Boston

Content:

Boston…………………………2

Weather and Geography…………………………2

Advantage BOSTON…………………………2

Questions about BOSTON…………………………2

Short about Sights & Activities………………………..6

Historic Sites and Attractions………………………..7

A Quick Tour Along the Freedom Trail…………………………10

Getting around…………………………13

Expert Travel Tips…………………………13

Nightlife…………………………14

Entertainment…………………………14

Best Sights & Activities:…………………………14

• SIGHTSEEING…………………………14

• HISTORIC SITES…………………………15

• MUSEUMS (art, history, science)……………………17

• PARKS…………………………19

• ZOOS, AQUARIUMS & RESERVES…………………………20Boston

Some people believe that Boston’s character is very much like London. This is certainly true for its melting pot of history and grace. Besides that, it’s eccentric and bears a cosmopolitan character. The Boston Tea Party. Bunker Hill. Old North Church. Boston offers a glimpse of American history like nno other city. But while you’re walking in the footsteps of America’s founding fathers, don’t think for one minute that Boston is only about the past. Boston (600,000 inhabitants), is a modern, waterfront metropolis artfully blends contemporary architecture with colonial landmarks and lively ethnic neighborhoods. Bostonalso is also a fashionable city that has it all: shopping areas, melodrama, films, people, nightlife and many students. Hall Marketplace entertains with jugglers and street performers. Boston is meant for walking, and most of tthe city’s sights are contained in a surprisingly small area. Blocks of cafes, bookstores and shops beckon academic types to Harvard Square and Faneuil. Harvard University is just across the river in Cambridge. Speaking of the river and festivals, Boston oon the 4th of July sports a day of music, fireworks and food. Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts, known as ‘the Cradle of American Independence’; the city houses the capitol building, with its famous gold dome (painted grey during WWII). Famous figures from Massachusetts include the Pilgrims from Plymouth, American patriots, and U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and George Bush Sr. Cosmopolitan Boston pulses with a vibrant and diverse theatre, music, nightclub and restaurant scene. Long famous for its chowders, codfish cakes, baked beans, apple pies and local brew pubs, a young generation of chefs is creating a style of cuisine unique to the region’s local bounty.Weather and Geography

Boston is the eeconomic and cultural hub of New England, and is located on Boston Harbor on the Northeast Atlantic Coast. Winter weather can be cold, with temperatures averaging in the high 30s, and frequent snowfall. Spring and summer weather is usually in the high 60s to low 80s, and fall days are crisp, usually in the 50s and 60s, and perfect for taking in the area’s beautiful foliage and walking through Boston’s many different neighborhoods and historical sites.Advantage BOSTON

Advantage BOSTON is aa comprehensive, national marketing campaign and service program built to show why Boston is the best convention venue on earth, bar none. Through a massive advertising, promotional, direct mail and web-based program, Advantage BOSTON tells the story about Boston’s new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (along with the Hynes Convention Center), new hotels, new transportation infrastructure, airport modernization, and more. Advantage BOSTON also embraces a whole new set of service advantages Boston has to offer for events of all kinds, including association events, trade shows and conferences, and corporate events and meetings.Questions about BOSTON

Why should you bring your event to Boston?

Boston has been rebuilt and redesigned to be the most exciting and visitor-centric convention city in the world. The city now has the world’s best convention facilities – over 35,000 hotel rooms that enjoy best-in-the-U.S. proximity to the airport, convention centers, and city sights – and a new transportation infrastructure that has spawned the country’s fastest travel times between the airport and the convention centers as well as between the convention centers, and the hotels.

Want more attendees? Boston offers the largest and most valuable attendee base within a two-hour travel-time radius of any city in the country. It has aa uniquely rich base of professionals in the most high-end vertical industries – high-tech, medicine, higher education, finance, and more. Boston’s geographical location makes it an ideal and easy gateway for both national and international access. Holding your event in Boston gives you your best chance to maximize attendance quantity and quality.

Add in Boston’s unsurpassed history, culture, and surrounding natural beauty, and you have a destination with more positive attributes to host your event than any venue anywhere.

Will Boston attract my event attendees?

Boston offers the largest and most valuable attendee base within a two-hour travel-time radius of any city in the country. Greater Boston itself has a uniquely rich base of professionals in the most high-end vertical industries including:

768,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s five leading industries of financial services, healthcare, high technology, education and consulting and the visitor industry.

141,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s financial services industry.

198,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s health care industry.

218,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s high tech industry.

127,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s higher education and consulting industry.

84,000 professionals working in Greater Boston’s visitor industry.

Boston’s geographical location makes it an ideal and easy gateway for both national and international access. Bottom line: holding yyour event in Boston gives you your best chance to maximize attendance quantity and quality.

What convention facilities does Boston have to offer?

Boston boasts the best and most diverse lineup of convention facilities in the country. These include the brand-new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center; the Hynes Convention Center; the World Trade Center; the Bayside Convention Center; and many outstanding hotel venues. We have the right facility for your event.

What is the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC)?

The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is the world’s most spectacular, customer-driven convention facility. Located in Boston’s Seaport District, less than a ten-minute drive from Logan Airport, the BCEC features 516,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 84 meeting rooms, a 40,020 square foot ballroom overlooking the city skyline and Boston Harbor, and a world of customer amenities and specifications. Even the architectural design of the BCEC reflects a unique, innovative and customer-centric approach. The features and benefits of the facility incorporate input from virtually every corner of the meetings and convention industry, including meeting planners, association and corporate executive, national and international trade show producers.

What is the Hynes Convention Center?

The John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center is a

high-tech, state-of-the-art convention facility located in the heart of Boston’s beautiful and historic Back Bay, just steps away from dozens of the city’s most popular hotels and attractions. The facility features 360,000 square feet of space (all of which is fully handicap accessible), including 193,000 square feet of exhibit space and 38 dedicated meeting rooms.

