Today we resumed the Freedom Trail

l having realised reading the map was not as easy as following the red brick road!

First stop today - The Old North Church. This is Bostons oldest standing religious edifice and was modelled on a Christopher Wren design of a church in Blackfriars, London and built in 1723. It was made famous on April 18^th 1775 when Paul Revere, an active Patriot of the revolution orchestrated the lighting of the lanterns in its belfry. This was part of an intelligence network set up to warn of any British movement that may endanger the revolutionaries that had set up a stronghold in Concord. ‘One lantern by land, two by sea’. Once lit, Revere then rode to Lexington (on the way to Concord) and let all the colonists on the way know the British were coming on his way.  He was captured in Lexington but when it was learned that they were now expected, the British turned back and released him. Reveres actions that night are celebrated in another of Longfellow’s epic poems that begins: Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…..

I was amused as we stood talking to the guide outside the church that the hymn they were playing was to the tune of the British National Anthem!

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We then went and looked at Paul Revere’s house – the oldest surviving clapboard frame house in Boston, and from where the famous ride began.

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We continued the Freedom Trail across the river to the USS Constitution, named by George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America! Built in 1797, she is the oldest commissioned naval vessel in the world and is affectionately known as ‘Old Ironsides’. This is because she has the unique construction of a three layer hull. The Live oak being sandwiched between two layers of white oak. (Live oak or green or seasoned is known to be 5 times denser but does not float so not routinely used for boats!). This revolutionary design made her so strong that cannonballs either embedded or bounced of the hull.

Other interesting facts learned: the USS Constitution claims to be the first to defeat any British ship – the HMS Guerriere during the war of 1812, and if a surrendering ship has no mast on which to fly a white flag, etiquette requires the firing of a gun away from the battlefield!

I also wondered what the original crew would have made of todays view from the ship!

Nest stop, the monument at Bunker Hill and a climb of 294 steps for the view at the top. The monument is a memorial to those that died there during the first military encounter of the War of Independence on June 17, 1775. Although the British won, it was at a huge cost. 43% of their 2400 troupes and 33% of the colonists 1200.

Last stop, the Old State House, from whose balcony the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776. Nick was amused that the British Lion and Unicorn were present to oversee.

Then back to the boat to plan for tomorrow….