Freedom Trail sites in Boston...we saw 13 of 16, and checked into only 9 because some are closed...June 2016...overall 4 stars... #1 of 16...Boston Common...5 stars...wonderful park area where people can meet and walk, or eat at one of the food stands that dot the area. It is a huge park in the city and well worth visiting. A great place to start your tour of the Freedom trail. All cities should have a public park area of this size and fame. Free. #2 of 16...Massachusetts State House...5 stars...This was our first stop on the Freedom Trail and IMHO it is the best. It is a magnificent piece of architecture that the State of Massachusetts (technically they are a Commonwealth) allows the public to visit practically every day of the year for no charge. Inside you'll find both the State Senate meeting room and the State Representative hall. In both cases, when the Houses are in session you are allowed to visit in the spectators balcony. We visited during the summer when the Houses were not in session and so we were allowed on the floor of both Houses...this was a very neat experience. There is also a Flag Hall worth seeing, and many other interesting places to investigate. Make sure you visit...this was worth it. Free. #4 of 16...Granary Burying Ground...5 stars...very neat burial grounds. Free entry and you'll see where Sam Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Franklin's parents are buried. Interesting old monuments on the grounds. Worth the look. Free...although there is a guy at the entrance who loans you diagrams for a donation...worth it. #5 of 16...Kings Chapel...3 stars...Neat old church...you can see the original booths that were awarded to members based on their donations to the church. Worth the look. Free. #10 of 16...Old State House...2 stars...neat old building but they want $10 each for visitors to look at the small museum. Not worth the trouble...walk by and see the nice old architecture and move on. Not Free. #11 of 16...Boston Massacre Site...2 stars...sort of like the Fort Dearborn site in Chicago...it is a brass plaque set in the concrete on the corner. Walk on by and move on. Free. #12 of 16...Fanueil Hall...5 stars...very neat area of old warehouses in Boston. These have largely been turned into shops and places to eat. This is a big venue...with three distinct sets of warehouses. You could easily spend all day just here. Worth the visit. Free. #15 of 16...USS Constitution and Charlestown Navy Yard...5 stars...if you made it this far you must go see the USS Constitution...it is a piece of American history unlike any other. This ship is still on the active rolls of the US Navy. It is currently in dry dock and being refurbished (which seems to happen every 20 years) but don't let that hold you back. You'll go through a cursory security check and then can get on deck for a self-guided tour. There are also many sailors on board to answer any questions. An American landmark. Don't miss this one. Free. #16 of 16...Bunker Hill...3 stars...Site of an actual battle that played a large part in forming the United States. That said, it is a monolith on top of a small mountain overlooking Boston. Worth the visit, but you'll probably have to drive here to the North End of Boston and park your car. Still and all worth the visit. Free. read more

Very disappointed with the rude gift shop staff. The students on our school trip with 3 chaperones and 14 students were scolded and forced out of the store immediately after their purchases. These teenagers are at the top of their class and deserve to be treated with respect. All our students were excited to learn more about our nation's history and should be encouraged in their pursuit of knowledge. Please remember that you are serving our future when you are engaged with teenagers. Very disappointing. read more

This museum is a cute little gem. Admission is like $1 and you get too see some cool maritime and historical items from the Revolutionary War time. I used to bring my group of disabled adults here since it was cheap and inexpensive community outing as well as handicapped accessible. Admission covers the cost of museum and boarding the USS Constitution Ship as well. I would love to actually sail on the ship out on Boston Harbor, which does snot happen that often. The views of Boston from the Museum. There is a small gift shop as well as out patio seating so people can just sit down and relax and enjoy the views. read more

A fantastic museum for children. I as an adult enjoyed their gift shop but the museum is very much geared towards children with lots of interactive exhibits. You'll be out of breath and thirsty so make sure to stop by the museum's gift shop for water. There's a clean restroom inside. The museum is FREE but they appreciate donations even if it's only a dollar you donate per person. They gladly smile and enthusiastically say Thank You. read more

See all

History certainly makes for patriotic sentiment. Totally cool to see a piece of American History still intact. Definite must see if you are a history buff, or just to learn more about the road to American democracy. read more