I understand Boston has a large hotel inventory to .accommodate even very large events. How do I reach the appropriate parties to get space?

Yes, BBoston has over 35,000 hotel rooms. No other city offers more hotels in such close proximity to its major convention centers. Furthermore, Boston’s hotels are situated within easy walking distance of the city’s restaurants, shops and landmarks. As for accommodating large events, in the summer of 2004, Boston hosted the Democratic National Convention, an event that required over 18,000 hotel rooms in the city. That example is proof positive that the growth of Boston, including its ongoing addition of more hhotels, puts it in position to host events of any size and scale.

How does ground transportation in Boston work?

The Big Dig is complete – and it’s easier to get around Boston than ever before. Travel times are less than aany other major venue in the country. It’s only 8 minutes from the airport to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and only 12 minutes from the new center to the Hynes Convention Center or Back Bay hotels. The Ted Williams Tunnel now connects the airport to major roadways north, south and west of the city. The Boston transformation is further enhanced by the modernization of Logan Airport. Of course, Boston remains “America’s Walking City,” and event attendees and other visitors will continue to enjoy the city by foot, with easy access to restaurants, shops and landmarks.

What kind of airport support do I get if I use Boston?

Boston’s Logan International Airport is a major national and international gateway. NNo city in the country has faster travel times from the airport to its convention centers. Travel time from Logan Airport to the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is 8 minutes. Travel time from Logan Airport to the Hynes Convention Center is 12 minutes. Logan Airport has recently been modernized and refurbished to enhance the user experience, including the world’s most advanced airport security program.

Logan is in the process of receiving $4.4 billion worth of enhancements. A new International GGateway will give world travelers a great first impression of Boston. Separate arrival and departure roadways – and completed walkways that connect all airport terminals – make travel easier and more convenient for Logan passengers. Also included is a new $146 million in-line baggage screening system, one of the first in the nation, that improves security without compromising speed, capacity and convenience.

Some other highlights of Logan International Airport include:

• Logan is the nation’s eighteenth busiest airport and the world’s thirty-fourth busiest airport based on passenger volume.

• It is New England’s largest transportation center: Serving more than 23 million passengers, Logan handles over 1 billion pounds of high value cargo and mail, employs over 15,000 workers and stimulates the New England regional economy by approximately $6 billion per year.

• Logan Airport has five passenger terminals, each with its own ticketing, baggage claim, and ground transportation facilities.

• There are eighty-four gate positions at Logan that are available for both scheduled and non-scheduled service.

What are the restaurants like in Boston?

Diversity, ethnicity, and proximity are the hallmarks of the Boston restaurant scene. The Seaport District, home of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, has some of the most famous waterfront seafood restaurants in tthe country. Back Bay, home of the Hynes Convention Center, offers a dynamic range of restaurants from steakhouses to sidewalk bistros. Event visitors have hundreds of restaurants within easy walking distance, with prices to suit all budgets and tastes. Boston is one of the great cities of North America for global variety, with an ethnic rainbow of cuisine covering everything from the Chinese food in Chinatown and the Italian specialties in the North End, to Thai, French, Latin American, Caribbean, African, Hungarian, Russian, Indian and mo.re. The seafood, of course, is among the freshest and best in the world, with lobster and New England clam chowder visitor favorites.

What’s the best way to get around Boston?

Known as “America’s Walking City,” Boston is a compact city that puts its convention facilities and most hotels and restaurants within easy walking distance for most visitors. Another great way to get from place to place is the “T” — the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) – which includes subways, elevated trains, and trolleys along four connecting lines. The new Silver Line will offers quick and convenient public transportation to and from the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The Hynes Convention Center is jjust steps away from two Green Line stations – Copley Square and Symphony.

What else is there to do in Boston?

Boston is unrivaled when it comes to offering visitors a dynamic combination of historic, cultural, entertainment and special-destination options. The history is everywhere – along the famous Freedom Trail, and stretching from the Samuel Adams statue at Fanueil Hall to the gas-lit neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and Back Bay. Boston is home to two of the world’s most famous musical institutions, the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops, as well as great museums and universities such as Harvard and MIT. Entertainment reigns in one of the country’s most vibrant theater districts, at nightclubs all around the city, and from some of most storied sports teams anywhere, including the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.

Short about

Sights & Activities

Boston is meant for walking. This is a remarkably compact city whose labyrinthine streets will delight the stroller, although they can — and often do — push drivers over the edge. When it comes down to sights, Boston is probably everyone’s cup of tea. It is the cradle of the ‘Boston Tea Party’ which resulted in the formation of the first continental

congress. The city is packed with museums dedicated to historical events that took place in Boston or its vicinity. Take for instance the ‘African Meeting House’ which is the oldest black church in America. The oldest commissioned warship in the world, the U.S.S Constitution, resides in Charleston Naval Yard.Herman Melville wrote his classic ‘Moby Dick’ in these surroundings and Charles Dickens wrote a majority of „A Christmas Carol“ in a hotel in Boston. Memorial sites, parks, the harbour… Boston is aa marvellous place to explore.

One of the joys of wandering Boston is absorbing the character of each neighborhood. The redbrick elegance of Beacon Hill’s narrow streets sends visitors back to the 19th century. In contrast, the Boston Common exudes an attitude that is for, by, and of the people. The startling contrast of old and new side by side is nowhere more evident than in the Old West End. Bostonians love to hate the bleak architecture of Government CCenter, home of City Hall. The North End is Boston’s haven for Italian restaurants and cafés. Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill monument and the USS Constitution, remains predominantly Irish-American.

