The oldest public park in the United States, Boston Common is the ideal place to relax, unwind and soak up some history.
One of the city’s most popular attractions, the large Boston Common is as popular with Boston’s residents as it is with visitors. Covering over 20 hectares, the Common is the ideal place to take a walk, have a picnic or enjoy one of the musical performances or events that are held here throughout the year. The famous Freedom Trail also starts at Boston Common, along which you can visit a number of points of interest from the American Revolution.
As the weather gets warmer, the number of activities increases. You can ride the famous Swan Boats during the spring and summer, a Boston Common activity that has been attracting visitors for over 130 years. Both the Brewer Fountain and the Frog Pond provide relief from the heat of the summer, and the Frog Pond becomes an ice-skating rink during the winter period. You can take lessons at the Skating Academy if you’re not too confident on the ice.
Another activity to enjoy during the colder months is the great toboggan run that starts at the top of Flagstaff Hill. Flagstaff Hill is the location of the impressive granite Soldiers and Sailors Monument. One of the most important sculptures is that which remembers the brave actions of Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry during the American Civil War.
Boston Common has a very interesting history closely linked to the growth of the city itself. The Common dates back to 1634, and has been used for many different purposes. This includes an encampment for British Red Coats before Independence, gruesome public hangings, Civil War recruitment, and as a meeting point for many types of protests over the centuries. The Common is home to a great number of gravestones of those who fought and died during the War – you can find these at the historic Central Burying Ground.
Boston Common is conveniently located in the centre of the city. Along with the nearby Public Garden, the Common is one of the parks in Boston’s Emerald Necklace, a network of green public spaces located throughout the city. Pay a visit to the Boston Common Visitor Information Centre near the beginning of the Freedom Trail at Tremont Street for more information. The Common is open daily and admission is free.
