Cruising from Boston to Prince Edward Island

Day 1	Tuesday	August 26th

Day 2	Wednesday	August 27th
	See:	Boston
		Boston Common Visitor Information Center 139 Tremont Street Mondays – Fridays, 8:30 am – 4:45 pm; Saturdays – Sundays, 9:00 am – 4:45 pm America’s oldest public park, the Boston Common, began as a common grazing ground for sheep and cattle. Eccentric Anglican William Blackstone settled on Beacon Hill with only his books for company in 1622. In 1630, Puritans from Charlestown joined him to share the area’s potable springs, but by 1635 Blackstone bristled at the increased population, sold his property to the townspeople of Boston, and moved to roomy Rhode Island to satisfy his reclusive nature. Each household was assessed six shillings for the purchase of the 44 acres of open land; it was held in common by the people and used as a pasture. The Common later became a “trayning” field for the militia and was utilized as a British Army camp during the occupation of Boston. The Common’s varied uses also included a place to hang pirates and witches and publicly pillory criminals. It has also served a higher purpose as a place for public oratory and discourse – Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke here, Pope John Paul II said Mass here, and Gloria Steinem advanced the feminist revolution on these grounds. Today, visitors to the Common may enjoy a concert, a performance of Shakespeare, or a simple, calm respite from the bustle of city life.
		(Go straight ahead on West St. On the left side.)
		Broadway in Boston 2021-2022 Letterbox 9 West St-Brattle Bookstore
		Lion King Boston 2019 Letterbox 20 West St.
		&Juliet Boxgton 2024 Letterbox 26 West St
		(Go left on West. Turn right on Washington St.)
		Hadestown-Wait for Me Letterbox 539 Washington
		Welcome to the Moulin Rouge Letterbox
		(Turn north on Washington. Go left on West St. Turn left on Mason St.)
		Broadway in Boston 2021-2022 Letterbox: Ain't Too Proud Letterbox
		(Go right on Mason. Turn right on Avery. Go left on Tremont.)
		Broadway in Boston 2021-2022: Summer Letterbox
		(Go back to Tremont and turn left.) Take the first left.)
		Girl From the North Country Letterbox Head Pl
		(Go right to Tremont. Turn at the corner of the commons to Beacon St. Go right. On the left.)
		Massachusetts State House Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Designed by Charles Bulfinch, the “new” State House was completed on January 11, 1798. Its golden dome was once made of wood, and later overlaid with copper by Paul Revere. It was covered with 23-karat gold leaf for the first time in 1874. The land for the State House was originally used as John Hancock’s cow pasture. Today, the State House is one of the oldest buildings on Beacon Hill, and its grounds cover 6.7 acres of land. It is under the golden dome that senators, state representatives, and the governor conduct the daily business of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts State House – Beacon Street Office of William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, State House Tours Division
		(Take the path straight ahead from the state house. On the left side.)
		Park Street Church Late June – August, Tuesdays – Saturdays, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm The 217-foot steeple of this church was once the first landmark travelers saw when approaching Boston. Its lofty architecture, designed by Peter Banner, reflects an even loftier mission of human rights and social justice. Prison reform began in this church, women’s suffrage was strongly supported here, and some of the first and most impassioned protests against slavery were delivered inside these hallowed walls. This church was founded in 1809. The site of Park Street Church is known as “Brimstone Corner,” perhaps because the church building once housed brimstone (a component of gun power) in its basement during the War of 1812. Or maybe it’s because old-school ministers delivered many “hell-fire and brimstone” sermons here. “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee),” by Samuel Francis Smith, was first sung at Park Street Church on July 4, 1831. Many important organizations were founded here, including the Boston Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Handel and Haydn Society, and National Association of Evangelicals. Park Street Church – Corner of Park and Tremont Streets Worship services: Sundays, 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 4:00 pm
		(Behind the church.)
		Granary Burial Ground Daily, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Some of America’s most notable citizens rest here. An elaborately embellished obelisk marks the site of John Hancock’s tomb. Benjamin Franklin’s parents, along with Revolutionary heroes such as Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, James Otis, all five of the Boston Massacre victims, and Peter Faneuil are also buried here. There is a discrepancy between the number of headstones and people buried in the Granary. Although there are only 2,345 markers, it is estimated that at least 5,000 people are buried here. Over 400 children have been buried in the Infant’s Tomb. Since headstones were expensive it was common to put several members of one family under one headstone with one name on it. There may be several possible explanations why groundskeepers arranged the stones in neat rows: to facilitate maintenance, shape the grounds more into a mold of the new “trendy” garden-style cemetery, or encourage people to stroll in the site instead of having sheep grazing on the “unorganized,” old-looking burying ground. 617-635-4505 • boston.gov/parks
		(Continue left on Tremont. Turn right on School St. On the the left side.)
		King's Chapel & Burying Ground April – October, Daily, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Founded in 1686 as New England’s first Anglican church, King’s Chapel offers over 330 years of history to experience! Exhibits and programs explore the roles of tolerance, religion, and justice in American history. The 1754 stone chapel, designed by architect Peter Harrison, stands on the same site as the original 1688 building. The interior is considered the finest example of Georgian architecture in North America. The church houses the oldest continuously used American pulpit, installed over 200 years ago! The belfry holds an 1816 Paul Revere bell that still rings today to summon people to worship. On Evacuation Day in 1776, the minister and Loyalist church members of the congregation fled north to Canada. The remaining Patriot congregation briefly changed the church’s name to the “Stone Chapel,” and opened its doors to hold Patriot leader Dr. Joseph Warren’s funeral in April 1776. In the 1770s, Old South Meeting House worshiped in the stone chapel while they recovered their building from damage caused by British troops. After the Revolution, King’s Chapel became America’s first Unitarian Christian church in 1785 under the ministry of James Freeman. Using the 9th edition of a Unitarian prayer book revised under Freeman, King’s Chapel remains an active house of worship today. King’s Chapel Burying Ground 10:00 am – 4:00 pm It was the only burying place for nearly 30 years in Boston proper. John Winthrop, Massachusetts’ first governor, and Mary Chilton, the first woman to step off the Mayflower, are buried here. Joseph Tapping’s stone in the front of the burying ground (a skeleton and Father Time battling over the eventuality of death) may be Boston’s most beautiful headstone! King’s Chapel Burying Ground
