Buster Does Boston & The Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail, June 2019

Hi! I am Buster the traveling yorkie.  I love going on adventures with my parents!  I’m over 15 years old and Mom says that makes me around 107 in puppy years.  That sure sounds like a big number! I can still run and jump, although I really don’t see the need to do so quite as often. 

My sister Brandy and I started going on airplanes when we were ten years old.  We would both cuddle up in one bag underneath the plane seat.  I can’t say it was a lot of fun having to go under a seat, but the next time Mom put the bag on the floor and asked “who’s going bye-bye?” Brandy and I both jumped right in.  We knew it meant we got to go with Mom and Dad, which was worth the bag time.  Brandy is gone now, and even though I still really miss her, I have gotten used to being the “only child”.  Whenever the bag comes out, in I go.  I even tried to get in Mom’s suitcase once!

Both times that Brandy and I were in Boston together we primarily just explored the Boston Common.  Brandy couldn’t walk as far, but we sure liked barking and trying to chase all of the big dogs we saw!  Darn those leashes! 

This time Mom & Dad took me to the Common and everything seemed normal until they started leading me on the sidewalk that had a double row of red bricks through it.  Hmmmm… let’s see where this goes.  Mom read that the Freedom Trail was the number one pet-friendly activity in Boston, so off we went.

Freedom Trail Stop 1 – Boston Common

This was the first time I found out that there used to be cows here in the Common!  The park dates back to 1634 when the Puritan colonists of Boston purchased the farm land from William Blackstone to create a community common.  Did you know that it is the oldest city park in the United States?  It was not until almost 200 years later, in 1830, that they banned cows from grazing in the park.  Too bad… that would have been fun to chase the cows again like I did at Uncle Carle’s on Table Mountain!

Freedom Trail Stop 2 – New State House

Above the corner of the Common sits the state capitol building.  It was actually built in 1798 so I am not really sure what is so new about it.  The wood dome leaked the first several years, so in 1802 Paul Revere’s Copper Company covered it with copper.  In 1874 it was gilded with gold leaf. Then during World War II they painted it grey to protect it from potential bombing attacks.  In 1997, just a few years before I was born, they re-gilded it with 23k gold.  It is so very bright when the sun shines on it!!!

Freedom Trail Stop 3 – Park Street Church

Also located next to the Common, stop number three is the Park Street Church.  It was chartered by the “Religious Improvement Society” and  was built in 1809.  The steeple is 217 feet high and was the tallest building in the United States from 1810 to 1828!

Freedom Trail Stop 4 – Granary Burying Ground

Even though this burying ground was founded in 1660 it is only the third oldest cemetery in Boston!  It is right next to the Park Street Church.  In 1660 a granary building was on the site of the Church.  Paul Revere and several signors of the Declaration of Independence are buried here. The biggest marker, however, is for Benjamin Franklin – who is not even buried at this site!  A local guide was explaining that Ben is believed to have said that “he wouldn’t be caught dead back in Boston” and therefore is buried in his adopted home city of Philadelphia.  Ben had left Boston at age 17 for Philadelphia after a falling out with his brother and never looked back. (Even though the Freedom Trail is pet friendly, dogs are not allowed to walk in the cemeteries. Luckily I am small enough that Dad could carry me.)

Freedom Trail Stop 5 – Kings Chapel and Burying Ground

The original wooden church here was built in 1686.  In 1749 they started building a stone chapel around the outside of the wooden church.  Once it was complete, in 1754, the wooden structure inside was dismantled and removed through the windows of the new chapel.  They sent the wood to Nova Scotia and used it to build St. John’s Anglican Church.  Originally Kings Chapel was to have a steeple but they ran out of money and it never happened.  The newly built stone chapel sat empty during the Revolutionary War when the British loyalist families left for Nova Scotia and England.  The original chapel bell was cast in England and cracked in the early 1800s.  In 1814 Paul Revere’s foundry recast the bell – the largest and last bell cast by his foundry while he was alive.  The Kings Chapel Burying Ground, founded in 1630, is the oldest graveyard in the city of Boston.  I am starting to feel really young!

