Constitution is ratified, June 21

Constitution We the People

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire ratified the US Constitution;  the 9th state to do so, thus meeting the necessary minimum.  At that point, the Constitution became the Law.

 

Old North Church underground tombs open

200 year old tomb under Old North Church

200 year old tomb under Old North Church

Archeologists have opened one of the tombs in the crypt under Old North Church. Skulls and bones in piles. Many caskets were pushed into these crypts, then moved, then more pushed in. Boston Globe article.

Old Ironsides battle image

USS Constitution vs HMS GuerriereOn August 19, 1812, the frigate USS Constitution engaged the British ship HMS Guerriere in a sea battle off Halifax, NS. Constitution overpowered Guerriere in a decisive victory. This is where the “Old Ironsides” nickname was born.

Evacuation Day Freedom Trail + Revere

"Landing" by Revere (Boston Athenaeum) dig originalEvacuation Day  in Boston marks the departure of the British on  March 17, 1776, ending the 11-month “Siege of Boston.” This engraving by Paul Revere shows the Landing of these British troops in 1768. The “Evacuation” took troops and Tory citizens to Halifax, NS.

USS Constitution freedom photo

Constitution, with sails, Boston

Constitution, with sails, Boston

Feb 20, 1815 – decisive battle between USS Constitution and two British ships: Cyane and Levant. Victory for Constitution, her last major battle during the War of 1812.

Park Street Church winter photo

Park Street church, Boston, MA  winter snow, freeedom trailPark Street Church, winter sunset. Home to the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison. “My Country ’tis of thee” was sung here for the first time in 1831.

Freedom Trail Thanksgiving photo

Old South Meeting Housse

Old South Meeting House on the Freedom Trail

The congregation of Old South Church (Copley Square) returns to its historic beginning at Old South Meeting House for a Thanksgiving service with Brass and Bell-Ringers. Boston history alive.

Copps Hill Burying Ground Freedom Trail photo

F-05310The tombstone of William Waters, d. 1691, at Copps Hill, in Boston’s North End. The North Battery was nearby, with cannons used in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Boston Historic Park – Bunker Hill photo – Freedom Trail

Bunker Hill monument clouds, Charlestown, MACentennial of the National Park Service. Many of the sites on Freedom Trail are part of the Boston Historic Park, supervised by NPS. Bunker Hill is one of the treasures.

Paul Revere’s ride

Revere statue by Cyrus Dallin

Revere statue by Cyrus Dallin

Patriot’s Day is celebrated today, but Paul Revere’s Ride was actually tonight – April 18, 1775. Paul Revere crossed the Charles River to Cambridge, then rode his horse towards Lexington to warn the partisans there. He almost made it. Other riders carried the news further.