Lots on hands on displays for kids and lots of information that we didn't know. The staff was friendly and could answer questions about the displays. There is not an entrance fee, but they ask for donations and there is a box near the entrance to deposit any donation you feel comfortable with. read more

See all

I'm not a big ship person or navy person, but a chance to tour the oldest active ship in the US for free? I'm there! The free tours are interesting and informative, and I learned a lot of history I didn't previously know. The museum next to the the boat is a bit on the dry side, so unless you're a major history buff I'd just quickly browse through it and head out to the ship. Also cool: seeing the USS Constitution from the water, on a cruise. It costs money, though. Odd and unexpected fact: you and your bags have to go through security to go see the USS Constitution. Now that you're read this, you won't be as shocked as me! read more

USS Constitution Museum - USS Constitution - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Great place to visit. Start on this end first when walking the freedom trail! It's free! This place has a nostalgic feeling. The ship is made of white oak from Georgia trees, who works have thought that's how she survived and won those battles against the British. She is also still commissioned this day. I recommend to visit! read more

USS Constitution Museum - Where the cannons would be.. - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Come appreciate the USS Constitution (aka "Old Ironsides") at this wonderful, interactive, and free museum! Start at the visitor's center to your right. From here, you can learn a bit about the ship and about ship-making in general. Then, head outside to walk through the ship itself! You can't explore quite every nook and cranny, but you can explore most of them. Walk through three floors of the ship (and watch your head!). Listen to dressed-up shipmates talk about what life on the ship would be like. And try to imagine you're a sailor or marine at sea on the famous vessel. From there, you can check out other ships on the pier, then head over to the museum. The museum is a delight, filled with fun interactive exhibits and lots of great information. Learn about the history of the ship in the war of 1812 - and learn about the broader context of the war, as well (it's not as popular as the revolution or the world wars, so chances are you'll learn something new!). Play fun educational games which teach about the reasons for the conflict and the various ramifications of the war. Read about the history of "Old Ironsides" since it's construction over 200 years ago. Then visit the second floor to see what life as a sailor would have been like - replete with more games, testimonials, and even a hammock where you can lounge and pretend you're sleeping at sea! Overall, this museum was one of the highlights of the Freedom Trail. It's educational and fun in a way most of the other museums were not. Plus, as already mentioned, it's completely free to visit (though they do appreciate donations). I know it's a bit of a trek from the other Freedom Trail attractions, but I highly encourage you to take the time to walk over and hit it up - you won't be disappointed! read more

I was not able to tour this vessel while in Boston but since I am going to be visiting on a regular basis now, I plan on touring it the next time it is open to do so. I did see it from afar on a river cruise and I recommend viewing the ship as it is the oldest still operating ship in the USA. read more

USS Constitution Museum - View of the USS Constitution from the Charles River cruise tour - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great tour! I got to lie in a 200 year old bed inside "Old Ironsides" what could be better? Free admission, adult, child and family friendly. If you love history you will love this ship. If you see one thing in Boston this is the one I would pick. read more

This is a great stop on the Freedom Trail. There is a lot to see and do here, between taking a visit to the USS Constitution and visiting the museum. Boarding the ship requires going through security check, and adults will need their IDs. While the ship is in dry dock, you can only visit the top deck, but it still makes for a neat stroll. It would be very cool to see the whole thing, however, so I hope to visit again after the restoration is done. The museum is admission by donation and is very nicely set up. The first floor exhibits focused on the history of the ship and all the work that went into saving and restoring it. The second floor held an interactive exhibit that would be great for kids. It walks you through enlisting as a sailor and what life would have been like serving aboard the ship. There is also a gift shop available in the museum. read more

She didn't budge, the USS Constitution is a very nice piece of history' the museum tells you how it was made, what wood was made of it and how much, reasons of building it and the war era. The actual ship itself is a beauty, seeing the war canons, the living quarters, and the captains corner. She is beauty. read more

