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 The state capital of Massachusetts, Boston is a city whose historic significance is unrivalled in the United States. Boston is New England’s largest city and its commercial and cultural hub attracting over 16 million visitors each year.
Boston is known by various titles: ‘the Hub of the Universe’, ‘The Cradle of Liberty’, ‘Athens of America’ and ‘Beantown’. Boston, the city that gave the baked bean to the world, is a city of firsts; here you’ll find America’s first public school – Boston Latin School, its first university – Harvard , and the first subway system in the United States. America’s first Post Office was situated in Boston and the first license plate in the states was even pressed here. And Boston is also where you’ll find the oldest lighthouse in America and the oldest major league baseball park in the States: Fenway Park , home to the Red Sox, the winners of the very first World Series in 1903.
History
What sets Boston apart from anywhere else in the United States is its history. As one of the oldest colonised parts of North America and the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston is aptly referred to as the 'Athens of America’ and is packed with cultural gems.
Since the city’s founding by English Puritans in 1630, Boston has grown up through many tumultuous events into the thriving and vibrant city it is today. Boston and its inhabitants have played key roles in American Independence hence its title ‘the Cradle of Liberty’ and the city has witnessed such events as the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, the midnight ride of Paul Revere and the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, before the Siege of Boston in 1776, saw George Washington’s Continental Army boot the British out of Boston. The Declaration of Independence was first read out from the balcony of the Old State House in Boston and a number of prominent Bostonians were its signatories. All of this and more is told along Boston’s Freedom Trail stopping at 16 historic attractions along the way.
Bostonians
Like many American cities Boston has witnessed mass immigration throughout its history, but perhaps more than most American cities, the Bostonian character has been shaped by its newcomers.
Firstly of course there were the English Puritans, followed from 1845 by Irish immigrants escaping the Great Famine, who have left the largest impression on Boston. In just over 150 years, descendants of Irish immigrants have risen through the ranks from Boston’s manual workers to its political elite. Italian immigrants have also made a huge mark on Boston and still today the North End of the city is renowned for its excellent range of Italian eateries.
 Portrait of the city
While European immigrants have shaped much of Boston’s population, the city also has strong European influences in its architecture and appearance.
Visitors from across the Atlantic often note that Boston appears more European than other American cities. Boston is distinctly low rise when compared to other U.S cities, with the Hancock and Prudential Towers among a small handful of the city’s skyscrapers. Boston is also renowned for its greenery with Boston Common & Public Garden and the Back Bay Fens forming the city’s famous Emerald Necklace. While leafy boulevards along Commercial Ave and Newbury Street were modelled directly on European cities like Paris. Boston is also a very clean city, with huge amounts invested in turning the Charles River into a safe place for leisure cruises and watersports and Boston’s crime rate is exceptionally low compared to other U.S. cities.
City of Arts & Culture
It’s no empty boast that Bostonians refer to their city as ‘the Athens of America’. Since the 19th century Boston has been ‘the hub’ for arts and culture in America and its wealth of museums, galleries and cultural institutions rival that of many European cities.
Boston’s educational establishments of Harvard and MIT are among the world’s leading academic and research centres. Harvard also boasts a wealth of art works housed in Fogg & Busch-Reisinger Art Museums and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. While the Harvard Museum of Natural History is one of Boston’s most popular visitor attractions.
Boston’s undoubtable jewel in the crown is the Museum of Fine Arts renowned for its collection of Impressionist art, Asian artefacts and 19th century American artworks. While Boston’s hidden gem is the nearby Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum , one of the most impressive private collections anywhere in the world.
When it comes to theatre, Boston may not have the stage presence of the West End or Broadway, but the city’s 24 theatres have provided the testing ground for many a Broadway hit and it was here that a young Marlon Brando first treaded the boards.
Shopping & Entertainment
As well as the theatre, Boston rivals New York on many other fronts, none more so than in baseball. America’s national sport is Boston’s biggest obsession and the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is renowned as the fiercest in any American sport.
During season the baseball is inescapable, it’s on the television in every Boston bar you’ll walk into and it’s the main topic of conversation for many Bostonians. But as the old saying goes if you can’t beat them join them – Fenway Park, the Red Sox’s ground, is open year-round for tours.
When it comes to shopping Boston may not have the iconic Madison and 5th Avenues of New York, but it has all the same stores and 15% lower state tax, meaning excellent bargains. From boutiques to big names, Boston is a shoppers’ paradise with stores including Macey’s, Saks of Fifth Ave, Ann Taylor, Tiffany and Filine’s Basement, the oldest and most renowned bargain basement store in America. Boston’s two main shopping centres Copley Place and the Prudential Centre house all the big name stores, while Newbury and Boylston Streets are lined with exclusive boutiques and chic restaurants. A short distance away is Boston’s famous Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market and outside the city, the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets offers further bargains on top brand names.
Food & Drink
Boston is known for its bar culture made all the more famous by the 1980s TV show: Cheers and the two Cheers bars in Boston are hugely popular with tourists. In Quincy Market the Cheers Bar is set out like the set of the TV show, though you’ll find more tourists than bar flies like Cliff and Norm. The original Bull & Finch Cheers Bar on Beacon Street is the better of the two, with its famous sign outdoors and steps leading down to the bar. Though again the closest you’ll get to Sam, Diane and Woody are the signed photographs.
Boston has plenty of authentic bars to choose from including a range of Irish bars and ubiquitous to all is Samuel Adams, Boston’s signature drink. Sam Adams is what Beamish is to Cork and what London Pride is to London and regular tours are available at the Samuel Adams Brewery just outside the city.
When it comes to eating out, Boston has a huge range of options with cuisine from every region in the world. But what Boston specialises in is seafood and no more so than local restaurant chain: Legal Sea Foods where ‘if it isn’t fresh, it isn’t legal’. What started out as a fish market in the 1950s now has over 30 restaurants along the east coast, offering the largest variety of fresh seafood in New England. Another landmark Boston restaurant is the Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant, established in 1826.
Getting to and around Boston
Boston is serviced by Logan International Airport with destinations in the U. S. Europe, Canada and Latin America. Amtrak rail services run into and out of Boston’s South Station from Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. While the city’s North Station operates the Amtrak Downeaster service to Maine.
On the roads, Boston is the eastern terminus for the Interstate 90, while Route 1 and Interstate 93 both run through the city and Mass. Pike I 95 rings the city.
But the best way to get around the city is to take the underground, the first in the U.S. known locally as the ‘T’ and walking is another good way of getting around the city, given Boston’s compactness and reasonably safe environment.
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