Discover a city where cobblestone streets meet glass-encased shopping galleries, and Freedom Trail landmarks meet new high-tech campuses. Boston Massachusetts Public Library holds a stunning collection of books and paintings.
Stand beneath the steeple of Old North Church where Paul Revere hung lanterns to warn townspeople that Redcoats were approaching, or visit King's Chapel Burying Ground which features graves that pre-date the American Revolution.
Main Landmarks and Cultural Attractions
Boston is known as an innovative city, so it should come as no surprise that it offers world-class museums, sports stadiums, theaters, restaurants, and vast urban green spaces. Boston is one of the US' most visited tourist spots and boasts 191 National Historic Landmarks.
Art is one of the hallmarks of New York, and to begin exploring it it is best to start at the Museum of Fine Arts which boasts one of the world's premier collections. Some notable works here are sculptures by Renoir and Monet, delicate porcelain pieces by Meissen, and Van Gogh's beautiful floral paintings.
Visit the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), whose stunning architecture draws its inspiration from the Fort Point Channel neighborhood nearby. It features an iconic glass gallery space cantilevering over the harbor that hosts rotating exhibits.
Other Boston landmarks include Boston Common, a historic park dating back to colonial times. Over its lifetime it has served as an encampment for British redcoats, a public grazing area, and town gallows--and forms part of the Freedom Trail, a self-guided tour of Boston's historical sites.
Paul Revere House, provides an intimate glimpse of life in early Boston. You can also visit Old South Meeting House where the Boston Tea Party began and Massachusetts State House.
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is one of Boston's oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods. Deriving its name from a large signaling beacon that stood atop its summit between 1750-1800, Beacon Hill quickly gained popularity after American independence and has become home to historic Boston houses as well as cultural institutions and events.
Beacon Street and its narrow cobblestone side streets transport visitors back in time. Lined with gas lamps and Federal-style brick row houses that date back to when Boston's earliest settlement was controlled primarily by wealthy Brahmins, walking down Beacon Street takes one back through time.
Beacon Hill's main drag, Charles Street provides residents and visitors alike a place to shop, grab coffee, pick up fresh produce, and more. Blackstones sells cute trinkets and souvenirs while Savenors operates as both a butcher and a market.
An unforgettable visit to the world-famous Boston Athenaeum Library should be on any bibliophile's itinerary. Boasting ancient and antique books as well as exquisite works of art, it offers something for every taste in books and culture.
Pubs in Beacon Hill provide a unique dining experience by honoring its history while adding modern flare. Many establishments host regular music and event nights that add depth and enjoyment to dining in Beacon Hill - from soulful jazz performances to energetic live bands, these nights bring additional enjoyment when dining there.
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall Marketplace (pronounced "fun-eye") can be found along the Freedom Trail and boasts over 100 stores, artisan pushcarts and top restaurants. Its cobblestone plaza hosts street performers and pubs - providing shoppers with a memorable shopping experience while experiencing Boston history first hand.
John Smybert originally designed and Peter Faneuil funded this two-story Georgian building as a gift to Boston in 1742; however, only nineteen years later it burned to the ground and was then rebuilt using its original plans in 1763.
Faneuil Hall is a nationally significant historic site and a popular gathering spot in downtown Boston for both visitors and residents alike. In its long history, Faneuil Hall served as a focal point for political meetings and rallies such as those organized by the Sons of Liberty - some leading up to their resistance movement against British control.
Historical significance was further elevated when abolitionists, suffragists and modern-day activists started using it for speeches and protests, further elevating its significance as an "icon of liberty." Yet Peter Faneuil made his fortune transporting slaves for the transatlantic slave trade as well as sugar and low-grade cod products produced from them to shippers in Boston's Granary Burial Ground near his namesake building. Historians now understand why his fortune resides there too! Known as the "Icon of Liberty", its real meaning comes with its dark history: slavery itself! Historians now realize Peter Faneuil built his fortune on the Atlantic slave trade that involved transporting slaves for transport purposes which made him extremely wealthy among colonial Boston residents. His gravesite is just steps from where his namesake building stands today.
Public Garden
The Boston Public Garden is a picturesque park conveniently situated among several neighborhoods and known for being America's first public botanical garden. This popular walking and people-watching spot features a picturesque pond, Swan Boats, sculptures, fountains, and elaborate flower beds for visitors to enjoy.
Public Garden's centerpiece is its four-acre lagoon lake. Surrounded by trees, ponds, and paths - including Haffenreffer Walk - its waters host famous Swan Boats that visitors can enjoy every week between early April and late September.
From February through May, gardens bloom with color from yellow witch hazel and forsythia blooms through to tulips, magnolias, lilacs, and wisteria - providing an Instagrammable spectacle!
The Public Garden features several statues and landmarks commemorating historic figures in American history, such as bronze statues based on characters from Thornton Burgess' children's book Make Way for Ducklings. A notable attraction is also the 9/11 Memorial which was erected in 2004 to remember all New England and Massachusetts victims who perished during September 11.
Harvard University
Harvard University is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the US and is renowned for its high academic standards, selective admissions process, and social prestige. The main campus can be found along the Charles River in Cambridge a few miles west of downtown Boston; additionally, it has multiple affiliated professional schools offering graduate and doctoral programs.
Harvard's curriculum prioritizes broad-based liberal arts studies and encourages its students to connect what they learn in class with real-world events beyond campus boundaries. This approach ensures graduates will find success across multiple fields - such as art and business.
Harvard, as one of the most selective universities, expects applicants to have outstanding GPAs and test scores; however, Harvard also looks for applicants with intellectual curiosity who possess an overall service-driven outlook on life.
Reaching Harvard requires dedication and hard work. Furthermore, having a positive outlook and believing in oneself are also crucial aspects. Harvard students come from all corners of the world with unique interests and talents; therefore candidates must possess these characteristics too!
Harvard offers a diverse array of clubs and organizations for students outside the classroom to participate in. Led by some of the brightest minds, these groups play a huge role in making Harvard unique, providing students with opportunities to explore their passions with support from an amazing faculty and staff team.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has become internationally renowned for various reasons. Founded by Boston art patron Isabella Stewart Gardner, its collections perfectly reflect her vision. Additionally, in 1990 there was an incident resulting in 13 paintings being stolen (their frames still standing as proof) with a $5 Million reward offered as compensation if returned intact.
Gardner was a woman of enormous ambition and a pioneer in her time. This new book written by two eminent scholars takes an in-depth look at the origins of her vision and development of an international museum over time.
The authors present an engaging and comprehensive portrait of Gardner's life and collection. They show how she abandoned tentative plans to establish a museum at her Beacon Street home, opting instead to found what is now called The Gardner - America's first purpose-built museum founded by a woman.
The authors describe some of the museum's early directors, including Morris Carter who cataloged its entire collection. Furthermore, they detail how Gardner created an aura of mystery by keeping few primary sources about herself and instructing those with access to her papers to destroy them. Furthermore, they explore her collections, which featured works by Botticelli, and Rembrandt as well as decorative arts and manuscripts - an impressive array indeed!
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