A historic city
Boston has a historical aura matched by few American cities. It is among the oldest cities in the country, having been founded by English Puritans in 1630. Events leading up to the American Revolution took place here in the 18th century, among them the rebellious disposal of a British tea shipment to the bottom of Boston Harbor.
Notwithstanding its revolutionary past, today’s Boston is a peaceful place. For those who like to explore by foot, there are plenty of idyllic paths to choose from. Saunter through the well-kept grounds of Boston common, the oldest city park in the United States, and through narrow lamp-lit streets in the downtown area, populated with houses betraying the English origin of the city’s founders. Visitors who follow the designated Freedom Trail in downtown will pass some of the buildings and locations most relevant to the city’s history. Boston has since the 17th century been a seat of education and learning, as attested to by its wealth of bookstores and museums and by the presence of Harvard University.