Founded in 1660, the Granary Burying Ground is one of Boston’s oldest and most historically significant cemeteries, serving as the final resting place for Revolutionary War heroes, statesmen, and legendary figures. Named after a 12,000-bushel grain storage building that once stood next door, this historic site holds over 5,000 burials, though only about 2,300 gravestones remain, due to evolving burial practices.

Wandering its weathered markers and towering obelisks, visitors will find the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, James Otis, and victims of the Boston Massacre. Near the center, a 25-foot obelisk honors Benjamin Franklin’s parents, while an elaborately carved monument marks John Hancock’s tomb. Many headstones were rearranged into neat rows during the Victorian era to accommodate the newly popular lawnmower.

Beyond the names, the gravestones themselves tell stories, with intricate carvings of winged skulls (“Soul Effigies”), the Grim Reaper, and Father Time—Puritan symbols reflecting beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife. A solemn reminder of Boston’s past, the Granary Burying Ground is a must-see stop along the Freedom Trail, drawing over a million visitors each year.