| Edes & Gill Printing Office is open for business!  | | Gary Gregory, proprietor of The Printing Office of Edes & Gill, with his 18th century press |
North End's Clough House gives home to historic press The Freedom Trail Foundation is excited to announce the opening of The Printing Office of Edes & Gill at the historic Clough House in Boston's North End neighborhood. Located adjacent to the Old North Church, this real-life colonial business is open to the public every day from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Proprietor Gary Gregory, Executive Director & Master Printer of the printing office, was trained in 18th century printing at Colonial Williamsburg, and offers demonstrations of how his press works, gives informative lectures on the history of printing in Boston, offers hands-on activities, and sells traditionally printed replicas of numerous historic images and documents on location! While you're in Boston, be sure to stop by the shop. Donations are welcome, and the location is easily accessible from the Freedom Trail tour and just steps from the end of our North End Tour! Learn more about Edes & Gill here! |
| Private tours available all summer! 
Customize your tour for your schedule Summer is the busiest time of year for Freedom Trail public tours, but did you know you can step out of the crowds with your own customized private tours? The Freedom Trail Foundation offers private Walk Into History tours, North End tours, Pirates & Patriots tours, and customized tours starting at $125. So whether you want a tour at an off-schedule time, you need to start or end at different locations than our public tours offer, or if you'd just prefer a guide of your own, we can accomodate the specific interests and needs of any group. Freedom Trail tours are also perfect of company outings. We can accommodate group sizes ranging from one to 500! Make your reservations today! Call (617) 357-8300 to make reservations. |
| Freedom Trail Player: Kathy Woods  Veteran Player Kathy Woods talks about how she got on the Trail If you've ever walked through downtown Boston in the summer, there's a good chance you've seen Kathy Woods leading a tour. The four-year veteran of the Freedom Trail has been a mainstay since her arrival. While she's only logged a few years with the Foundation, she's no novice to history in her life. Woods has been interested in American history since she was a little girl attending Catholic school. Her classes sparked her growing curiosity about black history in the United States. She also was inspired to learn from people much closer to home. "My mother stressed that we learn [black history]," she said. "It's a great story. Everyone loves a great story." Kathy went on to further her education at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and then joined the Screen Actors Guild. With that guild membership, she starred in the show "A Woman, Ain't I?" about Sojourner Truth that toured 43 states. One day she got a call to perform her show at St. Peter's Elementary in Dorchester where former Freedom Trail Foundation guide and current Content Manager, Matt Wilding, was teaching history. After the show, Matt approached Kathy about joining the Foundation to represent historical figures of color. For her audition she performed a powerful Sojourner Truth monologue for Sam Jones, Freedom Trail Creative Director, whose impressed response was, "You can really tell a story!" On the Trail, Kathy now plays Jean Gordon, a fictional tavern wench. "She did a little bit of spy work," Kathy muses. "She'd gather up information from people after they'd had a little too much to drink in her tavern. She used to be a slave and bought her freedom, then learned to read and write. Customers didn't expect her to be intelligent, so she'd use that to her advantage and write down what people said and pass it over to Mr. Paul Revere." Kathy remains passionate to this day about American history and is a proud tour guide on Freedom Trail tours, including the African-American Patriots Tour, where she has been known to lead school children through alleyways of Beacon Hill just like escaped slaves, often alerting them to turn back or be quiet as to avoid being apprehended by slave catchers. The experience has been called "engaging" and "intensely real." On Her favorite part of the tour is showing people the Robert Gold Shaw monument, which celebrates the 4th Massachusetts infantry regiment, one of the first all black regiments in the Civil War.
