Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States and the green heart of downtown Boston. Once used as a cattle-grazing field and a militia training ground, the roughly 50-acre Common has since hosted Revolutionary-era encampments, abolitionist rallies, and visits from figures ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to Pope John Paul II. Today it is a relaxed, tree-shaded expanse of lawns, monuments, and walking paths that flows seamlessly into the adjacent Public Garden across Charles Street.
The Common marks the official starting point of the Freedom Trail, the red-brick path that links 16 historic sites across the city, so it is the natural first stop for visitors orienting themselves in Boston. Look for the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial near the State House, the Brewer Fountain, and Frog Pond, which becomes an ice-skating rink in winter and a children’s spray pool in summer. Benches, open lawns, and shade make it a fine spot to rest between sightseeing stops.
Good to know
- Free and open to the public year-round as a city park.
- Official starting point of the Freedom Trail; pick up the red-brick path here.
- Frog Pond shifts with the seasons: ice skating in winter, a spray pool for kids in summer.
- Paved, mostly level paths make much of the park accessible; it sits between two T stations.
Getting there
- Address: 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111 (Common Visitor Information Center)
- Neighborhood: Downtown (bordering Beacon Hill and Back Bay)
- Nearest T: Park Street (Red & Green Line) at the east edge; Boylston (Green Line) at the south corner