One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm

Those words, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, have been memorized by countless people learning about the revolutionary era of the United States. The poem refers to hanging a lantern (or lanterns) in the belfry of the Old North Church is Boston as a signal that the British were coming, and that Paul Revere was to alert the neighboring villages.

The Old North Church still stands in Boston today, and is the city’s oldest surviving church structure, as well as a National Historic Landmark. It’s 191 foot tall steeple makes it the tallest steeple in the city, and a recognizable part of the Boston skyline (in center of photo above). The church is on the city’s Freedom Trail, a two and a half mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 historic sites.

The church is more properly known as Christ Church in the City of Boston, and is associated with the Episcopalian Church. It is an active church, and services have been held there regularly since it was built in 1723, save for a brief closure during the American Revolution.

You can tour the Old North Church at its location at 193 Salem Street. It is open daily, 9 am – 6 pm (summer hours), and although there is no admission charge, voluntary donations are welcome. I took time for a walk through when I was in Boston a few days ago, and found that it filled me with a tremendous sense of history. It’s said that the box pews, the brass chandeliers, and the first clock are all original — that’s over 250 years ago!

Sunday services are held at 9 am and 11 am, and visitors are welcome to attend.

Photo credit: wikimedia (skyline) and flickr (church steeple)

Post from: The Boston Traveler

One of the non-witchy highlights of a visit to Salem is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s House of Seven Gables.

The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association was created to assist immigrant families who were settling in Salem. Philanthropist and preservationist Caroline Emmerton purchased “the Old Turner Mansion” in 1908, and eventually restored the mansion to its original splendor — and its seven gables. The building became known as The House of the Seven Gables, after Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name.

Additional structures were eventually acquired, all dating back to the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, and were moved to the site, creating The House of the Seven Gables campus. It is listed as a historic district on The National Register of Historic Places. The Association continues to focus on education, preservation, and community service

The House of the Seven Gables is located at 115 Derby Street in Salem (map it).  Parking is free while visiting.  You may also want to consider public transportation.

I’ve only been to The House of the Seven Gables during the spring time, when it looks much like it does in the photo above, with beautiful gardens and landscaping.   Like much of Salem, The House of the Seven Gables offers special Halloween events, and I can imagine, however, how spooky it must look in the dark and dreariness of Halloween.

Photo credit: wikimedia

Post from: The Boston Traveler

One of Boston’s biggest attractions is the Freedom Trail, a pedestrian walk along a red path, primarily constructed of bricks, that links sixteen historic locations in Boston. The trail begins on the Boston Common downtown and ends at Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Monument about 2.5 miles away.

During the journey, participants also encounter the Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, the Benjamin Franklin statue, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, the site where the Boston Massacre occurred, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, and the USS Constitution. The last is the United States Navy ship widely called Old Ironsides.

You can take your own electronic tour of the ever-popular Freedom Trail right now by watching the following seven-minute video created by a family who walked it on Easter weekend of this year. The footage isn’t professional quality, but it does give a real sense of the sights encountered as you reach various landmarks. All create an impression of awe that’s not easily transmitted via an artificial medium, which is actually a great motivation to visit Boston and enjoy the trail up close and personal.

Learn more about Boston’s Freedom Trail at the Freedom Trail Foundation, a provider of informative, 90-minute historical tours several times a day during relevant seasons.

NOTE: For your ears’ sake, I suggest turning the volume down low or off on the video. The audio is extremely poor and very unpleasant to hear.

Post from: The Boston Traveler