Boston Common has served different purposes throughout the centuries. In the beginning of the Revolutionary War, it was used by the British as a campground. In the early 1800s, it was used as the place for mob scenes and hangings. With all the historical turmoil that took place here, it's no wonder that the popular rumor nowadays is that the Common is haunted.

The Common these days is more of a place for a quiet picnic as opposed to a revolution. Walkers and casual lunchers flood the area during sunny afternoons. In the summer, there is a theatre company that puts on "Shakespeare on the Common" shows every evening in the rotunda in the southeast corner. The shows are free and offer an excellent low-budget cultural escape from the everyday.

Those that are athletically inclined are also drawn to the Common to participate in sporting events - both organized and not. The southwest corner is home to a well-lit ballfield for area teams. Some people bring their frisbees to play with their friends or toss to their dogs (which are allowed in the park).

Boston Common lies at the beginning of Beacon Hill, so is set at a higher altitude than the surrounding neighborhoods to the south. This offers an excellent view of the Back Bay area of Boston peeking through the trees on the well-kept paths.

To get to the Common, you can take the red or green subway lines to Park Street. The Common is also the first stop on the Freedom Trail, which is extremely popular for most tourist tours. The Common is a sight in itself, though, so plan to spend some time on a nice day poking around.

The Common is the nation’s oldest public park and was established in 1634. During it’s nearly 400-year history, this 50-acre green space in downtown Boston has been the site of concerts, military training exercises, concerts, protests, outdoor recreation, picnics, and the city’s first public water system. It also sits above the nation’s first subway tunnel, which is still in use along Tremont Street between the Park and Boylston Streets T stations. There are also several historic sites within the park, including the Great Elm where hangings once took place, and the Central Burying Ground, where many British and American casualties of the Battle of Bunker Hill were laid to rest. A number of military memorials are also scattered throughout the Common.

Visitors to The Common today will find a beautiful park that’s open all year to a variety of activities. In the winter, the park is a popular site for ice skating on the frozen Frog Pond and sledding on the snowy Flagstaff Hill. Summers are filled with kids splashing on the banks of the Frog Pond, free Shakespeare plays staged in the Parkman Bandstand, concerts, recreational sports, and other activities. Year-round, a collection of street vendors and colorful characters preaching their random thoughts from a soapbox can be found near the Park Street T station entrances in the Common’s northeast corner.

The Common’s central location also makes it, and the adjacent Public Garden, the centerpiece of a variety of must-see sites. Surrounding the Common are the Massachusetts State House; Park St. Church; Old Granary Burying Ground; and the beautiful, upscale, and historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. You’ll also find the Downtown Crossing shopping district, theater district, Back Bay, and Newberry Street shopping area within a few blocks of the parks.

When you want to move on, take a delightful stroll among historic statuary, monuments, fountains, and antique grounds. If you are travelling with children, they must get wet in the Frog Pond, of course, while grownups enjoy a table alongside the Concession. While you muse about the historic figures who have been here before, don’t miss the photo ops. When you are ready to leave the Commons, find the Charles Street exit so that you can cross to the antique Boston Public Gardens, established 1837.