4th of July Historic Places to Visit

The Freedom Trail Foundation is the perfect place to visit on the Fourth of July. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles long (Boston Common to Bunker Hill) and is marked by a red brick line on the sidewalk. Visitors can choose any site as a starting point, and can traverse the historic sites that mark the time period during the American Revolution. Best explored by foot, The Freedom Trail can be walked non-stop in one hour. Allow a minimum of 3 hours to leisurely stroll the trail, and a full day to explore each and every site. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. The Foundation was established in 1958 to make Boston's historic resources more accessible to Boston residents and visitors. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1964, the mission of the Foundation is to preserve and promote the sites along the Trail and encourage their use as historic resources. Family friendly admission prices (Paul Revere House, Old South Meeting House, and Old State House are the only three of sixteen sites that do charge admission) make The Freedom Trail an affordable way to experience real history.

Monticello is the historic home of Thomas Jefferson in Virginia. Located in the Virginia Piedmont, Monticello is about two miles southeast of Charlottesville and approximately 125 miles from Washington, D.C.; 110 miles from Williamsburg, Virginia; and 70 miles from Richmond, Virginia. Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson, designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years.

Independence Hall is, by every estimate, the birthplace of the United States. It was within its walls that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It was here that the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. That document is the oldest federal constitution in existence and was framed by a convention of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies. The Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, Old City Hall, Congress Hall and the Great Essentials exhibit are all within Independence National Historic Park.

The Smithsonian Museum of American History collects and preserves more than 3 million artifacts. We take care of everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln's top hat to Dizzy Gillespie's angled trumpet and Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. Our collections form a vast and fascinating mosaic of American life. Our exhibitions explore major themes in American history and culture, from the War of Independence to the present day. The Museum hosts a full roster of public programs, from demonstrations, lectures, and tours to storytelling and festivals.