See all

(Second to last site on the Freedom Trail) Definitely really cool to see this ship + piece of history in person. My boyfriend, who was visiting Boston for the first time, was most excited to see this site on the Freedom Trail. It's very easy to find if you've been following a tour group and/or the line on the ground the whole time. There's a small museum and gift shop right next to the ship that's free to enjoy (also restrooms! and souvenir penny machines!). Looking at the other reviews, I didn't even know that we could go ON the ship! I'm going to keep that in mind for next time! read more

This was one of the coolest things we did while touring the history of our country in Boston. The history that lives in this ship and the beautiful restoration job to preserve her. You could not help but have goose bumps standing on the deck and going below. The cannons are still in place and it was so cool to hear that it is still a functioning ship. They took her out the next morning and sailed to an island down in South Boston and did a 21 gun salute followed by another ceremony. We were blessed to be able to stand on such a significant piece of our history. read more

THIS IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS TO SEE! AND IT'S FREE TO COME ABOARD! THIS IS THE OLDEST COMMISSIONED WARSHIP AFLOAT NOT JUST IN THE US BUT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! Lots of other Free Historic Sites here too See Below. You must show a valid ID & then you are checked through security. The ship was constructed from 1794-1797 & it launched that year. It fought in many battles including The Quasi War, The Barbary War, & The War of 1812. Old Ironsides was Undefeated. But after it's reign The Constitution was retired, it faced even more battles than in wartime. It laid in disrepair for years & almost saw the wrecking ball a few times. The most recent saving was in the 1920s. It was not Adult Voters, nor the Politicians who saved her but School Kids. Children had learned about this famous ship from their history classes & Kids from EVERYWHERE banded together to save the ship. The government saw the throngs of Kids & buckled & the ship was saved. See there is Power in Numbers. Now everyone can enjoy this national historic treasure thanks to the kids of the 1920s. You can see the archival footage of the kids banding together in the short film about the ship in the museum. Old Ironsides has been beautifully 90 % Restored. About 10% of it is still in its original condition but that is on the lowest deck not open to the public. You get to see the ship & the lower deck too & beautiful views of Boston. You've learned about the ship in history class but to see it in the flesh is a whole different thing. The ship is MAGNIFICENT & to think it almost ended up in a landfill! This is a living ship which means it is still active. They take The Constitution out to Sea a few miles a couple of times a year & turn her around. While you are here, Don't forget to check out The Dry Dock, The USS Cassin Young another Historic Ship celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2018, The Museum, The Visitor Center, The Store & the whole Charlestown Navy Yard yet another Historic site. They are all located in the same area & ALL ARE FREE except for The Museum where they ask you to make a donation whatever you can afford to help preserve the ship. It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

I had visited the USS Constitution on a field trip from MIddle School in New Jersey; and, that was 40 years ago... when we learned of the major renovations, we decided to give it a go. It is an active war ship, on a navy base, so security is tight; and, screening is a must. However, bringing on dozens of people at one time, so they can hear (or maybe hear) the narrative is poor planning. It's just too many people in too small a space. We only stayed above decks, as it would have been too claustrophobic to go below with people ahead, behind, and around. We have visited other Navy ships in New York, San Diego, and San Francisco and they have all been self-guided, with folks trickling in and around... on Aircraft Carriers, Submarines, and Destroyers. So, this Frigate could learn from those venues. It's an old ship, with lots of history and commendable service. And, it's free! read more

The first floor is okay for adults but the rest is geared towards children. I found this a waste of time. Perhaps more on the battles would be a better use of space. read more

Great place! Price: By Donation. Crowd: Not very crowded on a Saturday morning. Staff: Informative and very polite. Kids Fun Factor: Very High, especially if your kid likes ships and naval history like mine does. A lot of interactive exhibits, dress up like a sailor clothing, hammocks, boats, game to play. Adult Fun Factor: Medium to High, there's a lot of neat stuff to look at. The movie that runs continuously was very interesting. I would highly recommend stopping by this museum if you are in Boston, as well as touring the Constitution ship. read more

Old ironsides aka USS Constitution is free to visit as is, the Museum,but you must pass through a security screening to get on board the ship. There were helpful sailors on the USS Constitution to and run the tours and assist the guests. Unfortunately we couldn't wait for the guided tour, so we decided to do the fast track tour. We were only able to see the top deck, so that was kind of dissapointing. However it's still worth the trip. Entrance fee: None. It's FREE! read more

