Boston, Massachusetts

With its 610,000 inhabitants, Boston is the capital of the US state of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England. The entire metropolitan area, including surrounding cities and towns, has a population of nearly 7.5 million, making it the fifth largest area in the US. Boston is one of the oldest and most culturally important cities in the United States, a center of higher education, healthcare, cultural life and an important port. Boston lies in a flat landscape at the rugged mouth of the Charles River, which forms its northern boundary and separates Boston from the neighboring city of Cambridge. The eastern border is the Atlantic Ocean, in which there are a number of islands at the mouth of the river.

According to iamaccepted, Boston was founded in 1630 by English Puritans led by John Winthrop. Originally, there was only a small town here, but over the years it expanded and gained in importance. It didn’t take long for Boston to become the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the 18th century, it developed to a level where it already dealt with international trade with new colonies. In 1773, the famous Boston Tea Party took place in the city, which became an introduction to the American War of Independence. During the 19th century, Boston became one of the largest centers of industry, especially textile, glass and leather. The city became a major node of a dense railway network, the first skyscrapers were built here, and in 1897 the very first subway in the USA began operating here. With the advent of the 20th century, the city became more oriented towards trade, banking, education, healthcare and technology.

Today, Boston is considered the spiritual and cultural center of New England. It has an important port, an underground railway, an airport, a cultural scene, theaters – simply everything that belongs to cultural and social life. Many attractive sports matches are held here regularly. One of the most famous symphony orchestras in the world also works here. Anyone visiting Boston should not miss tasting the local specialty, which is Boston Baked Beans.

Boston has a large international airport, Logan Airport, with four terminals that handles 27 million passengers annually. The airport is located on an island and is well connected by public transport. Boston also has a number of famous theaters, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many other ensembles. Tourist attractions are galleries and museums, the largest of which is the Museum of Fine Arts. You can also visit the Museum of Science, the Boston Children’s Museum, the Museum of African American History, the Otis House Museum or the JF Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Boston is a traditional center of universities, science and research, and over 250,000 students study here at almost 100 universities. In Boston itself, these are primarily Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts, Boston College and a number of music and art schools.

Boston Common is considered the busiest part of the city, where in the past there were only vast pastures and military training grounds. Much earlier, public executions were even carried out here, and religious fanatics performed all kinds of ceremonies here. From there, you can walk to Beacon Hill, where the State House, which is now partly considered a historic reserve, also stands. In the 18th century, the building became the seat of the Massachusetts government. The neighborhood is one of the most luxurious residential areas of the city’s wealthiest residents. Most of the houses date from the 19th century and are a reminder of the old Boston families that used to settle here.

Also near the square is the Shaw Civil War Monument commemorating the all-African-American 54th Regiment that fought under the command of white General Robert Gouda Shaw during the war. Right at the foot of the monument, one of the scenic routes, the Black Heritage Trail, begins, which passes through the most beautiful places in the area. On Mt. Vernon Street is situated the Nichols House Museum.

Also interesting is the luxurious Louisburg Square, which is a place of rest for local residents. Its name is derived from the name of an old French fortress. Acorn Street and Charles Street are home to antique shops, galleries and cafes. Boston’s seafront is mostly built up with docks and other buildings, nice beaches are to the north in Wonderland and south towards Cape Cod.

Boston African American National Historic Site

The Boston African American National Historic Site is located in the heart of Boston, in Beacon Hill, Massachusetts. It houses 15 different monuments related to the American Civil War, the history of Boston in the 19th century and the past of the African-American community.

These monuments include, for example, the African-American History Museum, the African Meeting House, the African Prayer House or the oldest standing African-American church in the United States of America. All these monuments are included in a kind of outdoor museum under the open sky, you can see them if you walk along the 2.5 km long Black Heritage Trail. However, the ordinary households, schools, businesses and churches visited by the strong black community at the time, which had to constantly fight against slavery, oppression and unequal rights, are also interesting.

The Museum of Afro-American History tries to convey to visitors the influence and contribution that black immigrants who came here from the colonial period to the 19th century had on New England. In the museum you will find interesting information about the African-American community until the outbreak of the Civil War.