Many historic sites remain in the thoroughly Manhattanized downtown; aa number of them have been linked together to make up a fascinating section of the Freedom Trail. The Back Bay is a living museum of urban Victorian residential architecture. The South End’s redbrick row houses in various states of refurbished splendor are home to a polyglot mix of cultural and ethnic groups. Funky Kenmore Square is a favorite haunt for college students, and hope springs eternal for a World Series pennant at Fenway Park.

“The People’s Republic of Cambridge“ sums up this independent city west of Boston. Cambridge not only houses two of the country’s greatest educational institutions — Harvard and MIT — it also has a long history as a haven for freethinkers, writers, activists, and iconoclasts of eevery stamp. Like Boston, it is a city of neighborhoods; the raref.ied air of Harvard Yard and the mansions of Brattle Street are within a mile of the ethnic enclaves in Central Square and East Cambridge. The Boston area’s more than 300,000 students ensure a thicket of cafés, record stores, music clubs, street-chic boutiques, and bookstores.Historic Sites and Attractions

Revered Places

One of Boston’s most famous residents is honored at the Paul Revere Mall, behind the Old North Church. Cyrus Dallin’s landmark sstatue of Revere dominates the entrance to this neighborhood park. Not far away (and also along the Freedom Trail), the Paul Revere House is the oldest structure in Downtown Boston. This restored house was built around 1680. Revere purchased it in 1770 and owned it for 30 years; today, it is one of the country’s most visited historic house museums.

Home-style History

Boston has a number of homes that were occupied by some of this country’s most illustrious historical figures. George Washington stayed at the 1759 house now known as the Longfellow National Historic for nine months during the British siege of Boston, but poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, author of Hiawatha, Evangeline and “Paul Revere’s Ride,” later lived at the house much longer, residing here from 1837 until his death in 1882. The house is long gone, but the location of Benjamin Franklin‘s Birthplace is commemorated with a bust of the great American statesman and philosopher. Franklin lived in the house until he was 17, when he moved to Philadelphia. With its classic architecture and elegant furnishings, the 1796 Otis House Museum epitomizes high Federal style in Boston at the turn of the eighteenth century.

Center of Action

One of the country’s top attractions, FFaneuil Hall Marketplace is filled with colorful people, whether it’s street performers vying for attention, shoppers buzzing from store to store or diners chatting over a meal. The marketplace is fronted by historic Faneuil Hall, the “cradle of liberty,” which was built in 1742 by wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil, then rebuilt and expanded to its present size in 1805. The centerpiece of marketplace activities today, however, is 176-year-old Quincy Market, a fine example of Greek Revival architecture. It’s flanked by two more market buildings, the North and South markets. A food court, shops, restaurants and entertainment keep the area lively day and night.

Child’s Play

Boston sightseeing is particularly enjoyable if you have children along. Little Einsteins and Edisons will enjoy the Museum of Science. Changing exhibits from around the world are featured, in addition to a permanent collection that covers subjects from evolution to rocketry. The Children’s Museum is a treasure trove of fun and learning, including hands-on exhibits such as a two-story maze, an art studio and a Japanese house. Youngsters will love the “Clifford the Big Red Dog” exhibition. There’s also a play space devoted to kids ages 0–3. At the Children’s Zoo, kids can touch and learn about ssmall animals.

Dragons, Jellies and More

Discover all kinds of marine life at the New England Aquarium, where a 200,000-gallon circular glass tank contains many of the aquarium’s most fascinating animals. The new Amazing Jellies jellyfish exhibit opened in 2004. In the Edge of the Sea hands-on tidepool exhibit, experts teach the proper handling of creatures ranging from green sea urchins to horseshoe crabs. Also look for the exhibit of graceful, otherworldly seadragons. The Simons IMAX® Theatre is a $19-million facility that uses the world’s finest motion projection system. The aquarium also offers whale watch catamaran cruises from April to late October.

In Memoriam

Along the historic Freedom Trail, six luminous glass towers, each 54 feet high, pierce the Boston cityscape. Beneath grates at the base of each tower, steam rises from rocks resembling glowing coals. The New England Holocaust Memorial, just steps from Faneuil Hall, was designed by architect Stanley Saitowitz. The project was begun by a group of Holocaust survivors who now live in the Boston area. Each of the towers represents one of the six major death camps of World War II. Quotes from survivors are inscribed into the granite and glass panels, a silent testament to the personal and emotional

toll. From a distance, the glass surfac.es of the towers appear thinly veiled, but upon closer inspection, one sees the etchings of six million numbers, a stark reminder of Nazi atrocities.

Whites of Their Eyes

It’s said that the Patriot defenders at the Battle of Bunker Hill, greatly outnumbered and short of ammunition, were ordered, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” The Bunker Hill Monument honors their valor — they lost the battle, but their heroism inspired legions oof others to eventually win the war. Hardy visitors are welcome to climb the 294 steps to the top of the 221-foot monument, which is along the Freedom Trail. It’s free, and the view is terrific. A 10-minute walk from the monument, the Bunker Hill Pavilion presents a 20-minute multimedia show called “Whites of Their Eyes” that re-creates the battle.

Historic Churches

It is said that, on the night of April 18, 1775, sexton Robert Newman climbed the steeple of the Old NNorth Church and hung two lanterns, signaling to Patriots in Charlestown that the British planned to cross the Charles River the next morning on their way to Lexington. The church, in the North End, is the oldest church building in BBoston. The song “America” was first sung publicly at Park Street Church on July 4, 1831. Both Old North Church and Park Street Church are on the Freedom Trail. In the Back Bay, Trinity Church, designed by H. H. Richardson and completed in 1877, is a fine example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Trinity Church is known for its John La Farge murals and beautiful stained-glass windows. The domed First Church of Christ, Scientist is the Christian Science church’s world headquarters, known as the Mother Church. It’s set in a plaza with a fountain and reflecting pool.

