This world-famous baseball stadium has been a staple of the Boston entertainment scene since its opening in 1912. The diamond is flanked on its left side by the Green Monster, an iconic 37-foot (11.28-meter) field wall featuring a manually operated scoreboard. A unique piece of civic history, Fenway Park is one of the oldest Major League Baseball stadiums currently in use, and it proudly hosts the Boston Red Sox. With a seating capacity of over 37,000 spectators, the stadium ripples with excited energy on game days when steadfast local fans cheer proudly for the home team.
Established in the 1870s, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is one of the largest and finest art museums in the United States. This museum's collection is impressive and showcases the work of such masters as Monet and John Singer Sargent. The museum also has outstanding collections of Impressionist art, early American art and artifacts, and Asian and Egyptian art. This place regularly hosts lectures, musical performances and films. End your visit with a refreshing coffee or a meal at one of the cafes and restaurants situated inside the museum.
With a planetarium, an IMAX movie theater, and a two-story Van de Graaf generator capable of producing 2.5 million volts of electricity, the Museum of Science is truly impressive. Children love the interactive discovery center, live animal exhibit and the dinosaur exhibit with fossils and life-size models. These and the hundreds of other exhibits make this museum one of Boston's top attractions. This educational and entertaining museum is perfect for the whole family.
President John F. Kennedy's memory is sacred in the minds of many Americans. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, a glass pavilion designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, is dedicated to his memory. Visitors are transported back to the darkest days of the Cold War. A short film recounts JFK's deeds in his own words while the authentic photos and exhibits evoke the brief period in White House history that nostalgic Americans refer to as "the days of Camelot".
Just across Charles Street from the Boston Common, Public Garden is elegantly landscaped with flower beds, lagoons, walking paths and statues, including a notable monument of George Washington on a horse. Admire the natural beauty and watch as couples pose for their wedding photographs on most summer weekends. The children's story 'Make Way for Ducklings' took place here, and there is a popular sculpture of the ducklings in the northeast corner of the park. A ride on their famous Swan Boats is an essential experience for visitors.
An integral artery of downtown Boston, Freedom Trail is a winding path coursing through some of the most significant landmarks of the country. Dotted along the trail's course is a troupe of sites which have been the brewing grounds for iconic events like the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. Upheld by the Boston National Historic Park and the Freedom Trail Commission, it is dotted by a tracery of churches, graveyards and buildings commanding monumental significance. Some of the important sites studded on the trail are the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Old North Church, Old South Meeting House, USS Constitution, Copp's Hill Burial Ground and Paul Revere's House. The trail often commences from Boston Common, meandering up to the Bunker Hill Monument. Voyaging proudly through the city's expanse, the Freedom Trail tells stirring tales of the country's glorious past.
With antique brick facade set among downtown skyscrapers, any passerby can pick this building out as a relic from an earlier time. Now a museum run by The Bostonian Society, the site has a long and distinguished history. The Boston Massacre, one of the catalysts for the American Revolution, took place just outside. The Declaration of Independence was first read to Boston here on July 18, 1776. The structure served as the new state's capital until 1797. Exhibits at the museum take visitors through the stories of the revolution and the people involved in them.
Dorchester Heights is located in South Boston. It is remembered in American history for the Fortification of Dorchester Heights in the American Revolutionary. The Dorchester Heights Monument was completed in 1902, and built in Georgia white marble. It towers over at 115 feet (35 meters) and is topped with a striking cupola and weather vane. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Although it has often been criticized as an architectural nightmare, the area around Boston's City Hall has quite a bit to offer to visitors. There are stores and restaurants along Cambridge Street. In warmer months, free outdoor concerts by big names in jazz, rock and pop are held here. This is also the site of rallies and gatherings for Boston's professional sports teams.
Said to be one of the first buildings in the French Second Empire architectural styles, Boston's Old Hall was used as a city council for several years in the 1800s. The hall was built in 1862 and is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now home to several business organizations and commercial spaces.
One of the United States' oldest cities, Boston was established in 1630 on the Shawmut Peninsula by Puritans from England. It was the staging ground for several pivotal events through the course of the American Revolution like the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston, and continues to be defined as one of the country's most forward-thinking cities. Home to several prestigious colleges and universities, Boston is also a world leader in the fields of education, entrepreneurship and innovation. But to understand the city today, it is important to recognize its past. The Freedom Trail winds its way through the city, linking 16 historic sites including the legendary Faneuil Hall. Today, the city is known for its passion for sports, its thriving arts scene and varied culinary realm. Home to the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins, not to mention several varsity teams, it's common to see people animatedly debate the merits of their favored sportsmen and it's hard not to get swept up. When it comes to food, seafood is king - from oysters on the half shell and clam chowder, to cod and steamed lobster, the best can be had at the Seaport District. For traditional Italian, few can beat the North End while Chinatown is the place to sample pan-Asian cuisine. For the more artistically inclined, a visit to the Fine Arts Museum, the Boston Opera House, the Boston Ballet and the Symphony Hall will not disappoint.
Home to a myriad of pleasures and delights, Downtown Boston lies at the epicenter of the city's rich and vibrant cultural scene. The neighborhood is so much more than just the city's largest commercial district, with a little something to appeal to the varied tastes of the many who call this city home. Trendy boutiques and department stores are interspersed in between restaurants that offer a full spectrum of gourmet delights, alongside fast food joints and old school eateries that serve up delicious comfort food. Live concerts, Broadway musicals, theater and dance are all par course, while the nightlife scene is just as varied with everything from laid-back bars and glitzy nightclubs to choose from. Downtown Boston is also home to a number of the city's most popular attractions including Fenway Park, the Common, Boston Public Garden, and historic buildings such as the Old State House. A walk along the Freedom Trail is a must for history buffs, particularly those with an interest in American history. With so much and more to capture your imagination, a trip to Downtown Boston promises to be one that you will cherish for a long time to come.