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Boston National Historical Park

National Historical Park · MA

Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.

Official NPS page →

Current Alerts (3)

Information

Great Hall, Faneuil Hall Closures: September 2026

Due to scheduled events, the Great Hall will close early on September 2 and 11. The Visitor Center Desk on the market floor will remain open.

Information

USS Cassin Young

USS CASSIN YOUNG is currently closed due to maintenance work on Pier One in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship is tentatively scheduled to re-open to the public in September.

Park Closure

Closure: USS Cassin Young

USS CASSIN YOUNG is currently closed due to maintenance work on Pier One in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship is tentatively scheduled to re-open to the public in September.

Entrance Fees

This park is fee-free.

Upcoming Events

Faneuil Hall Talk

Sep 1, 2026 · Great Hall of Faneuil Hall - 2nd Floor of Faneuil Hall

The Freedom Trail: Enemies to this Country Guided Tour

Sep 2, 2026 · Faneuil Hall - Find Your Park Space - Basement of Faneuil Hall

Bunker Hill: Decisive Day Talks

Sep 2, 2026 · Bunker Hill Monument and Grounds

"An Incident on King Street:" Boston Massacre Walking Tour

Sep 2, 2026 · Faneuil Hall Find Your Park Space

History at Sunset Walking Tour: Desegregation in the Cradle of Liberty

Sep 3, 2026 · African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court, Boston, MA 02114

Historic Town Meeting

Sep 3, 2026 · Great Hall of Faneuil Hall - 2nd Floor of Faneuil Hall

Bunker Hill: Muskets, Men, and Liberty Program

Sep 5, 2026 · Bunker Hill Monument and Grounds

Colonial Dance Tunes and Love Songs at Paul Revere House

Sep 5, 2026 · The Paul Revere House 19 N Square Boston, MA 02113

The Freedom Trail: Enemies to this Country Guided Tour

Sep 9, 2026 · Faneuil Hall - Find Your Park Space - Basement of Faneuil Hall

History at Sunset Walking Tour: Becoming American During the Siege of Boston

Sep 10, 2026 · Sam Adams Statue, outside Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109

18th-Century Songs with Jeff and Friends at Paul Revere House

Sep 12, 2026 · 19 North Square Boston, MA 02113

Hands-On History Days at Revolutionary Spaces

Sep 13, 2026

Paul Revere, Silversmith: Assessing his Craft and Legacy with Janine E. Skerry and Jeannine Falino

Sep 14, 2026 · Smith Commons, 5th Floor Sargent Hall, Suffolk University 120 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02108

Vault to Vessel: Explore "Old Ironsides" with USS Constitution Museum

Sep 14, 2026

Virtual Talk with Old North Illuminated: "On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear"

Sep 16, 2026

Constitution Day 2026: A Revolutionary View of Constitutional Supremacy

Sep 17, 2026 · Old South Meeting House 310 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108

History at Sunset Walking Tour: Boston Resists the Fugitive Slave Act

Sep 17, 2026 · African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court, Boston, MA 02114

Chemistry in the 18th Century

Sep 19, 2026 · 19 North Square Boston, MA 02113

History at Sunset Walking Tour: Boston, an Underground Railroad Hub

Sep 24, 2026 · Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108

USS Constitution Underway

Sep 25, 2026

Things to Do

Become a Bark Ranger

Bring your furry friend to the National Parks of Boston and take the B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge to become a Bark Ranger!

Bunker Hill: Muskets, Men, and Liberty

Listen to a ranger dressed in period clothing discuss why three men from different backgrounds fought in the battle. The program concludes with a musket firing demonstration!

Bunker Hill: Uncover the Stories Behind the Battle and Monument at the Museum

At the exhibits of the Bunker Hill Museum, visitors can explore more about the Battle of Bunker Hill, the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument, the memory of the battle, and the history of the Charlestown neighborhood.

Charlestown Navy Yard: Dive into The History of the Yard at the Visitor Center's Exhibits

Walk through the exhibits of the Navy Yard's Visitor Center to learn about the history of the Yard and the ingenuity of its workers.

Charlestown Navy Yard: Tour USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)

Explore above and below the main deck of USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793), a Fletcher-class Destroyer that served in the Second World War and throughout the 1950s.

Old North Church: Audio Tour

Discover Old North’s secrets and stories with a brand-new audio tour! Available in English or Spanish, the tour weaves together the story of Paul Revere’s famous lantern signal with recent research into the lives of Old North’s free and enslaved Indigenous and Black congregants.

Old North Church: Balcony Tours

Visit Old North Church's gallery through a variety of special themed tours.

Old North Church: Bell Ringing Chamber Tour

Take a tour of Old North's bell tower! Visitors will explore the archive room and the bell ringing chamber: two behind-the-scenes areas that aren’t typically open to guests.

Old North Church: Crypt Tour

Take a self-guided tour of Old North’s historic crypt, where 1,100 people were laid to rest.

Old North Church: Prince's Pet Pursuit Family Activity

Explore Old North through a scavenger hunt narrated by Prince, the friendly North End cat who used to frequent the church.

Old North Church: Tour this Historic Church Known for the Two Lanterns

Walk through the pews and admire the stained glass windows of this Anglican Church originally built in 1723 and learn about the story behind the famed lanterns.

Old South Meeting House: Explore the Exhibits at this Space for Debate

Old South Meeting House's exhibits that explore the sites rich history of debate during the American Revolution.

Old State House: Soak in Boston's History at this Former Seat of Government

The Old State House's exhibits explore the founding of the United States as well as examine the legacies of the events surrounding the American Revolution.

Paul Revere House: Step Back in Time at The Revere's Family Home

Take a self-guided tour through the well-preserved rooms where Paul Revere and his family lived for about twenty years.

The Clough House at Old North Church & Historic Site

Visit one of Boston's oldest surviving brick residences, the Clough House at Old North Church and Historic Site. The Clough House is home to the free exhibit "Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids," and the pop-up Ye Olde Pepper Candy Pantry.

The Freedom Trail: Enemies to this Country Guided Tour

Join a park ranger for a free 75 minute walking tour and decide who the real "Enemies to This Country" were in the months before the breakout of the War for Independence.

USS CONSTITUTION: Explore this Historic Ship

Step aboard USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy. Naval officers and crew still serve aboard her as interpretative historians.

USS Constitution Museum: Learn about the Role of "Old Ironsides" in U.S. Naval History

The USS Constitution Museum dives into the history of the oldest active vessel in the United States Navy. Serving as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution, the Museum provides engaging hands-on experiences for all visitors.

Visit Bunker Hill

Visit Bunker Hill to climb the Monument, explore the Museum, and learn about the history of the battle from a ranger.

Walk the Freedom Trail

Originally conceptualized in the 1950s, the Freedom Trail® is an iconic symbol of Boston. Its red brick line snakes through some of the oldest parts of the City, navigating visitors to some of the most significant historic sites in the Downtown, North End, and Charlestown neighborhoods of Boston.

Watch the Charlestown Navy Yard Orientation Film

Before exploring the Charlestown Navy Yard, take a few minutes to watch an introductory film on the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Visitor Centers

  • Bunker Hill Museum
  • Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center
  • Faneuil Hall Visitor Center

Webcams

Source: National Park Service.

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