Following the Trail

Explore 16 historic buildings, sites and monuments along the two-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail. The trail documents Boston’s contributions to American history and takes vvisitors past places such as Boston Common, the State House, the First Public School Site, the Old South Meeting House, the Boston Massacre Site and the docking place of the USS Constitution.

Black History on Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill may have been home to “Boston Brahmins,” but its north slope was also once the center of Boston’s free black community. Bostonians, both black and white, played a key role in the fight to abolish slavery. Visitors can learn about both tthese subjects on the Black Heritage Trail. It begins at the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial on Boston Common and leads to 13 other important historic sites on Beacon Hill, including the 1806 African Meeting House, the Abiel Smith School and homes built by free blacks, such as the Lewis and Harriet Hayden House. The New England Anti-Slavery Society was founded in the African Meeting House in 1832, and during the Civil War, Robert Gould Shaw recruited soldiers here for the black Massachusetts 54th Regiment (they trained in nearby Hyde Park). It’s the oldest black church building still standing in the country. Today, the side-by-side African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School compose Boston’s Museum of Afro-American History. The museum houses permanent and changing exhibits, as well as a museum store, in the school building.

Uncommon Park

Located across Beacon Street from the gold-domed Massachusetts State House and one block from the busy Downtown Crossing retail district, Boston Common (bounded by Beacon, Charles, Tremont and Park Sts., Boston) is the oldest public park in the country. More than 300 years old, the park was the site for everything from Puritan sermons to anti-British rallies. After the Revolution, a network of llong, tree-lined promenades was built in the park, and a small lake was created in the 1830s. As the nineteenth century progressed, Boston Common began to draw tens of thousands of people during Fourth of July festivals. It’s still a gathering place for numerous events large and small, and any time, it offers people-watching op.portunities. The Park Street subway station and a Visitor Information Center are also here.

Offshore

Scattered along the Massachusetts coast are the 34 islands that constitute the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Each has its own distinct character and offers a unique view of Boston’s maritime heritage. National historic landmarks within the park area include Boston Light, at the country’s oldest continually used lighthouse site (Little Brewster Island), and Fort Warren, a Civil War–era fort on Georges Island. Visitors to the islands will enjoy the unspoiled natural habitats, native wildlife and recreational diversions. Spectacle Island is scheduled to reopen to the public in summer 2005. Closed while massive amounts of rock and dirt from the now-completed Big Dig project were deposited there.

Where the Wild Things Are

The Franklin Park Zoo, the largest zoo in New England, is a 72-acre urban oasis whose attractions include the Australian Outback Trail, wwith wallabies and kangaroos, and Butterfly Landing (late May through September), an enclosure for more than 1,000 butterflies. Serengeti Crossing is a mixed-species habitat where wildebeests, antelope, zebra, ostrich and ibex coexist. The Tropical Forest is home to gorillas, DeBrazza’s monkeys, saddle-billed storks, capybaras, mandrills, pottos and tropical birds. There are also a children’s zoo, reptile house, simulated wetlands and more.A Quick Tour Along the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a three-mile tour of the Boston National Historical Park (BNHP). The sites along the Trail are connected by history, and are preserved under the direction of the National Park Service (NPS). To begin, visit the Information Center on the Tremont St. side of Boston Common to pick up a Trail guide and map. Follow the brick line imbedded in the sidewalk through Beacon Hill, down around the financial district, over through the North End and across the bridge into Charlestown. The tour ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. The Freedom Trail is a fantastic historical place to visit on your trip to Boston.

Boston Common

The starting point of the Freedom Trail. The Boston Common is known to be one of the oldest public parks in the country. The park is almost

50 acres in size. Today, Boston Common is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace, a system of connected parks that winds through many of Boston’s neighborhoods. The „Common“ has been used for many different purposes throughout its long history. Until 1830, cattle grazed the Common, and until 1817, public hangings took place here. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution and left from here to face colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775.

Massachusetts State House

Built iin 1798, the „new“ State House is located across from the Boston Common on the top of Beacon Hill. The land was once owned by Massachusetts first elected governor, John Hancock. Charles Bullfinch, the leading architect of the day, designed the building. The dome, originally made out of wood shingles, is now sheathed in copper and covered by 23 karat gold. In the House of Representatives chambers hangs a wooden codfish that signifies the importance of the fishing industry to tthe Commonwealth.

Park Street Church and Granary Burying Ground

Park Street Church, the site of the old town granary where grain was kept before the Revolution, dates back to 1809. This Evangical Church of „firsts“ is the location of the first Sunday sschool in 1818 and the first prison aid in 1824. On July 4, 1829, William Lloyd Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery speech here and two years later, „My Country ‘Tis of Thee“ was sung for the first time by the church children’s choir.

Founded in 1660, the Granary is the third oldest burying ground in Boston proper. In 1737, when grain was stored where the present Park Street Church stands, the burying ground was renamed the Granary. Along with Massachussetts Governors, Clergymen, and Mayors, three signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here.

King’s Chapel and King’s Chapel Burying Ground

King’s Chapel Burying Ground is Church of England in America, King James II ordered an Anglican parish to be bbuilt in Boston. Since none of the colonists were interested in selling suitable land for the Church, the King ordered Governor Andros to seize a corner of the burying ground for the Church of England. The burying ground is the final resting place for many colonists, including John Winthrop, the Colony’s governor; Hezekiah Usher, the colony’s first printer; Mary Chilton, the first women to step off the Mayflower.the oldest burying place in Boston proper. The Peter Harrison designed church was cconstructed on land taken from the burying ground. To insure the presence of the

First Public School Site and Ben Franklin Statue

The first public school in America was established by Puritan settlers in 1635 in the home of Schoolmaster Philemon Pormont and was later moved to School Street. A portrait statue of Benjamin Franklin overlooks the site of the oldest public school in America which Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock once attended. Franklin’s place of birth was just oneblock away on Milk Street, across from the Old South Meeting House. The Boston Latin School no longer stands in its once downtown location, but is now located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.

