What is Freedom Trail?
[[File:USA-The Freedom Trail.JPG|thumb|Markers in the sidewalk mark the stops along the Freedom Trail]] [[File:Boston Freedom Trail path.jpg|thumb|right|The Freedom Trail is marked with red bricks]] The '''Freedom Trail''' is a [[walking]] [[trail]] through [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. It passes by 16 places that are important to [[History of the United States|American history]]. The Trail is 2.5&nbsp;[[mile]]s (4.0&nbsp;[[kilometer|km]]) long. It starts at [[Boston Common]] and ends at the [[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']] in the [[Charlestown Navy Yard]]. The Black Heritage Trail crosses the Freedom Trail between the [[Massachusetts State House]] and [[Park Street Church (Boston)|Park Street Church]]. ==Creation== In 1951 William Schofield, a [[journalist]] in Boston, suggested building a walking trail to connect many of the important historic places in Boston. Boston's [[mayor]], John Hynes, agreed. The Trail was marked with red bricks and red paint, and signs were added along the way to explain the importance of the Trail's 16 stops. By 1953, 40,000 people were walking the Freedom Trail every year.<ref>{{Citation |publisher = Northeastern University Press |isbn = 1-55553-161-X |publication-place = Boston |title = Building a New Boston: Politics and Urban Renewal, 1950-1970 |url = http://openlibrary.org/books/OL1737146M/Building_a_new_Boston |author = O'Connor, Thomas H. |year = 1993 |ol = 1737146M |publication-date = 1993}}</ref> The City of Boston's Freedom Trail Commission is in charge of the Trail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/ |title=Freedom Trail |publisher=City of Boston |access-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref> The costs of keeping up the Trail are supported by [[Grant (money)|grants]] from [[non-profit organization]]s and [[Foundation (nonprofit)|foundations]]; [[philanthropy]]; donations; and [[Boston National Historical Park]]. ==Stops on the Trail== ===The Boston Common=== Boston Common is America's oldest [[public park]].<ref name=bc>{{cite web |url