Boston Common

Boston Common, also referred to as "the Common" and "Boston Commons", and including "Boston Public Garden", is a location in Boston in Fallout 4.

Background
The common was established in 1634 as a communal grazing ground for cattle. It subsequently became a public park, the oldest in the country. In the year before the Revolutionary War, one thousand Redcoats camped here, and it was from here that the force marched on Lexington and Concord. Described as an idyllic park, the common was surrounded by mansions, and once featured ornate swan boats in the nearby pond before the Great War.

Layout
Situated south of the river in the center of downtown Boston, Boston Common is a park containing a gazebo with a bandstand and a fountain marking the start of the Freedom Trail. Swan's Pond is on the western side, complete with a pre-War swan boat and a statue; at some point before the Great War, the common and the pond were merged to form a single park. Several roadways converge at the common, including Boylston, Tremont, and Essex Streets. Several signs warning of danger surround the common from these approaching roadways.

Surrounding locations include the Massachusetts State House to the north, the Boylston Club to the south, and Prost bar in a basement to the west. Park Street station is in the northeastern section of the park; the subway station leads to Vault 114.

The Freedom Trail also begins at Boston Common. On the eastern side of the common next to the fountain, there is a non-hostile Protectron named Tour Bot in its pod that can be activated by a nearby "tell me more" button. In front of the fountain is a wooden sign and a seal in the ground. The sign reads "At Journey's End Follow Freedom's Lantern," and the seal reads "The Freedom Trail. Boston." The number 7 is written in the center of the seal with red ink, and the letter A in "Trail" is bracketed.

Notable loot

 * Torn letter - On Mikail's body, directly in front of the Boston Common fast travel point by the southeast entrance of the park.
 * Grognak the Barbarian issue #6 - In the gazebo at the center of the common, on the ground next to a skeleton and several radiation barrels.
 * Raider's advice note - In the gazebo at the center of the common, on a heavily irradiated barrel.

Related quests

 * Road to Freedom: The Sole Survivor has heard of a group that aims to take on the Institute and only has the clue, "Follow the Freedom Trail." To find the Railroad, they have to start at Boston Common.

Appearances
Boston Common appears only in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes
Boston Common is based on the real-world Boston Common, also known as "the Common," a central public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts that serves as the southern end of the Freedom Trail. The real-world Parkman Bandstand can also be seen in-game.