Former site of the Old Corner Bookstore

Many famous books w.ere published here, including The Scarlet Letter, Walden, and the Atlantic Monthly magazine. The Bookstore was built in 1712 as an apothecary shop, office and home of Thomas Crease. It is one of Boston’s oldest surviving structures. Today, The Boston Globe Store which was founded by The Boston Globe newspaper occupies the building and specializes in New England and travel books and maps.

Old South Meeting House

The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 as a Puritan house of worship. It wwas also the largest building in colonial Boston. The Old South Meeting House is best known for the site of where the Boston Tea Party began. In the winter of 1773, more than 5,000 colonists gathered at Old South in a meeting to protest the tax on tea. After many hours of debate, Samuel Adams announced, „This meeting can do nothing more to save the country!“ Protestors stormed out of the Old South Meeting House to the waterfront where they dumped three shiploads of tea into the Boston harbor. They changed American history forever. Today, the Old South Meeting House is a museum where they recreate the tea party debates.

Old State House

Also known as Boston’s „Towne House“, the Old State House dates back to 1713. It was the center of all political life and debate in colonial Boston. On July 18, 1776, citizens gathered in the street to hear the Declaration of Independence read from the building’s balcony, the first public reading in Massachusetts. The Royal Governor presided here until the new State House was built on Beacon Hill in 1798. Today, the building is run by The Bostonian Society as a Boston history museum.

Boston Massacre Site

In front of the OOld State House, a circle of cobblestones commemorates the Boston Massacre. At this site, tensions between the colonists and British soldiers erupted into violence on March 5, 1770. A minor dispute between a wigmaker’s young apprentice and a British sentry turned into a riot. The relief soldiers that came to the aid of the British were met by an angry crowd of colonists who hurled snowballs, rocks, clubs, and insults. The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed five colonists. Samuel Adams and other patriots called the event a „massacre“.

Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall has served as a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. Funding was provided by a wealthy merchant, Peter Faneuil, for the construction and local artisan to create the grasshopper weather vane that still perches on the building’s cupola. Inspiring speeches by Samuel Adams and other patriots were given that eventually led to independence from the British. Faneuil Hall was expanded in 1806 by Charles Bulfinch. When Boston became a city the use of Faneuil Hall as a government meeting place came to an end, but it was still regularly used. Today, the first floor is still used as a lively marketplace and the second floor is a

meeting hall where many Boston City debates are held. The fourth floor is maintained by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.

Paul Revere House

Built around 1680, this house is the oldest building in downtown Boston, and served as the home of Paul Revere and his family from 1770 to 1800. Revere left here for his famous “midnight ride.” This site is owned and operated by The Paul Revere Memorial Association.

Old North Church

Known as „Christ Church in the City of Boston,“ this EEpiscopal church was built in 1723 and is Boston’s oldest Church building. On the steeple of this church, Robert Newman signaled with lanterns the approach of the British regulars; „One if by land, and two, if by sea.: The steeple is 191 feet tall, making it the tallest steeple in Boston. It is also the first set of bells ever brought to America. Paul Revere was one of the neighborhood bellringers. The interior high box pews and brass chandeliers, as wwell as the Church’s first clock are all original.

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is Boston’s second oldest burying ground. It was first founded in 1659 .as Windmill Hill. The area got its name because a a shoemaker, William CCopp, once owned the land. Thousands of artisans, craftspeople, and merchants are buried on the Hill. Additionally, thousands of blacks who lived in the „New Guinea“ community at the base of Copp’s Hill are buried in unmarked graves on the Snowhill Street side. Also interred at Copp’s Hill are the Mather family of ministers; shipyard owner Edmund Hartt; Robert Newman, best know for placing the signal lanterns in the steeple of the „Old North“ Church on the eve of the Battle of Lexington and Concord; Shem Drowne, the weathervane maker who crafted the grasshopper atop Faneuil Hall; and Prince Hall, the anti-slavery activist and founder of the Black Masonic Order.

USS Constitution and Charlestown Navy Yard

USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned wwarship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America’s growing maritime interests. The ships greatest glory came during the war of 1812 when she defeated four British frigates and earned her the nickname „Old Ironsides,“ because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull. The ship was restored in 1927 with contributions from the nation’s school children.

The Charlestown Navy Yard was built on wwhat was once Mouton’s or Morton’s Point, the landing place of the British army prior to the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was one of the first shipyards built in the United States. During its 174 year history, hundreds of ships were built, repaired and modernized, including the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young. Today, thirty acres of the Navy Yard are preserved by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park.

Bunker Hill Monument

The Bunker Hill Monument stands tall at 221 feet. It stands on the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution, fought on Breed’s Hill, June 17, 1775. Important to the British occupation of Boston was control of the high ground near the harbor. When colonial forces chose to fortify Charlestown, they bypassed the more dominant „Bunker Hill“ and dug in on Breed’s Hill which was lower and closer to the water. „Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes“ is the legendary order attributed to Colonel William Prescott to make sure that each shot would count. The poorly trained and ill prepared colonial forces repelled two major assaults by the British Army before retreating. Almost half of tthe British soldiers were either killed or injured. Although the colonists lost the battle, their bravery and strong showing against the British encouraged them to fight on.Getting Around

It’s a short drive into town from Logan International Airport, though the ‘T’ subway is the easiest way into the city. There’s also a water shuttle from the airport to Boston’s Rowes Wharf on the northeastern waterfront.

