Nestled between the sky-kissing buildings of Downtown Crossing and two major universities on the east and south sides and the historic Victorian brownstones of the Back Bay and Beacon Hill on the west and north sides, the Boston Common is really at the center of the city.

While today, residents and visitors alike lounge on the grass to people and puppy watch, historically, the Common served as a communal grazing ground, a burying ground, a place of troop encampment, and a place to try witches. There's plenty to learn about the Common's history and plenty to do today to make it a delightful recharging spot for that long day of walking the Freedom Trail.

Related: Revolutionary War Era Sites in Boston You Didn't Know About

A History Of The Common, America's Oldest Park

Boston's Puritan founders purchased a large parcel of land on the Shawmut Peninsula (the original home to the Massachusett people) from William Blackstone, a minister, in 1634. Each Puritan head of household contributed 5 shillings to the purchase of the land; the price tag in 1634 was 30 pounds.

For much of its early tenure, the Common was called such because it became a common grazing ground for the town's cows. Eventually, cows would be banned in the mid-19th century for a history of overgrazing, but the other uses of the Common were decidedly more dramatic.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Common was the center of very-visible Puritanical law and order. It was where murderers, pirates, heretics, and suspected witches were hanged for their crimes. Ironically, other corners of the Boston Common were consecrated as holy burying grounds, only meters away from where witches were executed.

By the mid to late-18th century, the Boston Common became the training site and encampment for a growing number of British soldiers (colloquially called "The Red Coats"). By 1775, one thousand Red Coats lived on the Common. It was from there that they marched to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the fateful journey that famous messenger, Paul Revere, warned off with "one if by land, two if by sea" lanterns.

The wide-open spaces of the Common served as public gathering spaces throughout the 19th-20th centuries; Civil War troop recruitment, Charles Lindbergh's lectures on aviation, orations from Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrations with Pope John Paul II all took place on the grassy expanses of the Boston Common. Frederick Law Olmsted's sons would take up his architectural landscaping mantle in 1913, paving walking paths and relocating trees to make the Common a true park.

Things To Enjoy In The Common Today

Long gone are the days of corporal punishment and troop encampments (except during reenactments!) on the Common. Today, the Boston Common is a great place to leisurely enjoy different activities throughout the year.

Related: 'Athens of America': How Boston Earned Its Historic Nickname

For History Buffs

The Common is the official start of the Freedom Trail, and the Visitor Center is where you'll begin any tours or programs run by the Freedom Trail Foundation.

In addition to the actual Freedom Trail, the park itself has several monuments throughout the grounds that memorialize major people and moments in history. One of the largest monuments, located on the north side of the Common, is dedicated to Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment who fought during the Civil War. The 54th was the first all-Black volunteer regiment during the Civil War, led by Boston Brahmin, Shaw. The regiment's story is a sad one; ultimately many of the men sacrificed their lives trying to take Fort Wagner in South Carolina.

Remember how the Common was a place for supposed witch executions? Well, that makes it one of the most haunted places in Boston, allegedly. If a touch of haunted, witchy-woo is something you love to find when you're traveling, then there are plenty of opportunities to go on ghost tours right in the heart of Boston.

The Arts & Outdoor Activities

No matter the season, the Common has a variety of activities. At the Frog Pond, for instance, a visitor can enjoy some ice skating in the winter, and a serene reflecting pool and carousel in the spring, summer, and fall.

If you enjoy theater, you can catch Shakespeare on the Common during the summer months. It's a high-value production and free to attend, just be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair with you so you can comfortably view the stage. You have the opportunity to donate to the production if you enjoy what you see.

Have your family pooch with you? The great part about both the Frog Pond and Shakespeare on the Common is that it's pet friendly! While these areas require your furry friend to be on a leash, there is a section of the park that permits off-leash fun year-round. It's a great place to let your dog have the zoomies, and also the perfect place to puppy watch if you're missing your doggie companion back at home.

You may be wondering where the iconic swan boats, Victorian footbridge, and the lagoon are in the Common. While the Common was America's first park, the adjacent Public Garden across Charles Street was America's first botanical garden. Along with some sumptuous flower beds, a looming statue of George Washington, and weeping willows, the Public Garden is home to the picturesque swan boats Boston has become known for. While it's about two hundred years younger than its neighbor, the Public Garden is a fantastic walk across time from the Boston Common.