Boston's Historic Hub: A Tour of the Metro Region's Top National Landmarks

by David Lyon, Patricia Harris

Overview

What do the oldest black church in the country, an Arts-and-Crafts-style artists' studio building, a concrete football stadium, and an acoustically perfect performance space have in common? They are all National Historic Landmarks located in Boston. In fact, the city boasts more National Historic Landmarks per square mile than any other major city in the country. Given Boston's long history and record of accomplishments, it's really not surprising that 57 properties—from the nation's oldest subway tunnel to a floating lighthouse—have received this designation. Add in the adjoining cities of Cambridge and Brookline and the number swells. Historic Boston includes the most rewarding and easily visited landmarks. That's a lot of history in 103 square miles.

The Secretary of the Interior designates the status of National Historic Landmark to places considered “exceptional because of their abilities to illustrate U.S. heritage.” More simply put, they are the places that resonate broadly with us, that we cherish, and want to pass on to future generations. The list is surprisingly diverse. In metro Boston, it includes an historic church with a stunning collection of Tiffany windows, a Transcendentalist community, a Grand Banks schooner, and the home and studio of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493057900
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/01/2021
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Patricia Harris and David Lyon are authors of more than thirty books on travel, food, and art, including Boston, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont & New Hampshire in the Food Lovers series published by the Globe Pequot Press. They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not far from the Longfellow House, and can be found online at HungryTravelers.com or on social media by the Twitter and Instagram handle of @hungrytravelers.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Boston Through the Centuries viii

Downtown and The Markets

Boston Common 1

Tremont Street Subway 6

King's Chapel 10

Old South Meeting House 13

Old State House 19

Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market 23

Union Oyster House 30

Beacon Hill and The West End

Massachusetts State House 37

African Meeting Houses 42

Beacon Hill Walking Tour 46

First Harrison Gray Otis House 59

Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital 65

North End and Charlestown

Paul Revere House 71

Old North Church 74

Charlestown Navy Yard 79

Bunker Hill Monument 85

Back Bay and The Fenway

Boston Public Garden 89

Gibson House Museum 94

Church of the Covenant 100

Trinity Church 108

Boston Public Library 116

Symphony Hall 121

Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory 126

Maritime Boston

Long Wharf and the Custom House Block 133

Boston Light 136

Schooner Roseway 141

Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 143

Cambridge and Allston

Christ Church 149

Harvard University Campus Walking Tour 153

Harvard Stadium 159

Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site 163

Mount Auburn Cemetery 168

The Outer Ring

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site 177

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site 180

Arnold Arboretum 185

Shirley-Eustis House 190

Brook Farm 194

Thematic Index 199

Acknowledgments 201

About the Authors 202