In 1634, when their settlement was just 4 years old, the town fathers paid the Rev. William Blackstone £30 for this property. In 1640 it was set aside as common land. The 45 or so acres of the country's oldest public park have served as a cow pasture, a military camp, and the site of hangings, protest marches, and visits by dignitaries. Today the Common is a bit run-down, especially compared with the adjacent Public Garden, but an overhaul began in 2007. Even with large parcels of land roped off for renovation, the Common buzzes with activity all day. You might see a demonstration, a musical performance, a picnic lunch, or a game of tag -- almost anything but a cow. Cows have been banned since 1830, which seems to be one of the few events related to the Common that isn't commemorated with a plaque. One of the loveliest markers is on this route; head up the hill inside the fence, walking parallel to Park Street. At Beacon Street is a memorial designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens to celebrate the deeds (indeed, the very existence) of Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the Union Army's 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment, who fought in the Civil War. You might remember the story of the first American army unit made up of free black soldiers from the movie Glory. To continue on the Freedom Trail: Cross Beacon Street.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Boston 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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