Explore the Boston Freedom Trail

In her Historic Boston poster, American artist Marie Fox imagines a journey along Boston's Freedom Trail. "My goal," she said, "was to depict four centuries of architecture in a 19th century setting, with nothing modern in it." She pushed back time to idealize and simplify it. This poster shows what Boston might have looked and felt like when our country was younger. Here the city's highest buildings are its churches, horses and wagons travel the cobblestone streets and ships sail into the harbor. Events from different historical periods are shown together in this panorama.

To prepare for painting her Boston poster, Marie studied history books, engravings and old maps and photographs. She sketched the buildings along the Boston Freedom Trail and took pictures of architectural details. In a tiny studio on Beacon Hill, Marie taped the drawings and photos to her wall and began painting. It took four months of 10-hour days to complete her painting. Look closely at the Boston Freedom Trail posters and you'll see the artist at work outdoors.

For an American history lesson that the kids will enjoy, pair one of these with Marie's historic Nantucket art print.

Turn your bedroom into a celebration of American history! Display this richly detailed Nantucket art next to the Boston Freedom Trail print for a virtual heritage tour. Both are museum-quality posters that measure 20" x 24" and fit easily into ready-made frames for quick and dramatic wall decor.

Like her Boston image, Marie Fox's Nantucket print is a colorful bird's eye view of a New England town. Or is it a gull's eye view? Her art features Nantucket Island's historic landmarks and brings to the viewer a sense of life long ago. A grocer loads his horse-drawn wagon for early morning deliveries along cobblestone streets. Neighbors in Siasconset trade gossip as they draw water from the town well. At the Jethro Coffin House an herb garden is tended. Kids fish, clam, bike and climb onto a hay wagon for a fun ride. Share these stories of old Nantucket with your family or as a great gift for anyone who loves primitive or New England folk art. Decorate traditionally but with a contemporary twist.

You can explore more about Nantucket, the 'Faraway Land,' on our website. Next to the Nantucket Island image, click Learn More to read short histories of the real buildings pictured. Meet The Artist who painting this charming New England scene.