Boston is a compact city that can be covered easily on foot. Driving is another matter, because the city is famous for setting the teeth of out-of-town drivers. Cars might do for excursions, but for getting around the Boston-Cambridge area, you’re best off catching the ‘T’. It is the oldest subway in the country and one of the best. The T serves most areas of the city and Cambridge and several lines head to outlying suburbs. The T is so useful that you can pretty much forget about using the local bus network which can be confusing for newcomers. Taxis are plentiful but expensive.

Commuter trains go to some outlying areas (like Concord). For most excursions, however, you’ll need a car. Boston has all the major rental agencies. Ferries go to several points around Boston Harbor. IIt’s a 3-hours’ ferry trip or a 3-hours’ drive from Boston to Provincetown on Cape Cod.

To see all the highlights on one 80-minute guided tour, take a Boston „Duck“ Tour. Ducks are World War II amphibious vehicles that have been restored and carry sightseers around the city daily. You will see city from both land and water as the Ducks can navigate the Charles River, as well as city streets! Tours leave from Copley Center, near the Prudential Building.

Expert Travel Tips

Shop ‘til you drop. There’s no sales tax in Boston.

Pack comfortable shoes and start walking. The city seems to have been tailor-made for exploring on foot.

Take a tour of the city in a “duck,” an authentic, World War II amphibious vehicle that lets you see Boston from both the land and water.Nightlife

The nightlife here is just as you want it, encompassing enough spots for you to customize your evening on the town. With a large array of pubs and bars, lounges, dance clubs, live music, sports clubs and comedy clubs, Boston is packed with the hippest clubs in which to enjoy your night out. From cozy, intimate havens like Regattabar, and the hat-backwards sports

outlets, to the raving epicenter of the dance crazed on Lansdowne Street, the city’s night-moves receive white-hot attention from natives and visitors alike.

As you’ll see, much of the dance club scene lies on Lansdowne Street, a magnet for the 18 to 25 crowd. If you want to party with college kids head here or flock to Allston, located near the campus of Boston university and Boston College. Sports bars pepper the city and attract all ages, especially during play-offs and cchampionships.

If you’re looking to laugh, comedy clubs are located in the Theater District or at Faneuil Hall, busy yet quieter areas frequented by all age groups – last minute show tickets are usually available at theater box offices. Many of the live music and themed establishments are in Cambridge and attract various ages depending on the band or theme du jour.

If you’re looking to avoid college kids altogether, head for the more expensive bars and lounges, most of wwhich are in the downtown area near Faneuil Hall and the Financial District. And if you’ve never been, have a drink at the Bull & Finch for the Cheers experience.

The nightlife in Boston is just as fun as daytime.Entertainment

When you’re iin Boston, and if you’re a baseball fan, be sure to see a game at Fenway Park. The oldest sports stadium in the country it has a grand history of blessed and tragic events. Opened the same day the Titanic sank, April 15, 1912, the Red Sox had to postpone their first game till April 19th when the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders, aka Yankees. Boston is also home to a few well known rock and roll bands such as Aerosmith, The Cars, and Boston just to name a few. Also enjoy yourself at the Fleetcenter, although its not as grand as the late Boston Garden, and the team is not doing good this year, they still hhave the most legendary franchise in the NBA with a record 16 World Championships. But Boston is not just all sports, we like our bars as well.

Best Sights & Activities

SIGHTSEEING

Boston Irish Famine Memorial

This million-dollar memorial park was unveiled in 1998 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. The memorial exists thanks to the tireless efforts of Boston’s Irish community. Its bronze statues depict dedicated, enduring Irish families and offers a nod to the fortitude of the IIrish in America. Since the dedication, the memorial has attracted in excess of three million visitors.

Boston Massacre Monument

This stone monument, surmounted by a bronze figure, serves as a tribute to victims of the Boston Massacre. These citizens, caught in a fray with British soldiers, were the first casualties for a movement that eventually spawned the American Revolution. Although issues of control and taxation figured into the dispute, it was the deaths of these Bostonians that ultimately sparked the rise against foreign control.

Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox players and fans call this home. It is one of the smallest and oldest baseball parks in the major leagues. Built in 1912, this park still has real grass on the field as well as the famed Green Monster. Tickets to games may be purchased at the park, though some games may be more difficult than others to get good seats. Guided tours are offered year around.

Harvard University

The country’s oldest institution for higher learning, founded in 1636, was named for its first patron, Reverend John Harvard. Initially conceived as a seminary, the university now features ten graduate and professional schools. Notable alumni include six United States presidents and more than 40 Nobel Laureates. Guided campus ttours depart from Holyoke Center every day except Sunday.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

One of the most well known and respected universities in the world, MIT is at the top of its game when it comes to 21st century technology. The school’s first students walked through its doors in 1865 marking the culmination of an effort led by natural scientist William Barton Rogers. Over 57 Nobel Prize winners are associated with the school, 23 of which are alumni and ten who are currently on staff. Today, the river front campus continues to expand and keep pace with the evolving times. Restaurants, bars and a vibrant urban neighborhood are lovely places to kick back when you’re done soaking up the intellectual vibes.

New England Holocaust Memorial

Recipient of the prestigious AIA Henry Bacon Medal for its inspirational architecture, this sobering memorial remembers the six million Jews murdered during WWII. The memorial features six 54-foot tall glass towers, each hovering above its own concrete pit filled with smoldering coals that illuminate the name of a concentration camp inscribed on the pillar. Extensive narrative texts at the site further inform visitors about the horrors of war. In addition, the site regularly hosts remembrance ceremonies.

