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Boston (US: / ˈ b ɔː s t ə n / ⓘ [9]) is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the Northeastern United States.
- Overview
- Character of the city
- Landscape
- Area of the colonial town
Boston, city, capital of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and seat of Suffolk county, in the northeastern United States. It lies on Massachusetts Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. The city proper has an unusually small area for a major city, and more than one-fourth of the total—including part of the Charles River, Boston Harbor, and a portion o...
The area, the people, and the institutions within its political boundaries can only begin to define the essence of Boston. Its nickname “Beantown” has its origin in colonial times, when Boston, as a stop on a major trade route with the West Indies, had a steady supply of molasses from the Caribbean, thus leading to the creation of a popular dish th...
The Boston region’s topography was largely shaped by the glaciers that covered the land during the last ice age. The city and its sheltered deepwater harbour sit in a basin that extends to Lynn in the north and Quincy in the south and is ringed by modest hills: the Middlesex Fells (north) to the Blue Hills (south). There are harder, higher surface rocks (mostly granites) on those northern and southern edges, while inside the basin the lower-lying rocks—commonly known as pudding stone—are found mostly below the surface in such areas as Roxbury, Newton, Brookline, Mattapan, West Roxbury, and Dorchester. The land, enormously compressed by the vast accumulation of glacial ice on it, has since been rebounding (rising up) at an extremely gradual rate.
Numerous drumlins (mounds of glacial debris) form low hills in the city and islands that dot the harbour. At the beginning of English settlement in the 17th century, the Shawmut Peninsula was called Trimountain (or Tramount) because of its dominating three-topped hill on the northwest corner near the mouth of the Charles River. Beacon Hill is its only surviving, though greatly reduced, remnant. The other portions were leveled to become landfill that added to the city’s area in the 19th century.
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The hilly Shawmut Peninsula, upon which Boston was settled, originally was almost completely surrounded by water. It was connected with mainland Roxbury to the south by a narrow neck of land along the line of present-day Washington Street. To the west of the neck were great reaches of mudflats and salt marshes that were covered by water at high tide and known collectively as the Back Bay. The Charles River flowed through the Back Bay to Boston Harbor and separated the peninsula from the mainland to the north and west. To the east, Town Cove indented Boston’s harbour front and divided the city into the North End and the South End. The centre of the colonial town was at the Old State House (built 1711–47).
Although that original centre and the colonial South End have long been given over to offices and retail stores, a few 18th-century buildings remain: Faneuil Hall (1742–1805), the Old Corner Bookstore (1718), the Old South Meeting House (1729), and King’s Chapel (1750). The North End is the only part of the early town that has remained residential since the 1630 settlement. Colonial survivals such as the Paul Revere House (c. 1680) and Christ Church (1723)—the Old North Church from which lanterns revealed the route of the British march to Lexington in 1775—coexist with the busy life of a traditionally Italian American community.
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North America. Boston's history recalls revolution and transformation, and today the city is still among the country's most forward-thinking and barrier-breaking destinations. Best Time to Visit. Best Things to Do. Attractions.
Apr 9, 2022 · Boston is the capital and largest city of Massachusetts, located on Massachusetts Bay, a branch of the Atlantic Ocean. Learn about its geography, climate, population, economy, attractions, and history.
- Walk the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walk through the city that leads past 16 colonial and revolutionary historical sites, and it's one of the city's most popular visitor attractions.
- Surround yourself with culture at Boston's museums. There's a museum for just about every taste in Boston. If fine arts is your jam, there are paintings, sculptures and tapestries at the Isabella Stewart Gardener, while the sprawling MFA features more than 450,000 works of art.
- Explore Boston's distinct neighborhoods. Each of Boston's various neighborhoods has its own personality and unique allure. There are technically 23 designated neighborhoods, but a few of the most noteworthy include the South End, known for its brownstones and multitude of restaurants; Back Bay, where the long Commonwealth Avenue Mall is a year-round highlight of trees, park benches and statues; the newly developed Seaport where highrises are juxtaposed against the harborfront walk; and the North End, otherwise known as "Little Italy."
- Drink a craft beer (or two) In 1984, Samuel Adams revived the craft beer scene when it released its Boston Lager – "the full-flavored beer they deserved," says the brand.
Discover expertly selected travel destinations, distinguished by their unique charm and quality. A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. Mapcarta, the open map.
Explore the city for history buffs, sports fanatics, music lovers, foodies, cultural travelers, and, truthfully, anyone. Whether you're visiting by air, by land, or by sea, find everything you need to know about getting to Boston, getting around Boston, and getting to know the real Boston.
