I love history, and one of our country’s most historical cities is Boston, the birthplace of the American Revolution. One of the “must-do” things while in Boston is to walk the Freedom Trail. There are many ways to take the trail. You can use a costumed guide, go on your own, or join me and take a virtual photo tour.

The Freedom Trail is a red brick line that weaves about two and a half miles through Boston, connecting sixteen historical sites. Our starting place is Boston Common.

Boston Common, established in 1634 as “common land” for the residents of the city to be used for farming and grazing. Later, it was a parade ground for military training and assembly. Over 1,000 Redcoats camped on the Common during their occupation of the city, and it was from there that the three brigades of Redcoats left from for Lexington and Concord.

Today, Boston Common is a large and beautiful park that offers picnicking, boat rides, and gardens for strolling.

Going north from Boston Common on Tremont Street is the Granary Burying Ground. This small cemetery is the final resting place of some of our most famous founding fathers and revolutionary heroes. At one time, this property was part of the Common. In 1660, it became a burying ground for Boston.

The Granary got its name from a building that stood next to the burying ground that stored bushels of grain. Although this graveyard has over 2,400 markers, it is believed that more than 6,000 individuals are buried there.

The significant marker you see as you enter is that of the Franklin family. No, Ben is not buried here (he’s buried in Philadelphia), but his parents are.

The graves of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are located there.  Along with Adams and Hancock, fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence Robert Treat Paine is also buried here. A plaque marking his tomb is on the right-hand wall. He makes three signers of the Declaration of Independence buried at the Granary.

Also, the five colonists killed at the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, are buried together here. Their grave are within the family plot of Samuel Adams.

Near the back of the cemetery, to the right of the Franklin plot, is an interesting grave. It is the grave of Mary Goose, rumored to be the real “Mother Goose.”

When this graveyard was still connected to the Common, livestock would graze among the headstones; this was a natural form of landscaping care. After buildings separated the graveyard from the rest of the Common, it was necessary to use mowers to keep the grass down. So some of the headstones had to be repositioned to make room.