See all

We took the short tour on the USS Constitution, unfortunately after reading reviews we should have done the long one. The museum is across the parking lot and it goes into the battles and some information about how we went to war with Northwest Africa because they wanted to charge more tax for our ships to travel through there. I found the exhibits very interesting and it follows one guy from where he travels and gets captured and his life in Northwest Africa. It was an informative hour hanging out and looking at the exhibits. read more

This was one of the most interesting tours in Boston. It was real cool being aboard and hearing about the oldest floating warship in the world. I would have even paid a few bucks to tour the ship, but free is even better. This landmark was real fascinating and I would do it all over again. read more

Visited the USS Constitution in December 2018 and we all really enjoyed our experience. It was awesome being able to actually go aboard a 221 year old Navy fighting ship. The history is amazing. This ship never lost a battle. It is free to board the ship. Actual Navy sailors are assigned to the ship and will give you a short history lesson and answer all of your questions during your self guided tour. It is free to enter. After being a amazed on the ship there is a great museum a short walk away. The museum is donation based, it's recommend a family donate $20, which I thought was very fair. The museum is very interactive and hands on which the children love. There is also a very large gift shop with tons of great Ironside items. If in Boston the USS Constitution should be on your list of places to visit. read more

See all

The first time I went to Boston, I missed out on seeing the USS Constitution. I did not make that mistake on my second trip. Tours of the ship are free, but you need to bring a valid ID and walk through a metal detector in order to board. Once you go through security, you can await the next tour by browsing in the gift shop or by exploring the small battleship exhibit. Tours run regularly during the day and are hosted by Navy servicemembers, who explain the capabilities of the ship, dispel myths (such why the ship's nickname is "Old Ironsides"), and share the history of the ship. I was giddy with glee that I was able to tour such a storied battleship, and I learned a lot in the process. This a very worthwhile excursion to take when visiting Boston and I was really glad that I did not miss it a second time. read more

A great free attraction (donation recommended). They have the museum, Cassin Young and the USS Constitution which is the real show stopper! They do have a security check point/metal detector to go through and require a photo ID, fyi. The ship really is immaculate and stunningly impressive. You can walk the deck and go below. All of the staff/service members were so happy to answer questions and give history on the ship and its service. Herosy in particular did an amazing retelling of its most famous battle. Really a great visit and not to be missed! read more

This is one of the finer parts of Boston. The USS Constitution is a ship that is being greatly honored in Boston. The ship is still active with the US Naval Fleet and you will learn a great deal. We owe Freedom to this ship! Go visit! read more

USS Constitution Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This ship is over 200 years old! I came here at the very end of the Freedom Trail. I was wishing that I had started here, instead of ending here, as David N.'s review recommends. I was a bit disappointed with this site. Yeah, it's an old ship, but it was dry docked. I had to wait about half an hour for the tour to start. It was led by an active US Navy sailor, who seemed to be rather at ease in his job. In order to enter the museum, I had to go through a security check with x-rays and a metal detector. Are they afraid that I'm going to hijack a dry-docked ship? Seeing that the ship is called the USS Constitution, I felt that they violated my 4th Amendment rights. Before you get on the ship, you have to wait in the museum where you can learn about how rope and chains are made. I wish that they had more relevant info on the ship itself, instead of generic maritime information. When I went, I was only able to tour the top deck of the ship, they didn't allow us down below the deck. So I saw a bunch of masts, and ropes. It was a nice view of the naval destroyer that was parked next door. It's free! read more

Old Ironsides at the Naval yard in Charlestown was the second to last stop on our Freedom Trail walking tour. Like most government run historical sites, admission is free to the public. After going through security, there is a short wait as there are multiple tours going on at the same time. At each stop of the boat, there are employees dressed up as sailors of that time (I loved it when one sailor was describing a particular battle and used the word "cool" on several different occasions). The ship's ceilings and quarters are quite small, so this might be an inconvenience for taller people. The entire tour took about half an hour. The experience was both educational and entertaining. At the other end of the shipyard is a museum housing some old artifacts and a gift shop to shell out money for your kids' novelty swords and goofy hats. read more