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USS Constitution Museum acquires long lost piece of Jackson figurehead
 | | The recovered piece |
A missing piece from the legendary Jackson figurehead recovered after over 175 years! The USS Constitution Museum has got it! The mouth section of USS Constitution's Andrew Jackson figurehead that was decapitated in 1834 now resides at the Museum in Boston. The rest of the head that was split in two when it was removed in the dark of night from 'Old Ironsides,' is at the Museum of the City of New York. But the location of the mouth was a mystery until now. Andrew Jackson never won a popularity contest in Boston. Because of his anti-mercantile policies, the seventh president had more than his fair share of detractors among the Boston elite. In the spring of 1834, when Constitution's Capt. Jesse Duncan Elliot had the gall to order a new figurehead for the ship featuring Jackson's gaunt frame and visage, Bostonians were outraged. Calling it a "foul disgrace" bordering on vandalism of their favorite ship, they vowed revenge. In the middle of a dark and stormy night in July, a young Boston sea captain named Samuel Dewey procured a small rowboat and pulled beneath Constitution's looming bow. All the sentries had retreated to the shelter of their boxes, and Dewey gingerly scaled the ship's slippery side, till he clung to the side, face to face with "Old Hickory" himself. Drawing a saw, he began to hack away at the figure's head. After a few strokes, he hit an iron bolt. Undeterred, he began a new cut just below the nose. A few minutes of frantic sawing and the head came free. In the days following, as word of the decapitation spread, Dewey and his trophy were celebrated at a number of local parties. The mutilation also caused excitement in the rest of the country: Jackson's followers were outraged, his critics amused. Eventually, the clamor died down and the figurehead was repaired and then replaced. Descending down the family tree of the Secretary of the Navy, the head, removed by Dewey ended up at the Museum of the City of New York. But the question remained, what happened to the lower part of the head? Last year, a woman from New York approached the "History Detectives," a PBS-produced television program, with a mystery. She had in her possession a piece of painted wood featuring well-modeled lips and a chin. Could this be the missing piece of the Jackson figurehead? After setting the stage with a visit to the USS Constitution and the Museum, the detectives compared the piece to the rest of the head at the Museum of the City of New York. They matched! Thanks to the generous donors to the USS Constitution Museum's Commodore's Fund, the Museum was able to acquire the missing mouth and it will soon be on display in the USS Constitution Museum galleries. Learn more about USS Constitution Museum here! |
| Renovations of Granary Burying Ground have begun!  | | Mayor Thomas Menino presented $100,000 by FTF President Mimi La Camera and board members |
Foundation and the City of Boston team up to give historic cemetery a face lift
Major renovations of Boston's Granary Burying Ground have begun thanks in part to $125,000 in grants from the Freedom Trail Foundation's Preservation Fund. Due to heavy foot traffic from visitors and tourists, the site and its narrow pathways and grassy areas are subject to a great deal of wear and tear. Erosion, rainwater runoff, and visitors straying from the narrow paths have contributed to the damage. The scope of work will include widening of the site's front two pathways, installation of standing areas around popular graves such as those of Sam Adams and James Otis, reconfiguring the area by the grave of John Hancock, installing post-and-chain fencing to keep people on pathways, installing a new path behind Paul Revere's grave to ease congestion, tree pruning, re-grading, and re-seeding grassy areas where grass grows poorly. The balance of funding for the $300,000 project will come from Mayor Menino's Capital Improvement Program and the Fund for Parks and Recreation. The Granary Burying Ground contains approximately 2,345 gravestones and tombs, although it is estimated that more than 5,000 people are buried at this site. The grave markers are predominantly slate, with a few in greenstone or marble. Along with Massachusetts governors, mayors and clergymen, visitors will find the graves of three signers of the Declaration of Independence: Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine; Peter Faneuil, benefactor of the famed downtown Boston landmark; patriot and craftsman Paul Revere; James Otis, Revolutionary orator and lawyer; and five victims of the Boston Massacre. Near the center of the ground, a 25-foot-tall obelisk commemorates the tomb of Benjamin Franklin's parents. Learn more about Boston's historic burying grounds here! Give to the Freedom Trail Preservation Fund today! |
| Pirates & Patriots take on the Trail!  | | Pirate guides Josh Rudy and Michael Costello at Boston's Long Wharf |
Freedom Trail Foundation introduces it's newest tour
Landlubbers and jack tars, pirates and privateers, Tories and revolutionaries, impressed sailors and smugglers all occupied America's largest port city plying their trade - legal and illegal - as Boston struggled with independence. Hear fabulous stories along the Freedom Trail of Boston's 18th century harbor about the men and women who lived and worked here and the actions they took to separate from the most powerful country in the world. Learn the importance of their acts and contributions to Boston's preeminent position pre and post Revolution. Blimey, turn yourself into an Old Salt, when you take the Freedom Trail Foundation's newest Pirates & Patriots Tour with an 18th century costumed guide. Tours depart from Faneuil Hall (ArtsBoston/BosTix booth) for a 90-minute walk along the Freedom Trail and Boston Harbor. Daily, 12:30 P.M. $13 adults; $11 seniors/students; $7 children (includes $1 donation to the Freedom Trail Foundation Preservation Fund)
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| *A word from a sponsor* MOBILeSTORE & the Freedom Trail Foundation  Wireless device offers solutions to Foundation
Freedom Trail was looking for an automated solution. The requirements came down to the automation of the capture of the tour details along with the ability to provide real-time credit authorization. "MOBILeSTORE was an ideal fit for them." said Joe Tucker, Channel Manager at pss. "Freedom Trail has a truly unique business environment, providing tours in downtown Boston conducted by "players" wearing period costumes. They will gather a group of folks together and walk the Freedom Trail. This physical environment makes it very difficult for them to transact the sale of that tour with anything but a mobile computer. In addition, the computer needed to present the level of durability required to survive in the environment, while being unobtrusive enough to not spoil the presentation of the player as a person from the revolutionary war period. MOBILeSTORE was a perfect fit as it supported a selection of devices that allowed Freedom Trail to choose a unit that was the best form factor for their use (light weight, unobtrusive, and durable)," explained Toby Burrell, President of SAB Solutions. "We see MOBILeSTORE as a partner with Freedom Trail in that its' configurable nature provides the ability for Freedom Trail to identify additional areas of data capture and those to be added seamlessly to the current process." said Joe Tucker, Channel Manager at pss. "Freedom Trail Foundation required a lightweight credit card device with easy-to-understand software. MOBILeSTORE offered our on-the-go tour guides the easy-to-use interface and easy-to-carry size and weight that is necessary for us to smoothly conduct business in a fast-moving environment. Now we can sell tickets to Boston's most popular tour from anywhere!" said Mimi La Camera, President of Freedom Trail Foundation. "Customers are very happy with the MOBILeSTORE solution as it provides the processing of their credit card without the card leaving the sight alleviating any identity theft issues," said Chris Schultz, Freedom Trail Player. Learn more about pss and MOBILeSTORE here! *End of sponsorship message* |
| Advertise with The Freedom Trail!
