner Site operated by the Old South Association and will cost you a fee to enter. |
School Street
Host to the first public school, this street holds a special place for these two teachers.
Granary Burying Ground
Located on Tremont Street, this is the third oldest cemetery in Boston, established in 1660. It is the final resting place for Samuel Adams, Robert Paine and John Hancock, who all signed the Declaration of Independence, as well as several members of Ben Franklin's family including his parents.
Boston Commons
One of the oldest parks in Boston, according to the following plaque it will be forever a place to graze cattle. Today it is a place for recreation in the heart of Boston and hosts an ice skating rink in the winter. It is bordered by the State House and Beacon Hill. Not a far walk away is also the famous Cheers bar.
Cheers
A place where "Everyone Knows Your Name" and a must stop place to take the boys. The thing that shocked them the most was a picture of a young Woody Harrelson, better known to them as Hamish from The Hunger Games.
Day Two in Boston: Harvard
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| All the freshman residence halls are around the center of campus. |
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| This building was never a church but the freshman dining hall. Upperclassmen are only allowed to eat breakfast here. The other side of the building hosts an auditorium, which originally held graduation ceremonies until the size of the graduating classes got too big. |
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| Memorial Church |
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| This library was set up in honor of the benefactor's son. He was returning along with his mother and father on the Titanic. The mother was the only one who survived so she donated this library in his memory. |
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| Dunovan decided that he wanted to go to Harvard because they set up their upper-classmen residence halls like Hogwarts. I think it was a good reason to attend, if it wasn't for the $65k a year tuition. |
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| This is the rare books library and hold a books dating back to Egypt, BC. |
Memorial Church
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| Harvard Hall |
Day 3- Leaving Boston
We had to travel back through Boston, this time with the truck and camper, to make our way to Maine. We drove straight through, well some was under and some was over, Boston. Doug did great driving through the big city!!
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