So two days ago, I told you about our fun excursion on the Boston Duck Tours, specifically on “Longfellow Bridget.”  Well, our escapade today knocked my socks off – or more accurately blew my hat off given today’s windy weather.  The Freedom Trail Walk was amazing, and that’s an understatement.  After buying our tickets at the Visitor Information Bureau at 148 Tremont Street, we ventured across the street to the Boston Common, where we spotted our tour guide.  How could we miss him?  He was the only human within eye-shot wearing 18th Century garb.  We learned that his name was Jeremiah Poope, and he is pictured below.  Can you imagine having that as a last name?  Which then begs the question – is that his real name or is it his stage name?  And could someone in the 18th century have had Poope for a last name?  I am still pondering that myself…..

Anyway, I digress….  According to the Freedom Trail Foundation web site, the “Walk Into History public walking tour is a great way to experience the Freedom Trail. Led by an 18th Century Costumed Guide, the 90-minute tour mixes humor, history and fun. Be transported back in time to the days of the American Revolution and have a hands-on revolutionary experience.”  I couldn’t describe our experience any better…. Jeremiah Poope was a riot (hee, hee), and he gave us a great taste of the life in Boston hundreds of years ago – not to mention a ton of historical facts, events and silly tidbits.

Some of the highlights were visiting the Granary Burial Ground, hearing tales of the Puritan way and rules (including the stocks) as well as learning about the lives of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and many other notable figures.  And Jeremiah set us straight on some of the historical inaccuracies that have been passed down from generation to generation, and he taught us some new facts as well.  For example, we learned that Samuel Adams was indeed a beer maker during his time, and yet the picture of the man on the Sam Adams beer label, which we all know and love, is not of Samuel Adams (I guess he was not much of a looker) but of Paul Revere.  We also learned that the amount of tea that the Revolutionaries threw into the Boston Harbor, the event that we know as the Boston Tea Party, was worth the equivalent of $1.7 million.  We also learned that it was not Paul Revere but Samuel Prescott who ultimately rode into Concord on the fateful night of April 18, 1775.  Paul Revere had gotten pulled over by the British after leaving Lexington and therefore could not continue his journey to Concord.  And did you know that there is a gilded gold grasshopper weathervane on the top of Faneuil Hall because Peter Faneuil, who financed the building of the famous hall, was obsessed with grasshoppers?  I certainly didn’t….

The entire Freedom Trail is 2 1/2 miles, but our walk just took us from the Boston Common to Faneuil Hall (pictured above), which was probably about 3/4 of a mile.  Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors/students and $7 for children.  And the most convenient parking – but maybe not the least expensive - is the Boston Common Garage, Zero Charles Street.  We parked there for between two and three hours, and it cost us $16.  This is a tour not to be missed; it was the most fun factual tour guide of Boston that I have ever been on.  Have you ever experienced the Freedom Trail Walk?  Did you love it too?  I can’t wait to hear….