BOSTON - Touring Boston's famous Freedom Trail has gone high tech.
Visitors to Boston's historic district can rent lightweight digital players that guide them along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail tour that links 16 sites. The hand-held, state-of-the-art audio players contain a two-hour narrative called "Hear Freedom!"
The devices are designed to liberate sightseers from traditional follow-along tours that take groups from the Boston Common to the Charlestown waterfront.
According to the Freedom Trail Foundation, the 50-year-old nonprofit group dedicated to promoting and preserving Boston's historic character and role in the U.S. revolution, the new system is the first outdoor citywide audio tour of its kind. It was produced for the foundation by the same people who created audio tours of the U.S. Air and Space Museum in Washington, the Louvre in Paris, Alcatraz, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and others.
Sound effects, character voices, celebrities and historians are featured on the audio tour. Individuals can start or finish anywhere on the trail, and listen to each segment as often - or as little - as they like.
Historical information about the Freedom Trail is balanced with colorful commentary about some of Boston's history since the Revolution, including the Molasses Flood, the great Brinks robbery of the early 1950s and development of the city's North End.
The audio players and headsets can be picked up at the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center. Credit card is the only accepted form of payment. The first rental is $12 and each additional rental is $10. Group rates and special discounts are available. Call (617) 227-8800 for more information.
To help coach tour operators get around Boston easier and more quickly, the Boston Transportation Department has published a new tour bus parking map.
The map has a number of features, including:
* Tour bus drop-off and pick-up locations
* Long-term coach parking locations
* City tour bus regulations
* Contact information for operators
To obtain a copy of the map, call (617) 635-3076, or send an e-mail requesting a copy to: accessboston@cityofboston.gov. A viewable copy of the map can be found at: www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/tour_bus.asp.