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.
Boston Common is one of America's oldest park in the heart of Boston, offering recreation opportunities and a glimpse into history through numerous monuments from the past. Designated as a public space in the 1640s, British soldiers later camped here during the Revolutionary War. Part of the Freedom Trail, the park adjoins the Massachusetts State House and Beacon Hill. A favorite spot is the Frog Pond, which doubles as an ice skating rink. The park is the beginning of the Emerald Necklace, a seven-mile (12-kilometer) string of local parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, a popular landscape architect.
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.
Steeped in history, this is one of Boston's most beautiful neighborhoods. Home to statesmen, artists and intellectuals, "The Hill" is also the site of the State House, which is the beginning of the Freedom Trail. Lovely cafes and majestic brownstone buildings line the narrow, cobblestoned streets next to the Boston Common, America's oldest urban park. At the bottom of the hill, along Charles Street, are several antique shops and boutiques to pick up unique souvenirs. This charming neighborhood has managed to preserve its history without becoming artificially quaint. Another important and most visited feature of Boston is Acorn Street. This street is surrounded by beautiful colonial-style houses, giving it an earthy feel, which will transport you to the era gone by.
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.
The intersection of Devonshire and State Street is a significant location in Boston history. In 1770, an armed collision between the British army and the colonists leading to the loss of lives further provoked the American Revolution. A circular pattern of cobblestones outside the Old State House commemorates these fallen men. Take the Freedom Trail for a glimpse of this tragic incident and other iconic events.
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.