The Black Heritage Trail covers sites on Beacon Hill that are part of the history of 19th-century Boston. You can take a free 2-hour guided tour with a ranger from the National Park Service's Boston African American National Historic Site, which starts at the visitor center, 46 Joy St. (tel. 617/742-5415; www.nps.gov/boaf). They're available daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and by request at other times. Or go on your own, using a brochure that includes a map and descriptions of the buildings. The sites include stations of the Underground Railroad, homes of famous citizens, and the first integrated public school. Check ahead for special programs if you're visiting during February.

One of the most interesting sites on the Black Heritage Trail is the African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court. Opened in 1806, it's the oldest standing black church in the United States. William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society in this building, where Frederick Douglass made some of his great abolitionist speeches. Once known as the "Black Faneuil Hall," it offers an informative audiovisual presentation and schedules lectures, concerts, and church meetings.

The Museum of Afro-American History, 46 Joy St. (tel. 617/725-0022; www.afroammuseum.org), has the most comprehensive information on the history and contributions of blacks in Boston and Massachusetts. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's open daily from 10am to 4pm; the rest of the year, it's open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

The Boston History Collaborative website www.bostonfamilyhistory.org lists resources for many ethnic groups, including African Americans.

Across the river, the Cambridge African American Trail focuses on significant sites in the history of the city's large black community. To buy the guide, send a check for $7.45 (includes shipping), payable to the Cambridge Historical Society, to the Cambridge Historical Commission, 831 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 (www.ci.cambridge.ma.us/~historic).