One foot in the (Granary) grave

The Freedom Trail, that 2.5-mile red-brick path from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, encompasses 16 historic sites, including Paul Revere’s House and the U.S.S. Constitution. Its popularity means that there’s a lot of foot traffic in hallowed grounds as the trail winds its way through the oldest cemeteries in Boston.

In January 2009, one tourist landed hip-deep in the stairwell of an underground crypt at Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street. The 8-by-12-foot crypt remained intact, but broken slate and dirt covering the entryway gave way, causing the collapse. Although records are scarce, it’s believed to be the grave of Jonathan Armitage who died in 1738.

Founded in 1660, Granary Burying Ground attracts attention with its graves of revolutionaries Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock. The cemetery is part of the Historic Burying Grounds Initiative, operated by the City of Boston. Read more about the Historic Burying Grounds Initiative and how to use the HBGI online database.

This story was first reported in the Boston Globe.