Day 9

We made breakfast, loaded the car, and headed to Boston.  Our goal today was to walk the Freedom Trail.  First we walked through Boston Commons, America's oldest park. 

Massachusetts State House

 Next was the Park Street Church.  This site is known as the "Brimstone Corner" probably because... The church once housed brimstone in its basement during the War of 1812.  Or maybe it’s because old-school ministers delivered many "hell-fire and brimstone" sermons here.  "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee) was first sung here on July 4, 1831 on the exact steps we are on.

Next was the Granary Burying Ground.  Some of America's most notable citizens rest here.

Mother Goose

Paul Revere

John Hancock

The King's Chapel and Burying Ground was up next.  This was the first non-Puritan church in the colonies.  It became the first Unitarian Church in America, and houses the oldest American pulpit in continuous use.  One notable person we found in the burying grounds was William Dawes.

Benjamin Franklin Statue/ Boston Latin School Site

America's first public school offered instruction to boys both rich and poor.  

 

This mosaic marks the spot where the school once stood.

 

 

Old Corner Bookstore

This was the location of the center of American book publishing in the 1800s.  The world was introduced to some amazing people from here---Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Twain.

 

Old South Meeting House

December 16, 1773

The Original Boston Tea Party---It all started here.

Old State House

This was also the site of the Boston Massacre. 

We did go on a tour of the Old State House.

 

Lunch was up next--- Little Italy was our stop.

I guess this detour made us miss Faneuil Hall.. So our next stop was the Paul Revere House.

The front door

Old North Church

 

 

USS Constitution 

FINALLY... Bunker Hill is within sight.  We were hot, tired, and hungry so this is as close as it gets.  No one wanted to climb those stairs.  Now to trek back to a subway station.

Subways are fun to ride but I could not do this everyday!!!

We tried to do "something" in every state so in Rhode Island we drove by the capital building.

We kept driving, and driving, and driving.  Finally making it to Connecticut.  Our stop in this state was Louis Lunch.  It was very late, and everyone was tired, but we didn't care.  When you are this close to the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich... you stop.

Here are your choices- hamburger or cheeseburger (they use cheese whiz) with/out onions or tomatoes on toasted bread... chips/potato salad and pepsi products...  if you can't make this work, then this stop is not for you.  The kids really don't prefer burgers so we just split a couple of sandwiches.  Believe it or not, they actually liked them.

We had another great day exploring this amazing country, but we are beyond tired... tomorrow NYC!!