East Coast Family (Part 7a)~ Boston Freedom Trail

Once again, Shawn had another Guys day out opportunity. This time with his younger brother, Jared. And what did they decide to do??? They took a LONG walk around Boston. More specifically, they hiked the Boston Freedom Trail...

First stop was Bunker Hill... all the way to the top!! While there they saw one of many obelisk that they have all over the East Coast!! This one belongs to Bunker Hill though. (See how high they climbed??) At the top they were able to catch great views of Boston's cityscape. Back down at the trail were several markers and monuments, including one of Col. Prescott.

Another stop along the way was the USS Constitution... the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world today. The tour guides are even US Navy Seamen. It's nickname is Old Ironside because during it's first battle the cannon balls used against it virtually bounced off of it's incredibly hardy wood hull.

"One if by land, two if by sea" was the code used by the Colonists to communicate the route in which the British Soldiers would take inland. The church in these pictures is one where they placed two lanterns to be used for that signal. In front of the old brick building among the tall modern city towers is the site of the Boston Massacre.

Shawn and Jared got thirsty along their long journey, and stopped for a pint at the Ol' Green Dragon Tavern, the "headquarters of the Revolution". Okay, so this isn't the original Tavern. And Shawn & Jared didn't really stop to get a pint here.

The Boston Freedom Trail offered many different experiences for Shawn and Jared. They had a lot of fun, and were tutored along the way about all the Revolutionary War tid-bits they could cram into their minds. Along the way there was also a more somber stop... The Holocaust Memorial... where they both took home a new found appreciation of the events that took place during that dreadful time. There were 5 towers, each representing a concentration camp. As you walked through the towers steam came up symbolizing the gas chambers used in the Holocaust.

To finish their hike on the trail, Shawn and Jared found a few more fun things to stop and see. Shawn even found a time traveler sitting on a bench in the park to stop and talk to. And what historical photo-op would be complete without a picture of Shawn and a big cannon????