Want to feel better about America?
We picked right now in this troubled time to visit Boston, where our nation's inspiring story began. In 18 photos, we show that it's still great seeing, walking, really feeling "The Freedom Trail."
Chuck Offenburger and Mary Riche with historical interpreter and guide Timothy Sean Patrick Donovan, who was portraying John Hancock, the thrice-elected governor of Massachusetts and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. We posed in front of Faneuil Hall, which has often been called “the cradle of our liberty.”
Chuck Offenburger, in front of Old North Church, where lantern signals in the steeple alerted colonists that British soldiers were moving and the American Revolutionary War was about to begin. (Photo by Mary Riche)
Here’s the historical plaque halfway up the steeple of Old North Church.
The way “The Freedom Trail” is marked from Boston Common, through the historic sites where the American Revolution stirred and to Boston Harbor.
As “John Hancock” was pointing out to us, in the day or two after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, it was read out loud from the balcony of the Old State House of Massachusetts, the first state capitol building, located right behind him. See the next of these two photos by Mary Riche.
The Old State House of Massachusetts, now surrounded by more contemporary buildings. See that balcony on the second floor? That’s where every July 4, the Declaration of Independence is still read out loud to a crowd below on the plaza.
A huge statue of Paul Revere on his famous “Midnight Ride,” warning the colonists that the British troops were stirring, and that it was time to go to war.
An inspiring view of the statue of Paul Revere with the steeple of Old North Church shining above the trees. (Photo by Mary Riche)
Lunch time on The Freedom Trail — Mary Riche shows that we were about to dine at “The Bell In Hand Tavern,” which claims to be the “oldest continually-operating tavern in America, dating back to 1795.
The “oldest continually-operating tavern in America” in this building wedged into the historic North End of Boston.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, the second day of our stay in historic Boston, we visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at Columbia Point in the South Shore neighborhood of the city.
Here we are, in the lobby.
A great early photo of the whole Kennedy family, taken in London in 1938, where President John F. Kennedy’s father Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. had just started serving as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain.
And so began the 1960s.
The other side in that ’60s presidential election.
Crowds still hang on every word of President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, which is played in full at his presidential library and museum. You can see the words printed across the bottom of the screen as the President speaks them in the video.
Mary Riche, in the center of the towering atrium. The JFK library and museum was designed by a young, relatively-unknown architect I.M. Pei, who oversaw the construction and opening in 1979. Pei, who is still at work today, is now recognized as one of the greatest architects of our era.
We had a great seafood dinner on Friday, Oct. 20, with our friend and Des Moines native Deb Holman at the famous Legal Sea Foods - Harborside. Deb is a veteran principal in Boston area public schools, and we had a great conversation with her about life today in the historic city. Here she and Mary Riche are shown about to share (with Chuck Offenburger) a big piece of iconic Boston Cream Pie.
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You can comment on this column below or write the columnist directly by email at chuck@offenburger.com.
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Hi Chuck, Evan Roth, ex DM Tribune reporter, here. Boston is a city I long wanted to live in but the local paper never pick up my option (Washington, DC, treated me better!) I love visiting Boston when I'm back in the country; it has a special feel to it. Yes, it seems to be a sanctuary amid the craziness of America's politics.
What a wonderful tour - thanks for sharing it with us!! Three of Claudia’s grand daughters (and 3 granddogs) live and work in Boston!! (I’ve been wanting to go visit!) I’m going to share your tour / I’ll bet they’d enjoy it too!