The Zakim BBunker Hill Bridge

Bostonians have notched another mark in their belts with the completion and opening of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in 2002. Named after civil rights activist Lenny Zakim and those who fought the British at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the bridge. serves as a gateway for those entering and exiting downtown from points north. Part of the notorious Big Dig project and suspended over the Charles River, it’s the widest in the world. Check it out. It’s hard to miss.

HISTORIC SITES

Boston Athenaeum

This independent library first opened – in part – as a literary society and educational repository in the early 19th century. Today, it houses a members-only research library, although visitors are permitted to tour the Reading Room, view books on the first two floors (some were once owned by George Washington), and browse exhibits displayed on the second floor. Works of art adorn the walls and add to the classical atmosphere.

Boston Public Library

The first public library in the United States, Boston’s institution not only houses a wide variety of literary works (over 6 million), but also displays the creations of visual artists. Many works remain permanently in the library while others are part of

a constantly changing exhibit of sculpture and paintings. Enjoy lunch in their restaurant or flip through your latest find in the cafe. In nice weather, go enjoy the peace and serenity of the newly restored courtyard. Rare books and manuscripts are also available at this awe inspiring facility.

Bunker Hill Monument

This 221-foot granite obelisk remembers the Battle of Bunker Hill. Rangers provide details about the history of the crucial battle, and seasonal musket-firings add a note of authenticity. Make the 294-step cclimb to the top of the monument for breathtaking views of Boston. Two little-known facts: the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed’s Hill, and the Bunker Hill Monument is actually located atop Breed’s Hill. The true Bunker Hill is actually a quarter-mile from the monument.

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

This graveyard dates all the way back to the 17th century. British troops used the high grounds here as a vantage point to fire on Americans encamped on Breed’s Hill dduring the Revolutionary War. Among the many buried here, are the Reverend Cotton Mather and the man who constructed the USS Constitution, Edward Hartt.

Granary Burial Ground

This small cemetery serves as the final resting place for a number of people whose aacts or character changed American history. Situated near a pre-Revoluntionary grain storehouse, the cemetery houses the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, citizens killed in the Boston Massacre, and the woman whose tales provided her the moniker of „Mother Goose.“ Other notable graves include those of Benjamin Franklin’s parents and Sam Adams.

Old North Church

This is the spot where Robert Newman signaled Cambridge residents of the British approach by sea with two of Paul Revere’s lanterns on the night of April 18, 1775. The oldest church building in Boston and still an active Episcopal church, it was designed by William Price from a study of Christopher Wren’s London churches. Private benches boxed in with family names helps paint a picture of tthe past. An excellent museum is hidden in the back of the gift shop next door.

Old South Meeting House

Built in 1729, this venerable meeting house is Boston’s second-oldest church. A number of heated town meetings that led to the Revolution were held here, including one called by Samuel Adams to protest dutiable tea and get it returned to England. Old South was also site of the pre-party assembly that set the mood for the Boston Tea Party. Today, visitors can ttake guided tours of the building and learn from exhibits and interactive displays what took place during those historic meetings.

Omni Parker House

This circa-1856 landmark hotel boasts a long, storied history. In operation longer than any other hotel in the country, the Omni Parker has welcomed such prominent guests as Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Dickens, and president John F. Kennedy. The property also had the city’s first elevator and hot-and-cold water. In addition, Parker House rolls were created here, as was Boston crea.m pie. Recent renovations to the tune of $70 million invigorated the 540 rooms, 14 meeting rooms, and famous Parkers Restaurant.

Park Street Church

Founded in 1809, this church was inspired by the work of British architect Christopher Wren. The church’s historical importance dates to 1829, when William Lloyd Garrison presented a speech against slavery. Further fame was provided in 1831, when the song „America“ by Samuel Smith was first sung in public.

Paul Revere House

The oldest home in Boston was built nearly a century before its illustrious tenant’s midnight ride. Colonial-era furniture decorates the rooms. Revere lived here and owned this house for 30 years, from 1770-1800. Has original silver produced by Revere, as well as his family furniture.

MUSEUMS

ART

DeCordova Museum

The DeCordova MMuseum and Sculpture Park should be visited while you are in Boston if you have the time. The museum is located on the former estate of (and named after) a wealthy and cultured merchant who lived during the 1850’s. The museum features works of art from Cordova’s day as well as modern art. The sculpture park is set on 35 acres and features over 75 larger than life sculptures set amidst a natural, tranquil setting. Also houses a gift shop and café..

Fogg Art Museum

This celebrated Harvard University art museum was founded in 1895 and features 80,000 works of art from every major period and every corner of the world. Although Fogg focuses on European works, it also has a notable collection of 19th century French Impressionist and medieval Italian paintings. Busch Reisinger Museum (in Werner Otto Hall) is accessible via the Fogg and features Germanic and central and northern European art. In addition, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, across the street, specializes in ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Islamic, Chinese, and other Eastern art.

Institute of Contemporary Art

Since 1936, Boston’s lone outpost of the avant-garde attracts major modern artists while aggressively promoting lesser-known works. Innovative, sometimes controversial exhibits change every eight weeks. The mmuseum also presents experimental theater, music, dance, and film.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of Art

This lovely art museum was first opened in 1903 by Isabella Stewart Gardner. The building is a grand old stone structure of three stories that centers around an interior courtyard filled with beautiful plants and flowers. The artwork in the museum consists of paintings, sculpture, antique furniture, silver, ceramics, and tapestries from about 30 different centuries. Ms. Gardner personally acquired many of the items seen in the museum today. Among other things, she loved the work of Dante and bought many of his rare edition books; she also admired rare Dutch and Italian paintings, which visitors can see scattered throughout the museum.