Freedom Trail Stop 6 – Boston Latin School & Benjamin Franklin Statue

First off, the actual school building no longer exists.  It was torn down in 1745 for the expansion of Kings Chapel.  The statue of Benjamin Franklin and a mosaic on the ground are the visible markings of where the school stood.  The Boston Latin School was founded in 1635 and is the oldest public school in both America and in the United States.  The original school house was completed in 1645.  After relocating in 1745, it has operated from several different locations and is still active today.  Five of the signors of the Declaration of Independence attended Boston Latin.  Of the five, Benjamin Franklin was the only one who did not graduate as he was needed to help in the family business before he struck out on his own for Philadelphia.

Freedom Trail Stop 7 – Old Corner Bookstore

We walked and walked in search of the bookstore.  We finally realized it was the Chipotle fast food restaurant!  Since it was built in 1718, it is downtown’s oldest commercial building.  In the 1800s it housed the publisher Ticknor and Fields, which printed so many great American classics.  In 1960 it was scheduled for demolition in favor of a parking garage.  Rescued from its’ fate, now the revenue received from leasing it is used to support other preservation projects in Boston.

Freedom Trail Stop 8 – Old South Meeting House

In 1729 this building was built as a puritan meeting house.  Between 1768 and 1775 it became the center for the large protest meetings against British actions in Boston.  It was from here, on December 16, 1773, that the Boston Tea Party started.  The Sons of Liberty dumped 342 chests of tea in the harbor in protest of the British taxes on the tea and protesting taxation without representation.  In 1872 it was sold and slated for demolition.  The Old South Association raised funds to purchase the building and land to preserve it for posterity.  This was the first public building in the United States to be saved for its historical significance.

End of Day 1

Well that was a LOT of walking and my legs are only six inches tall, so we decided to split the trail into two days.  I am ready for a nap!!! 

Freedom Trail Stop 9 – Old State House

Right by our hotel, we started day 2 on the Freedom Trail at Stop 9, the Old State House.  Again, I couldn’t go inside, but I am told it is the oldest surviving public building in Boston.  Built in 1713, it housed the government affairs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  It was on the balcony (pictured behind me)  that the Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed on July 18, 1776.  After the Revolution it became the seat of the Massachusetts state government until they moved to the New State House in 1798.  Between 1830 and 1841 it was also used as Boston’s first City Hall.   Today it is a popular historical museum.

Freedom Trail Stop 10 – Site of the Boston Massacre

Directly in front of the Old State House is a large circle in the ground marking the site of the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770. 

Freedom Trail Stop 11 – Faneuil Hall

If you’ve been to Boston I am sure have been to Faneuil Hall, as it is always a stop on our visits.  Built as a market house and meeting hall in 1740, it was again rebuilt after a fire in 1761, expanded in 1806 and once again rebuilt of noncombustible materials in 1898.  I like hanging out here with Mom & Dad because we get Lobster Rolls at Quincy Market and then people watch at the café tables outside.

Freedom Trail Stop 12 – Paul Revere House

This house was built in 1680 and is the oldest house in downtown Boston.  Paul Revere owned it from 1770 to 1800.  Since dogs are not allowed inside we only saw it from the outside.  It’s hard to believe it was built 339 years ago!!!

Freedom Trail Stop 13 – Old North Church

The Old North Church (known as (Christ Church in the City of Boston) is the location where the signal “one if by land, two if by sea” (which in this case is actually by river) is said to have been sent.  This Episcopal Church was built in 1723 and is the oldest standing church building in Boston.

Freedom Trail Stop 14 – Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

Well since yesterday we saw the oldest and the third oldest cemeteries in Boston, today our next stop was the second oldest.  The Copp’s Hill burying ground was established in 1659.

Freedom Trail Stop 15 – USS Constitution

It was a pretty long trek to our next stop.  We crossed over the Charles River on the North Washington Street Bridge (Mom carried me over the metal parts), and then down through Charlestown to the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The USS Constitution, known as “Old Ironsides” is a wooden hulled, three masted heavy frigate.  She launched in 1797 and was retired from active service in 1881.  Old Ironsides is still afloat today serving as a museum ship.