		(Turn left on School St. On the left side.)
		Boston Latin School Site/Benjamin Franklin Statue America’s first public school offered instruction to boys – rich or poor – free of charge; girls were limited to what they were taught at home. The boys-only tradition finally ended in 1972 when girls were permitted to attend Boston Latin. It is fabled that on April 19, 1775, word of shots fired in Lexington circulated rapidly throughout Boston with, “Close your books. School’s done, and war’s begun!” A mosaic marks the spot where the school once stood, and where one of its most famous students, Benjamin Franklin, attended classes not long before he dropped out of school. Boston Latin School is still in operation in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston.
		(Continue left on School. At the corner of Washington St.)
		Old Corner Bookstore Constructed in 1718, the Old Corner Bookstore is downtown Boston’s oldest commercial building. Over its 300-year existence, the building has been a residence, an apothecary, a cigar emporium, a tailor’s shop, and a pizza parlor. However, it is most renowned for its place in American literary history, as home to the 19th-century publishing giant Ticknor and Fields. From 1832 until 1865, Ticknor and Fields produced dozens of great American authors and their works, including Thoreau’s Walden, Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poetry, including the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, and The Atlantic Monthly in which many notable works, such as Julie Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic, were first released. Local leaders formed Historic Boston Inc. in 1960 to purchase and save the building from planned demolition. Today, the building continues as a place of commerce, and proceeds from its leases help Historic Boston restore similar buildings throughout Boston.
		(Turn right on Washington. On the left side.)
		Old South Meeting House $13 (Combo with old State House) 310 Washington April – October, Daily 9:30 am – 5:00 pm -Fee No tax on tea! This was the decision on December 16, 1773, when 5,000 angry colonists gathered at the Old South Meeting House to protest a tax…and started a revolution with the Boston Tea Party. Built in 1729 as a Puritan house of worship, the Old South Meeting House was the largest building in colonial Boston. From outraged protests over the Boston Massacre to the night when Samuel Adams gave the secret signal to throw 340 crates of tea into Boston Harbor, colonists assembled at the meeting house to challenge British rule. Old South Meeting House was also the spiritual home of formerly enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley, one of the first African-Americans to publish a book. Slated for demolition in 1876, the meeting house narrowly escaped the wrecking ball by the heroic efforts of Boston citizens to preserve such an important piece of the nation’s history. Old South Meeting House continues to uphold its mission as an active meeting place for the free exchange of ideas by hosting lectures and public forums, along with educational history programs for adults, teachers, and students.
		(Turn right. On the right side by Court St.)
		Old State House 206 Washington Memorial Day – Labor Day, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Built in 1713, the Old State House was the seat of British colonial power in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The royal Governor and his advisers met in the Council Chamber and served as direct representatives of the King’s rule. In the years prior to the Revolution, the Old State House was the center for passionate debate, as Boston patriots including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and James Otis, Jr. fomented the spirit of rebellion and developed the revolutionary idea of self-government. “Then and there,” John Adams once declared, “the child Independence was born.” In 1770, directly outside the Old State House, soldiers opened fire on a crowd of unarmed protesters, in the incident known as the Boston Massacre, immortalized in Paul Revere’s incendiary engraving. When the people of Boston first heard the Declaration of Independence read from the Old State House balcony in July of 1776, they tore down the lion and unicorn statues - symbols of royal authority - in defiance of the King. Today the Old State House has been restored to its colonial appearance, and is maintained by the Bostonian Society as a museum where visitors experience Boston’s Revolutionary past.
		(Behind the house.)
		Boston Massacre Site On March 5, 1770, at this site, a deadly skirmish erupted between nine British “redcoats” and a large crowd of Boston residents. Angry over the town’s occupation by British forces, local toughs threw snowballs, rocks, and hard words at a lone sentry outside the nearby Custom House. The sentry was reinforced, the crowd became a mob, and the soldiers opened fire, fatally wounding five Bostonians. What British officials called the “Unhappy Disturbance at Boston,” Paul Revere labeled a “bloody massacre.” His widely circulated illustration of the event was a model of propaganda and did much to stir up anti-British sentiment in the colonies. The British soldiers were tried for murder and were defended by John Adams, a young Boston lawyer who w
		(Go right/north on Washington. On the left side.)
		24K Magic in the Air Letterbox
		(Continue right on Congress. Turn left on Milk. On the left side.)
		MSPCA-Angell Letterbox 10 Post Office Sq.
		(Go right/north on Congress St. On the right side.)
		Faneuil Hall-Lunch Daily, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Often referred to as “the home of free speech” and “the Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall was one of America’s first public meeting venues. Built by wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil in 1741, this imposing structure is the place where the citizens of Boston proclaimed their dissent against Royal oppression. Faneuil Hall has served as an open forum meeting hall and marketplace for more than 270 years and has continued to provide a platform for debate on the most consequential issues of the day. The first floor served as a marketplace for the local townspeople to sell their goods. Today, Boston National Historical Park operates the Faneuil Hall Visitor Center and the City of Boston holds naturalization ceremonies in the Great Hall on the second floor. Explore the Great Hall where Bostonians protested the taxation policies of the British Empire and set the doctrine of “no taxation without representation” through talks and living history programs where visitors join in the debate.