MIT Museum

Art and science meet at this intriguing museum on the MIT campus. Its collections and exhibitions present the work of MIT professors and alums, and also offers a variety of miscellaneous memorabilia. Among the highlights are displays on robots, holography, ocean sciences, architecture and design, nautical engineering, and a record of technological innovation across the past two centuries. Eclectic and entertaining!

Museum of Fine Arts

Second largest art collection in the United States! Includes works of art by Dali, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and some famous large

Turners. American art collection surpasses those of all but two or three other U.S. museums. An extensive collection of Asian and Indian art. European artwork from the 11th through the 20th centuries.

HISTORY

John F Kennedy Presidential Library

Dedicated „to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world.“ The looming white structure, designed by I.M. Pei, overlooks Dorchester Bay. The museum/gallery contains exhibits tracing Kennedy’s career from the campaign trail to his tragic death.

Museum of Afro AAmerican History

This fascinat.ing historical museum is comprised of the African-American Meeting House, one of the nation’s oldest black churches, and the Abiel Smith School, the first Boston classroom for black children. The museum provides information about African-Americans in New England and is the starting point for the Black Heritage Trail, a walking tour that traces the heritage of the city’s African-American community.

Museum of Transportation

The majestic Carriage House was built in 1888 and is a National Historic Site. In addition, it iis the former home of Larz and Isabel Anderson, noted automobile collectors. Presently, the house boasts the country’s oldest car collection, showcases the Andersons’ collection (which began in 1899), and also features exhibits relating to how the automotive history has iinfluenced society and culture. Numerous lectures, events, and tours ensure informative fun for all ages.

USS Constitution Museum

This museum relates the storied 200-year history of the USS Constitution, which was first launched in the late 18th century and is now recognized as the world’s oldest commissioned warship. During her years at sea, the Constitution saw conflict with pirates and experienced victories during the War of 1812. Museum attractions include a documentary, hands-on exhibits, interactive programs, artworks, and historic artifacts.

SCIENCE

Boston Children’s Museum

Offering several floors of hands-on exhibits, this educational museum is designed to help children understand their bodies, the nature of disabilities, science, and cultural diversity. Representative exhibits address, recycling, boats, music, construction, art, and theater. In these various displays, kids ccan be on TV, climb a maze, make huge bubbles, or even sing karaoke. A great source of stimulation and education.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

This fascinating university museum houses a vast array of exhibits on things animal, vegetable, and mineral. The natural world is explored and detailed, and visitors can examine dinosaurs, fossils, gemstones, glass flower models, and displays about biological systems. You’ll also get a good overview of the rise of regional cultures. Educational, informative displays make this a mmust-see museum, and a gift shop sells exhibit-related merchandise.

MIT Museum

Museum of Science

Contains the largest „lightning machine“ in the world and includes the Hayden Planetarium, which features models, lectures, films, laser and star shows. More than 400 interactive exhibits in all. Travel the world in the Mugar Omni Theater where scientific subjects show on a four-story, domed screen. The Human body connection is a permanent exhibit, as well as one about the eye and vision.

PARKS

Boston Common

One of the nation’s oldest existing public parks, Boston Common encompasses nearly 50 acres and was once reserved as pasture land by Puritan settlers. In 1634, the area was also used by the military. Today, the park is a popular destination for recreational athletes, joggers, and protesters eager to dedicate themselves to a cause. During winter months, the Frog Pond is a favorite of ice sskaters as well.

Boston Esplanade

Site of Boston’s annual Fourth of July gala, the Esplanade runs along the southern bank of the Charles River, creating a delightful landscape of manicured lawns, gardens, and children’s playgrounds. The city’s impressive skyline provides a backdrop, and joggers, walkers, and cyclists flock to the park for scenery and exercise. Free conc.erts and a wide range of public festivals add further energy to this portion of the parks system known as Boston’s „Emerald Necklace.”

Commonwealth Avenue Mall

An 8-plus acre mall runs along beautiful Commonwealth Avenue (aka „Comm Ave“). Numerous statues of well-known figures from Boston’s past are framed by stately elms. A large granite statue of Alexander Hamilton rests in the park, along with a memorial to nine firefighters who lost their lives in a fire that consumed Hotel Vendome in 1972. Today, residents enjoy the pleasant surroundings as they take leisurely strolls or invigorating runs amidst 3-5 story high Victorian style residences.

ZOOS, AQUARIUMS & RESERVES

Arnold Arboretum

The development of this beautiful park was funded by James Arnold. Arnold left it to Harvard University upon his death. After selling the park to the city, Harvard has regained its possession and pays only $1 a year (for one thousand years) ffor it. Today the 265-acre grounds are home to over four thousand types of trees. The Jamaica pond also makes up part of the peaceful surroundings.

Boston Public Garden

The development of this beautiful park was funded by James Arnold. Arnold left it to Harvard University upon his death. After selling the park to the city, Harvard has regained its possession and pays only $1 a year (for one thousand years) for it. Today the 265-acre grounds are home to over four thousand types of trees. The Jamaica pond also makes up part of the peaceful surroundings.

Franklin Park Zoo

This rapidly growing 72-acre zoo is full of a variety of different animals great and small. Special exhibits include Bongo Congo with bongo antelopes and ostriches. The African Tropical Forest contains over 50 types of animals wandering in a man-made „natural“ habitat. The Australian Outback Trail allows visitors to mingle with kangaroos and emus. There is something for everyone in this land of exploration and fun.

New England Aquarium

Marine-themed exhibits, programs, and demonstrations take place throughout the day at this spectacular, above-ground aquatic extravaganza. Seals, penguins, sharks, and other creatures reside at the aquarium, and a massive, four-story, 187,000-gallon tank features a living

coral reef. The West Wing’s unique glass and steel exterior mimics fish scales, and special exhibits change monthly. Whale watching excursions are offered seasonally as well.