The Freedom Trail enjoys 3 million visitors every year. Tap into this lucrative market directly with advertising opportunities on the Freedom Trail Foundation's website, on our tickets, in this newsletter, and in printed materials throughout the year.
TheFreedomTrail.org has 2,000 unique visitors every day! All of them are looking for things to do in Boston. Make your business part of their itinerary, and help with marketing and preservation of some of America's most precious historic treasures at the same time!
Get your message right in the customer's hands with online ticket ads. With over 100 tickets sold every day, emailed tickets turn "steps off the Trail" into must-visit attractions, dining, and shopping.
Contact us today and let us work within your budget to create the perfect advertising package and maximize your business' exposure to a very desirable, high income, well educated visitor.
Matthew Wilding
Media & Content Manager
(617) 357-8300, x205
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Help your business grow while assisting in preserving and promoting The Freedom Trail! Create your advertising package today! |
|  Follow the Trail
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| Watch us on YouTube
Freedom Trail is on YouTube! Subscribe to our NEW channel today to view This Day in History, Did You Know, Life on the Trail, and other informative and entertaining videos throughout the year!
Visit our YouTube now! |
| Pledge your allegiance online
The Freedom Trail Foundation is proud to announce Mission US: For Crown or Colony?, the official web-based game of the Freedom Trail. Mission US: For Crown or Colony? is interactive, educational, and entertaining. It is an ideal way for students to learn about colonial life in America and prime themselves for a visit to the Freedom Trail. |
| Public tours of the Freedom Trail
Freedom Trail Foundation offers public tours of the Freedom Trail all day, every day! Catch a Walk Into History tour every hour on the hour from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. from Boston Common, or a variety of tours every hour on the half hour from 10:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. from Faneuil Hall Marketplace (ArtsBoston Booth). Check our schedule for details!
Pricing
Adults: $13
Students and Seniors: $11
Children 12 and under: $7
All tickets include $1 donation to the Freedom Trail Preservation Fund Save money buying general admission tickets online! MP3 Player TourDownload the Hear History audio tour to your iPod or other personal player and walk the Freedom Trail at your own pace. Just $15. Download Now |
| Events Calendar
Featured Event:
Pirates & Patriots Tour Launch Wednesday, July 6 11:15 A.M. Join Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Freedom Trail Foundation, Friends of the Fort Point Channel, and a hold full of pirates for the official ribbon cutting event announcing new activities in Boston's Waterfront and innovation districts, as well as the official launch of our new Pirates & Patriots tour! Come learn about the reopening of the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and other excellent harbor-centric programs coming in the future! HarborWalk at InterContinental Boston 510 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA (617) 439-7700 RSVP 
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| *A word from a sponsor* Visit the Museum of Fine Arts - Art of Americas  | | John Singleton Copley, Paul Revere, 1768. Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Joseph W. Revere, William B. Revere and Edward H. R. Revere. |
Complete your exploration of Boston's rich past with a visit to the Art of the Americas Wing at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The history of the Freedom Trail comes alive in our galleries as you encounter glorious examples of art telling the story of our country's beginnings. On view are Paul Revere's silver, including the iconic Sons of Liberty bowl, portraits of patriots such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock by renowned artist John Singleton Copley, battles scenes from the fight for independence, ship models including the USS Constitution, and furniture and decorative arts from colonial times. Visit the MFA today!
*End of sponsorship message* |
| Support the Freedom Trail
Freedom Trail Foundation's Preservation Fund provides funding for capital projects at Freedom Trail sites. You can help preserve our national heritage, too! |
| Hotel Packages
Book a Boston getaway and get a Freedom Trail tour!
Planning a trip to the Freedom Trail? Get great deals, great service, and great accommodations with one of our 11 Freedom Trail Foundation Hotel Packages!
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