		(Go to Clinton St. Turn left and then right on North St. Continue straight a head across the I-93. On the left side.)
		Paul Revere House $5.50 Sr 19 North Sq April 15 – October 31, Daily, 9:30 am – 5:15 pm Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House is the oldest remaining structure in downtown Boston and is the only official Freedom Trail historic site that is a home. Paul Revere purchased this former merchant’s dwelling in 1770, when he was 35 years old. He and his family lived here when Revere made his famous messenger ride on the night of April 18 – 19, 1775. For most of the 19th -century, the home served as a rooming house and tenement for some of the thousands of Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrants who lived in the North End. Restored in the early 20thcentury and opened to the public in April 1908, the Paul Revere House today serves as a museum and historic site where visitors can learn about Paul Revere’s life and times, and experience what home life was like in 17th- and 18th- century Boston.
		(Turn left on Garden St. Take the first left on Prince St. Take the next right on Hanover St. Walk through the Paul Revere Mall. Paul Revere Statue. Continue past Unity St.)
		Old North Church $9 193 Salem St April 1 – October 31, Daily, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Famous for the two lanterns that hung in the steeple on April 18, 1775 and launching the American Revolution, Old North Church & Historic Site tells the story of that night and the ride to Lexington and Concord, later immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Learn about Old North’s unique box pews, ‘stolen’ angels, and past congregants; follow Paul Revere’s footsteps to the bell-ringing chamber or descend to where 1,100 bodies are buried in the crypt. The site includes the esteemed 18th-century church (est. 1723 – Boston’s oldest church building); the Clough House (c. 1715), home to Old North’s historic chocolate demonstrations and rotating exhibits in Patriots Corner; five gardens; and a gift shop housed in what was once the St. Francis Chapel. Experience 300 years of stories at Old North. Includes a self-guided tour of the crypt where 1,100 people were laid to rest, our immersive audio guide, and general admission.
		(Continue straight ahead on Hull. On the right side.)
		Copp's Hill Burying Ground 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is the final resting place of merchants, artisans, and craftspeople who lived in the North End. Some notables buried in Copp’s Hill are fire and brimstone preachers Cotton and Increase Mather, Old North Church sexton Robert Newman - the man who hung the lanterns on the night of Paul Revere’s ride, and countless free AfricanAmericans buried in a potter’s field on the Charter Street side of the site. Because of its height and panoramic vistas, the British used this vantage point to train their cannons on Charlestown during the Battle of Bunker Hill. The epitaph on Captain Daniel Malcolm’s tombstone at Copp’s Hill is riddled with the marks of vengeful British bullets.
		(Go through the cemetery. Across the street..)
		Mary Dyer Letterbox
		Menotomy Patriot Letterbox
		America's First Responders Letterbox Copp's Hill Terrace
		(Turn right/northwest. At the corner go left on Commercial. Turn right on Washington St. Go right on Chelsea. Take the first right and next left on Constitution. When the right go left, go straight ahead. Take the next right.)
		USS Constitution $10-$15 Ship is free, Museum April 1 – October 31, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Launched in Boston in 1797, America’s Ship of State earned her nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 when she fought the British frigate HMS Guerriere. During the historic battle, cannonballs fired at her appeared to bounce off, causing a Constitution sailor to exclaim ‘Huzzah! It’s as if her sides are made of iron!’, to which Captain Isaac Hull responded, ‘Ironsides, aye.’ In fact, the hull of Constitution is constructed of a three-layer wooden sandwich comprised of live oak and white oak. Today, 222 years later, she is still a commissioned United States Navy warship with a crew of naval officers and enlisted personnel, and is open to the public for onboard visits. USS Constitution – Charlestown Navy Yard November – March, Wednesdays – Sundays, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; April, Wednesdays – Sundays, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm; May – October, Daily (closed Mondays), 10:00 am – 6:00 pm; Saluting battery firing: Daily, 8:00 am & Sunset (observed from Charlestown Navy Yard) Guests ages 18+ must have a federal or state-issued photo I.D. or passport to board ship Open: Presidents Day, Patriots’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day Closed: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day 617-593-2025 • navy.mil/local/constitution USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of “Old Ironsides” and those associated with her. This award-winning, not-forprofit educational institution welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year. The museum provides an interactive, hands-on environment with innovative exhibits that let visitors of all ages explore the legacy of USS Constitution, America’s Ship of State. It is perfect for families and school groups seeking an enjoyable, educational experience where they can have fun while learning and exploring together. Students will have the opportunity to take the helm and wonder, “What would I do if I were in command?” All will engage in conversations about history, science, technology, and democracy.
		(Go back the way you came. Turn left, then right on Constitution. Go left on Chelsea. Jog right following the freedom trail. At Adams go left. Go right on Monument Sq. On the right side.)
		Bunker Hill Monument 43 Monument Square June 23 – September 28, Daily, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” This legendary order, believed to have been uttered at the battle, has come to immortalize the determination of the ill-equipped Colonists facing the powerful British Army during the famous battle fought on this site on June 17, 1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill marks one of the first times Colonial forces held their own against the British army. Today a 221-foot granite obelisk denotes the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution. Located across the street, the Bunker Hill Museum’s exhibits and dioramas tell the stories of the battle and the monument.

