Become a Bark Ranger
Bring your furry friend to the National Parks of Boston and take the B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge to become a Bark Ranger!
5-15 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
National Historical Park · MA
Things to do in Boston
The National Park Service lists 32 things to do at Boston National Historical Park. 24 have no extra fee, 29 need no reservation, and 12 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Updated · NPS Data API
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston African American National Historic Site by learning about the sites along the Black Heritage Trail Trail® here in Boston.
Year-round Pets allowed
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park!
Year-round
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park
Become a Junior Ranger at Boston National Historical Park by learning about the sites along the Freedom Trail® here in Boston.
Year-round Pets allowed
Bunker Hill: Muskets, Men, and Liberty
Listen to a ranger dressed in period clothing discuss why three men from different backgrounds fought in the battle. The program concludes with a musket firing demonstration!
30 Minutes Summer Pets allowed
Bunker Hill: Uncover the Stories Behind the Battle and Monument at the Museum
At the exhibits of the Bunker Hill Museum, visitors can explore more about the Battle of Bunker Hill, the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument, the memory of the battle, and the history of the Charlestown neighborhood.
30-60 Minutes Year-round
Advertisement
Charlestown Navy Yard: Dive into The History of the Yard at the Visitor Center's Exhibits
Walk through the exhibits of the Navy Yard's Visitor Center to learn about the history of the Yard and the ingenuity of its workers.
Year-round
Charlestown Navy Yard: Tour USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)
Explore above and below the main deck of USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793), a Fletcher-class Destroyer that served in the Second World War and throughout the 1950s.
45 Minutes Spring, Summer, Fall
Explore Boston with a Free Audio Tour
Explore Downtown Boston, Beacon Hill, and Charlestown with a self-guided audio tour!
Year-round Pets allowed
History at Sunset Walking Tours
Join a Park Ranger for a special guided tour exploring Boston's rich history as a city of revolutions.
75-90 Minutes Summer, Fall Reservation required Pets allowed
Join a Historic Town Meeting at Faneuil Hall
Join National Parks of Boston Rangers as we recreate historic town meetings.
30-45 Minutes Summer
Learn about Boston's "Wicked" High Tides
Learn about Boston's coastlines and King tides by taking the High Tide Trail audio tour or joining a high tide program hosted by our partners, the Stone Living Lab.
20-40 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
National Parks of Boston: Find Your Park Anywhere
Find your park anywhere, from your home to your backyard, with activities spanning the National Parks of Boston.
30-60 Minutes Year-round
Old North Church: Audio Tour
Discover Old North’s secrets and stories with a brand-new audio tour! Available in English or Spanish, the tour weaves together the story of Paul Revere’s famous lantern signal with recent research into the lives of Old North’s free and enslaved Indigenous…
0-35 Minutes Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Old North Church: Balcony Tours
Visit Old North Church's gallery through a variety of special themed tours.
15 Minutes Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Old North Church: Bell Ringing Chamber Tour
Take a tour of Old North's bell tower! Visitors will explore the archive room and the bell ringing chamber: two behind-the-scenes areas that aren’t typically open to guests.
25 Minutes Summer Fee applies
Old North Church: Crypt Tour
Take a self-guided tour of Old North’s historic crypt, where 1,100 people were laid to rest.
25 Minutes Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies
Old North Church: Prince's Pet Pursuit Family Activity
Explore Old North through a scavenger hunt narrated by Prince, the friendly North End cat who used to frequent the church.
Year-round
Old North Church: Tour this Historic Church Known for the Two Lanterns
Walk through the pews and admire the stained glass windows of this Anglican Church originally built in 1723 and learn about the story behind the famed lanterns.
15-30 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
Old South Meeting House: Explore the Exhibits at this Space for Debate
Old South Meeting House's exhibits that explore the sites rich history of debate during the American Revolution.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
Old State House: Soak in Boston's History at this Former Seat of Government
The Old State House's exhibits explore the founding of the United States as well as examine the legacies of the events surrounding the American Revolution.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
Paul Revere House: Step Back in Time at The Revere's Family Home
Take a self-guided tour through the well-preserved rooms where Paul Revere and his family lived for about twenty years.
20-45 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
The Clough House at Old North Church & Historic Site
Visit one of Boston's oldest surviving brick residences, the Clough House at Old North Church and Historic Site. The Clough House is home to the free exhibit "Unearthing Childhood: 300 Years of North End Kids," and the pop-up Ye Olde Pepper Candy Pantry.
Year-round
The Freedom Trail: Enemies to this Country Guided Tour
Join a park ranger for a free 75 minute walking tour and decide who the real "Enemies to This Country" were in the months before the breakout of the War for Independence.
75 Minutes Summer, Fall Reservation required Pets allowed
USS Constitution Museum: Learn about the Role of "Old Ironsides" in U.S. Naval History
The USS Constitution Museum dives into the history of the oldest active vessel in the United States Navy. Serving as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution, the Museum provides engaging hands-on experiences for all visitors.
30-90 Minutes Year-round
USS CONSTITUTION: Explore this Historic Ship
Step aboard USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy. Naval officers and crew still serve aboard her as interpretative historians.
15-30 Minutes Year-round
Visit Bunker Hill
Visit Bunker Hill to climb the Monument, explore the Museum, and learn about the history of the battle from a ranger.
Pets allowed
Visit Historic Faneuil Hall
Visit the Historic Cradle of Liberty's marketplace, Visitor Center, Great Hall, and Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
Year-round Pets allowed
Walk the Black Heritage Trail®
Join a Park Ranger from the National Parks of Boston on a Black Heritage Trail® Tour to learn about the Black community of Beacon Hill that thrived before, during, and after the American Civil War.
60-90 Minutes Summer, Fall Reservation required Pets allowed
Walk the Freedom Trail
Originally conceptualized in the 1950s, the Freedom Trail® is an iconic symbol of Boston. Its red brick line snakes through some of the oldest parts of the City, navigating visitors to some of the most significant historic sites in the Downtown, North End,…
2-12 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Watch "Fighting for Freedom: Lewis Hayden and the Underground Railroad"
Watch a film that follows the story of Lewis Hayden and his family as they seek freedom on the Underground Railroad and become activists living in Boston, Massachusetts.
18 Minutes Year-round
Watch the Charlestown Navy Yard Orientation Film
Before exploring the Charlestown Navy Yard, take a few minutes to watch an introductory film on the Charlestown Navy Yard.
12 Minutes Year-round
Before you go
Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Boston. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.
Things to do at nearby parks
- Boston African American National Historic Site (MA)
- Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (MA)
- Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (MA)
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (MA)
- Salem Maritime National Historical Park (MA)
- Minute Man National Historical Park (MA)
Advertisement
Sources
- National Park Service Data API — things to do, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Descriptions are short excerpts; photos are NPS photos shown from nps.gov with their credit.
- Boston National Historical Park — things to do on nps.gov