Freedom Trail Stop 16 – Bunker Hill Monument

Another walk up to the Bunker Hill Monument – our last stop!  I made it!  This monument was completed in 1843 to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill of June 17, 1775, one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War.  While it is known as “Bunker Hill” both the battle and this monument stand on Breeds Hill.  I for one am so happy that we didn’t climb the 294 steps up inside the granite obelisk.  After a little rest we started back to the hotel.

Wow!  Boy am I tuckered out!  I’m turning this back over to Mom to share some of her Beantown favorites.  Thanks for walking the Trail with me!

Things to do in Boston – Top Five

1. Walking.  There is so much to see in Boston!  The Freedom Trail is marked with a double row of bricks in the sidewalk to guide you and there are medallions in the ground in front of each stop.  It is such a great, interactive way to learn more about early American history.  In addition to all of the sights on the Trail, don’t miss walking the Boston Public Gardens, the waterfront areas and the Back Bay area.
2. Picnic in Boston Common.  Take a break from exploring and enjoy a picnic in the Common to recharge for your next adventure.
3. Museums.  Boston has museums for days… just name your subject!  If you like history, the Old State House, the Charlestown Navy Yard and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum are popular destinations.
4. Shopping on Newbury Street.  Newbury Street is a mile long Back Bay street that runs from the Boston Public Garden to Brookline Avenue.  Lined with trees and 19^th century brownstones, it has a great mix of high end brands and local boutiques, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes to enjoy.
5. Kayak or canoe on the Charles River.  Sunny days are beautiful on the river!  If staying on land is your preference they have a beautiful biking / walking trail along the river’s edge.

What to eat in Boston – Top Five

1. Dinner at Mistral. We had a fantastic birthday celebration at Mistral Restaurant. The “Best of Boston” recommendation for the rack of lamb was definitely on point, and the meal and service were both fantastic!
2. Hot buttered lobster rolls at Boston Chowda Company in Quincy Market.  They also have the more standard lobster salad version, but the hot buttered lobster roll is definitely a treat!
3. Union Oyster House, established in 1826.  Step back in time at this iconic restaurant.  The food is good but the experience is quintessentially historic Boston.
4. Clam Chowder at Legal Seafood.  If you are a chowder fan… enjoy!
5. Boston Public Market.  Wander the vendors and build your own lunch for a picnic at the Boston Common.

Fun Places to Stay in Boston

• Custom House, Boston

The historic Custom House in the heart of Boston is near popular landmarks including Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Boston Opera House and historic Freedom Trail.  Right in the heart of downtown, you can dine in with local restaurant delivery, refresh at the fitness center and admire the view from the 26th-floor open-air Observation Deck. It also has an on-site movie theater and game room, as well as a fun daily calendar of events available to guests.

• Liberty Hotel

This Luxury Collection Hotel was re-imagined from the Charles Street Jail.  Located at the foot of Beacon Hill, the building is a national historic landmark built in 1851.  The original design was a collaboration between the renowned architect Gridley James Fox Bryant and Rev. Louis Dwight, an advocate for prison reform.   The current restoration design honors the building’s history while blending in contemporary luxury.  Its elegant and quirky interior and historic architecture is the centerpiece of your stay here.  In addition to being pet friendly, they offer guests building history tours; have a running concierge; have Saturday yoga, bicycle and kayak rentals in season;  offer a rotating schedule of live music, art and fashion shows and epicurean moments.  In the summer they have a pet happy hour … “Yappier Hour” … with canines and cocktails in “The Yard”… Buster liked that!

• Boston Yacht Haven Inn & Marina

If you are looking for a more private escape, situated at Boston’s North End on Commercial Wharf is the Boston Yacht Haven Inn & Marina.  It is a peaceful retreat on the water just moments away from Quincy Market, the New England Aquarium, the theatre and financial districts as well as shopping dining and nightlife.

A Final Note from Buster

The possibilities in Boston are endless.  Every time we visit this amazing city we learn something new.  We have another visit scheduled this year, so if you have any pet friendly suggestions or must try recommendations for Mom & Dad, please let us know!

XO, Buster & the ‘rents

#boston #thefreedomtrail #wewanderboston #yorkiesofinstagram #adventureofbusterandbrandy  @ohbusterbrown