Day 3	Thursday	August 28th
	See:	Boston

Day 4	Friday	August 29th

4:00 p.m.	Depart:	Boston
	Do:	Norwegian Gem

Day 5	Saturday	August 30th
	Do:	Sea Day
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 6	Sunday	August 31st
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
	See:
7:00 p.m.	Depart:	Charlottetown
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 7	Monday	September 1st
9:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Sydney Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
	Do:
5:00 p.m.	Depart:
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 8	Tuesday	September 2nd
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Halifax, Nova Scotia
		(From the cruise port walk right. The road will curve left on Morris St. Turn right on Barrington St. Cemetery is on the left.)
	Do:	Bay of Fundy Letterbox From the Shore Letterbox
		(Continue left on Barrington. Turn right on Salter St. Walk to the waterfront.)
		Halifax Waterfront with boardwalk, shops and eateries
		(When done seeing it, go back to Sackville Rd. Turn right. On the right side.)
		Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
		(Go back out of the site.. Turn right on Sackville. Turn left on South Park St. On the right side.)
		Halifax Public Gardens Cemetery behind it
		(Go back out to South Park Rd. Turn left at the SE corner of the park on Spring Garden Rd. On the left side.)
		Park Lane Mall
		(Continue left on Spring Garden Rd. Turn left on Barrington and an immediate right on Salter St. Turn right on Lower Water St. Jog left onto Marginal St. On the left side.)
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Halifax
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 9	Wednesday	September 3rd
11:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Portland, Maine
	Do:
8:00 p.m.	Depart:	Portland
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 10	Thursday	September 4th
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Bar Harbor, Maine
	Do:
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Portland
	Lodge:	Norwegian Gem

Day 11	Friday	September 5th
7:00 a.m.	Do:	Disembark
		Bus to Airport