See all

The USS Constitution visit comprises the ship, the museum, and the visitors center. It's pretty well done, except that the ship is often not accessible. Still, it was cool to consider the epic history of such a vessel. How about they use some of the money from tourist to build a replica so that visitors don't have to hope it's available when they visit, while also slowing the wear and tear to the original.... read more

USS Constitution Museum - One of the many times you may not be able to visit - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Beautiful museum, they put a lot of effort on the renovation of the USS CONSTITUTION. If you're doing the freedom trail this is a must do stop. It is great for kids and there is a choir group that meets every Saturday to sing in one of the conference room. read more

USS Constitution Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Took the water shuttle over to the Constitution Museum, which drops you off near the Korean War Memorial. Visiting the ship is an incredible experience and one I've been on before. I also went to the museum for a small fee, which was interactive and equally impressive. My kids enjoyed it and learning more about shipbuilding and being a sailor. Took the water shuttle back, which worked out really well. read more

The Us constitution is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Boston. Its located in the Charlestown navy yard. It is considered the oldest war ship that is still in the tact. You can also tour the old armory and barracks. It is along the Charlestown water which has amazing views of the Boston skyline. You are able to enter for free and it is a great place for a family trip especially on a summer or spring day. read more

I'm not much of a history buff, but we really enjoyed the USS Constitution. The navy personnel on the ship are very helpful. Thanks to AJ for telling a great story about the War of 1812. Worthwhile and interesting. The museum operates on donations so it is basically free unless you voluntarily donate after you leave. read more

USS Constitution Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was horrible! I thought very poorly of this. I enjoy history, but only when I am taught it. The ship was cool to look at, but there were no signs with any information nor was the staff as helpful. I did not want to pester them with questions, only because I did not know anything. I went to the museum, however that taught me nothing. After walking this, I felt - once you've seen one, you've seen them all. read more

Great visit and highly recommended. Lots of interesting information and history surrounding this beautiful ship. Definitely worth the visit. read more

See all

As a history buff, seeing the USS Constitution was a bucket list item for me. The adjoining museum is also very interesting. read more

USS Constitution Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was what it was marketed, a great look back in time, colonial times, to when "old iron sides"[named so because a cannon ball had bounced off of its thick oak hull] was serving and protecting our fragile new nation. At the time our US congress commissioned 6 war ships to protect our merchant ships. They have kept the ship remarkably preserved, and were working on it even as we were walking the deck, both main deck and gun deck below. Take the guided tour by the active sailors, it is worth the history lesson and information on the different pieces of ship equipment. Worth the price for admission and to see a wonderful piece of our nation's history. Watch out for the gift shop's prices. Make sure you stop by the USS Constitution's museum as well, information on how they lived during colonial times. read more

USS Constitution Museum - Our ship! - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

This is a must see site. Actual US Navy sailors man this ship and keep it in beautiful condition. The history is something everyone should experience. read more

Old Ironsides is totally worth a visit! The ship is so beautiful, and it's FREE to tour! While abord the ship, there is a Navy service member giving the history of the ship, which is a very interesting story. Right now the boat is dry docked for restoration so you get to see the entire hull that is usually under water, which is very cool! read more

USS Constitution Museum - Museums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a review regarding the treatment I received from the personnel at the USS Constitution. CHECK YOUR BAGS BEFORE GOING! DO NOT HAVE A POCKET KNIFE ON YOUR PERSON! I made the honest mistake of bringing mine (I carry it in my purse to open boxes or letters or an apple) and was then allowed by the security officers to walk unwittingly into a situation that resulted in a ticket by the national park ranger. The ranger was very kind and professional, but as I was leaving the premise (peacefully, I might add), the security guards had apparently been watching and came outside to shout unprofessional and hurtful jeers and taunts at me. I accept that I made a mistake with my pocket knife, but the security guards' behavior was not what I would expect of our US government towards its citizens. I will not be going back and I recommend others give this attraction a miss; the USS Constitution was not worth the harassment. read more