Boston still represents something powerful and matchless. Since
its founding over 399 years ago, this city has had many labels to
describe it … “The Cradle of Liberty,” “The Beacon of Freedom
on the Hill,” even the “Athens of America.” Even today the city
continues to stand for new and radical ideas that represent the
progressive ideas that change human history.
There is an energy about Boston that can take a hold of your soul
and inspire you to stand-up and change your life. All it takes is
for you to talk to its friendly inhabitants, walk down its streets and
visit the historic sites to understand. Within minutes it is clear
why this city has always positioned itself a catalyst for change and
innovation, empowering people around the world to fight for what
they believe in.
PFA is extremely excited to have our upcoming 54th Annual
Symposium and Exhibition in Boston this year, and we hope you
will consider using some of your free time to hop on the subway
and take advantage of this exciting city. It’s not often you will find
yourself in the birthplace of revolution and democracy; you are
also in the heart of American history. From supporting historic
social change with the ideas of the abolitionist, feminist and
transcendentalist movements, to publishing and discovering many
of the authors of classic American literature that we still read today,
Boston allows its visitors to put a name and a face to our history as
Americans and a nation.
The Freedom Trail
Any visit to Boston would not be complete without at tour of the
Freedom Trail. This ‘walk through history,’ is the cities innovative
way of allowing visitors to experience and see the sights and sounds
of where the planning, fighting and victories took place that turned
thirteen British colonies into the first thirteen United States of
America. A unique indoor/outdoor history museum, you can
start anywhere on its path alone or with a costumed tour guide
(for a fee) and visit the sixteen official historic sites that launched
our nation. For an additional fee beyond the tour guide, you can
purchase a special entry ticket allowing you to visit those museums
along the route that have an entry fee.
Such historic sites as Boston Commons (the oldest public park
in America), Paul Revere’s House, Faneuil Hall, the Old North
Church (remember … ‘one if by land, two if by sea’ …), Bunker
Hill, the site of the Boston Massacre, the Granary Burying Ground
(the final resting place of Paul Revere, John Hancock and Samuel
Adams – yes THAN Samuel Adams), and the USS Constitution, are
only a few of the sites and museums along this historic walking tour.
It you want, you can even slip away at any time to explore each site
beyond the tour guides presentation and join the next guided tour
group as it comes by. The Freedom Trail walk also has available for
a small fee a downloadable MP3 recording for your phone or iPod
to listen to at your own pace, or to use along with a coded map to
do the tour on your own.
Other Historic Sites to Consider Discovering
Even along and beyond the Freedom Trail, there are other sites that
are worth visiting, especially if you enjoy history:
Old Corner Bookstore – Originally opened in 1711 as an
apothecary, this building flourished from 1828 to 1903 as a
bookstore and printer. As the nation’s leading publisher from
1833-1864, this shop published and introduced Americans to the
works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Harriet Beecher Stowe,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott,
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Irish Famine Memorial – Located across the street from the Old
Corner Bookstore, this monument commemorates the ‘An Gorta
More’ (The Great Hunger), the potato blight brought to Europe on
ships from the east coast of America. This devastating wind-born
disease annihilated the Irish potato crop causing the deaths of over
one million people, while creating the largest emigration of the
Irish population to the United States –especially to settle in Boston
than anywhere else in the country.
Union Oyster House Restaurant – Built in the early 1700’s as an
importer’s shop to sell silks, this building during the American
Revolution printed the activist newspaper The Massachusetts Spy
by patriot Isaiah Thomas, before he was forced to flee Boston
across the Charles River with his printing press in a row boat.
The upstairs rooms also held a number of secret meetings for
the revolutionary Sons of Liberty. In 1826, this building became
the Union Oyster House, and is the oldest continuously running
restaurant in the country.
Ebenezer Hancock House – Located two doors down from the
Union Oyster House, it was built in the late 1760’s by John
Hancock. After transferring ownership to his younger brother
Ebenezer, who served as the deputy paymaster of the Continental
Army, it at one point housed over 2.5 million in silver crowns on
loan from the French to help pay Washington’s troops. Also The
Green Dragon Pub was housed here and a favorite gathering place
for the Sons of Liberty.
Boston Tea Party Museum – Located on the Congress Street
Bridge, in authentically restored tea ships, this floating interactive
museum allows you to not only meet the Sons of Liberty, you
can also help them toss tea overboard. With virtual exhibits and
traditional Boston exhibits, this unique museum is designed to give
participants the opportunity to learn about the people, the events
and the consequences that lead up to the American Revolution.
With only eight months left before PFA’s 54th Annual Symposium
and Exhibition kicks off, why not consider coming in a day or two
before the conference or staying afterwards and visit Boston and
all its historic glory? Even for those who have visited before will
find there is always something new to learn and see. So mark your
calendar – “The Pedorthists are Coming! … The Pedorthists are
Coming!” October 31 – November 2, 2013 to leave their own mark
on history.
Current Pedorthics
March/April 2013
53