Freedom Trail Part 1 - Boston Common
March 28, 2008 by Babs
The Boston Common and Public Garden (Home of Make Way for Ducklings) are part of the Emerald Necklace, a series of parks all connected to each other. The network includes the Esplanade, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Back Bay Fens, Olmstead Park, Jamaica Park, Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park.America’s oldest public park, the Boston Common, is situated on 44 acres of open 
land and it was used as a common pasture for grazing cattle owned by the townspeople of Boston. The Common later became a “trayning” field for the militia and was used as a British Army camp during the occupation of Boston. The Common’s varied uses also included a place to hang pirates and witches or publicly pillory criminals in “stocks.” It has also served a higher purpose as a place for public oratory and discourse. Reverend Martin Luther King spoke here, Pope John Paul II said Mass here, and Gloria Steinem advanced the feminist revolution on these grounds. These days, visitors to the Common can enjoy a concert, a performance of Shakespeare or the simple, calm respite from the bustle of city life.
land and it was used as a common pasture for grazing cattle owned by the townspeople of Boston. The Common later became a “trayning” field for the militia and was used as a British Army camp during the occupation of Boston. The Common’s varied uses also included a place to hang pirates and witches or publicly pillory criminals in “stocks.” It has also served a higher purpose as a place for public oratory and discourse. Reverend Martin Luther King spoke here, Pope John Paul II said Mass here, and Gloria Steinem advanced the feminist revolution on these grounds. These days, visitors to the Common can enjoy a concert, a performance of Shakespeare or the simple, calm respite from the bustle of city life. Highlights of the Commons are the Parkman Bandstand which was built in 1912 in honor of George F. Parkman, who bequeathed 5 million dollar for the maintenance of parks in Boston. 
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Flagstaff Hill honors Civil War troops. The monument, designed by architect and sculptor Martin Milmore was erected in 1877. Another Civil War monument is the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, located at the edge of the Common opposite the Massachusetts State House. The relief depicts the 54th regiment, the first free black regiment in the Union Army.
The Brewer Fountain, donated by Gardner Brewer in 1868, is an exact copy of a fountain which was designed by French artist Liénard for the World Exposition of 1855 in Paris. The bronze fountain is decorated with the mythical figures of Neptune, Galatea, Amphitrite and Acis
The Common is also home to one of Boston’s oldest graveyards, the Central Burying Ground. Here are graves of many British and American casualties from the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.
The Frog Pond is popular with children who can wade through the pond during summertime and skate on it in the winter.
