Recent analysis has concluded that is almost certainly the work of Boston’s famous vane-maker, Shem Drowne.
The weathervane is approximately five feet high and was made in 1714. Recently re-gilded over its copper frame, the Old State House weathervane features the distinguishing “long-johns” design that was most commonly used in England. Perched 217 feet above ground, the Park Street Church weathervane can be seen from most vantage points on Boston Common. The stylized scrolls, called lyres, symbolically represent song and the wind. This unique weathervane features a sunburst as its tail and a five-pointed star pointing to the heavens above. The split banner design was similar to weathervanes found on Christopher Wren-style churches in England, but was still appropriate for a Puritan meetinghouse because it lacked religious symbolism. The gold weathervane that tops the Old South Meeting House is believed to be the second oldest in Boston. Said to be modeled after the weathervane from London’s Royal Exchange, the grasshopper would have symbolized Peter Faneuil’s own wealth and confidence that he could match the mercantile success found across the Atlantic Ocean.įaneuil Hall, as seen in The Freedom Trail Pop Up Book Designed by Boston’s prolific craftsman Shem Drowne, the copper grasshopper first adorned the building in 1742. Possibly the best-known weathervane in Boston, the vane that tops Faneuil Hall might also be the most distinctive. Removed, restored and reset after a 2012 hurricane, it can be seen shining in the sun from miles away. Remember to look up, too!įeaturing a swallowtail-style banner topped with a crown and a five-pointed star, this is the same weathervane that graced the top of the chapel when Paul Revere was the bell boy and two lanterns were famously hung from the tower. I encourage you to walk the Trail this summer-whether it’s for the first time or the first time in years, you’ll always discovery something new.
The weathervane persisted even as skyscrapers went up around the Old State House, forever changing the landscape.īelow is just a bit of the rich history I learned while exploring the Freedom Trail’s weathervanes. It survived, even as the building was abandoned by the British, and was celebrated as the building was restored. Take the weathervane on top of the Old State House - over time, it has seen the bloody Boston Massacre and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. I began to imagine the scenes they have witnessed. When I set out to create the Freedom Trail® Pop Up Book of Boston, I knew I would include elements of all sixteen sites along the trail.įrom historic burying grounds and churches to places of early government and commerce, the Freedom Trail features some of the most significant Revolutionary-era landmarks in the country.Īs I studied the history and architecture, I was struck in particular by the incredibly intricate weathervanes that topped several of the sites. Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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