Academic Year 2012/13
BC BUCKET LIST
Get a map and a
Charlie Card and start
exploring the city.
Many of these
activities are free and
most are a short T-ride
away. All are mustsees for students
interested in history,
who have curiosity
and a sense of
adventure, and who
want to get to know
the greatest college
town in America.
Must see sites in Boston
for students of history
Professor James O’Toole
1. The Freedom Trail: This walking tour (self-­‐guided or with a guide) takes you through all the important sites in Boston history, especially those connected with the American Revolution, including the Old State House (site of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence), Faneuil Hall, Old North Church (where Paul Revere’s lanterns were hung), the U.S.S. Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), and the Bunker Hill Monument. Begin at the Visitors Center on Boston 1
Common, and while you’re at it, stroll around the Common.
of the city’s longstanding connection to the sea, enjoy a cruise through many of the islands that dot Boston Harbor. 2. Top of the Hub: For a panoramic view of the city, visit Tour boats leave from Long Wharf, near the Faneuil Hall the observation deck and Marketplace. For a simpler and restaurant on top of the cheaper alternative that will Prudential Building in the Back have the same effect, ride the Bay. You can have an equally commuter boat (also leaving impressive view if you can get an alumnus to take you to lunch from Long Wharf) to the or dinner at the Boston College suburban town of Hingham and back. Those who get seasick Club, located at the top of the building at 100 Federal Street in can stroll around Castle Island (now connected to the mainland downtown Boston.
at South Boston) for a view of 3. Harbor Islands: To get a sense the harbor.
BC BUCKETLIST 2012/13
Your are studying history in one of the
most historic cities in America
4. Boston College, South End: Visit the original site of Boston College from its founding in 1863 until its move to the Chestnut Hill campus in 1913. The first Jesuit residence is located on Harrison Avenue in the city’s South End, adjacent to Immaculate Conception church. The college’s first classroom building is located on James Street, in the block directly behind the residence and church.
community in Boston before the Civil War and home to abolitionist activity.
6. Swan Boats: In the spring or summer, take a ride on the human-­‐pedaled swan boats that float in the duck pond in the city’s Public Garden. While there, walk through the Garden and appreciate the seasonal flowers and plantings.
17. Walden Pond: Take a trip to the suburban town of Concord (20 miles away) and walk around the pond where Henry David Thoreau built his retreat. Other sites in Concord are connected to such nineteenth century American writers as Emerson, Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott. 16. Women’s Heritage Trail: This self-­‐guided tour takes you through a series of sites connected with notable women in Boston’s history. It begins at the State House on Beacon Hill, in front of the statues of Anne Hutchinson and Mary Dyer, both persecuted for their religious beliefs in Puritan Boston. And if you haven’t stopped there already 5. Fenway Park: Even non-­‐baseball fans will enjoy while walking the Freedom Trail, visit the burial a visit to this, the oldest active ballpark in major ground at King’s Chapel on Tremont Street to see league baseball.
the grave of Elizabeth Foster (“Mother Goose”).
7–13. Museums: Boston is home to museums catering to every interest and taste. Of particular note are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gardner Museum (both in the Fenway neighborhood), the Museum of Contemporary Art (on the waterfront), the Museum of Science (over the dam at the mouth of the Charles River), the New England Aquarium (on the waterfront at Long Wharf), and the Harvard Natural History Museum (home of the world famous glass flowers) and Peabody Museum (both in Cambridge). Entrance to all are free to students who present their BC i.d.s, except the Science Museum, for which you can pick up free tickets at the Robsham Theater box office.
14. Kennedy Library: Located on Columbia Point in Dorchester, adjacent to the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts, this library houses the archives and papers of the administration of President John Kennedy (1961-­‐1963). Its exhibits highlight the important historical events of that era, including the civil rights movement and the Cuban missile crisis. Just now being built next to the library is the Edward Kennedy Institute, an interactive museum on the history and role of the United States Senate, dedicated to the president’s brother.
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15. African American Meeting House: Visit this church on Beacon Hill, center of the free black 18. Mount Auburn Cemetery: This beautiful garden cemetery in Cambridge is the resting place of many prominent Bostonians, including Charles Bulfinch (architect), Dorothea Dix (nursing pioneer), Mary Baker Eddy (religious leader), Fannie Farmer (cookbook author), Winslow Homer (artist), and Francis Parkman (historian). The flowers and plants also make it a must-­‐see in the spring.
19. Plymouth Rock: The idea that the Pilgrims first set foot on this rock when they landed in 1620 may be an “invented tradition,” but history students will appreciate a visit to it in this town, about forty miles away. A replica of the ship Mayflower is nearby, as is Plimouth Plantation, a living-­‐history recreation of the original Pilgrim settlement. 20. Salem: On Boston’s North Shore (a 20 minute ride on trains that run from North Station), this city was the wealthiest city in America in 1800. Home to fantastic architecture, tacky witch museums, and the fabulous Peabody Essex Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of art and cares for a series of historically significant houses open to visitors. This museum is not free to BC students, but well worth the price of admission.