Boston Things to Do Tips by leffe3

Part of the Christian Scientist Complex (which is huge) in the middle of Boston, the Mapparium is quite extraordinary. Built in 1935, you basically walk into the middle of a stained glass world globe. On a suspended walkway just below the Equator, you see in glorious sensurround the human geography of the continents as per 1935. The voice-over introduction may be a bit on the gooey side, but its certainly an enthralling half-hour.

Leave a Comment

Address: Christian Science Centre, Massachussets Ave

This 19th century Romanesque-style church is completely dwarfed by the skyscrapers of Copley Square. Nevertheless, it is listed as an American landmark building, with a stunning interior of stained glass and murals designed by John La Farge. the interior really is incredibly serene - the walls covered with flocked wallpaper (yes - wallpaper in a church!) and the deeply impressive glass and murals all add up to a feeling of a wealthy Victorian-era home rather than a place of worship (which it still is on Sundays).

Leave a Comment

Address: Copley Sq

This rather grand building slap bang in the middle of Boston was built in 1894 and is the central building for the celebration of the Christian Science faith founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1864. The whole complex is deeply impressive - a huge plaza containing not only the church and Mapparium (see above) as well as public fountains,

Leave a Comment

On the Freedom Trail, the Paul Revere House, a small clapboard house is the oldest in Boston, having been built in 1680. It was also the home of the blacksmith Revere, one of the three messengers who carried the advance warning of the British marching into Lexington & Concord in 1775.

It is now a small museum, giving insight into the way of life of New Englanders in the 18th century.

Leave a Comment

Address: North Square

Adjacent to the Park Street Church and part of the Freedom Trail, the Old Granary Burying Ground is the final resting place of a number of local heroes, including Paul Revere (see above), Samuel Adams, John Hancock as well as Benjamin Franklin's parents. There's some wonderful old headstones, as well as any number of squirrels.

Leave a Comment

Address: Park St

Towards the end (or beginning) of the Freedom Trail prior to disappearing across to Charlestown, you will see 44 Hull Street - Boston's narrowest house - all of 9 and a half feet wide! Built in 1800, it was apparently built out of spite to block light from a neighbour's house.

Leave a Comment

Over in Charlestown Naval Dockyard is the oldest commissioned US Navy ship (1797), nicknamed Old Ironsides for never having gone into battle. Its now a museum piece with the exception of every 4 July, when it is taken out into the harbour (and back again).

Leave a Comment

As Boston is a city to simply walk round, one of the nicest areas is Beacon Hill. It's certainly one of the most affluent and prestigious addresses in the city - and amazingly, it's only a couple of miles from the Downtown area. Heaps of distinguished 19th century town houses, narrow streets (head for Acorn St, Boston's most photographed strteet), window boxes, ivy-clad brickwork and little cafes. As it's just north of Boston Common and close to the Freedom Trail, easily reachable for a little wander.

Leave a Comment

Directions: Area bounded by: Storrow Dr., Cambridge St., Beacon St., Bowdoin St.
Website: http://www.beaconhillonline.com/

A slightly surreal memorial found in the middle of Downtown among memorials to long-gone politicians and some of Boston's more regal civic buildings. Erected in 1995, these six glass columns represent the six major Nazi death camps, and smouldering coals let loose plumes of steam within the columns.

Leave a Comment

Address: Between Union & Congress Streets

Pronounced Fan-yool or Fan'l, the main building was erected in 1740 as a market and public meeting place. It's an imposing building and is the core of the newer (1970s) Quincy Market Place. It's a key shopping area of Boston, full of lively public spaces, buskers and street enterainers, chain stores, specialist shops, extensive number of cafes and restaurants.

Leave a Comment