America’s history is often laughed at by Europeans and giggled over in the Middle East and Asia. The New World’s history is far from rich, but one of the oldest cities within the United States beautifully lays out in Boston. From Boston’s grand architecture of Brownstone homes and a buzzing metropolis riddled with college students, Massachusetts’s capital has something special over most new American cities.
One of the country’s oldest and most prestigious universities rests in Boston. Harvard University and Harvard Square cover in brick pavement and students wracking their brains around the latest assignment. The ivy drapes over colonial 18th century American architecture as cafes, bookshops, banks and restaurants provide the practicality to being a student. Within the university, visitors will find six different museums, displaying European Renaissance works, Middle Eastern art and archaeology, and even a museum detailing all six continents. Providing an education is just Harvard’s other job.
If Harvard’s collections of museums aren’t enough, head to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Chronicling the life of JFK until his assassination, the museum holds a reproduction of the White House and an inspiring view of the harbor.
If you don’t know who or what the Red Sox are and you plan on visiting Boston, you will quickly come to know the baseball team as though they are the city’s own gods. Fenway Park serves as the home to the baseball team where visitors can catch a game throughout spring, summer and if it’s a good season, fall. Constructed in 1912, Fenway Park is one of the last survivors of old style baseball parks. Many Bostonians treat the field like a Mecca of sorts, cherishing every aspect to Red Sox baseball.
For the best view of the booming Boston, the Bunker Hill Monument will make you work for it. After bearing 294 steps, visitors reach one of the finest views of Boston. The 200 ft granite obelisk pays tribute to the battle between revolutionary troops and the redcoats. Rivaling that vista is the Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck in downtown.
Boston’s neighborhoods are as diverse as its population. The North End section of town remains the city’s oldest. Even the narrowest house resides in the area, measuring up to just 2.9 meters wide. Aside from tiny homes, visitors will find Boston’s Italian population here, as displayed throughout the number of Italian eateries filling up nightly with diners and heaps of pasta. Covering Charlestown, visitors find the Irish American community of Boston. From bars to boats, much of the area’s ship building industry began here. Meander on down, or up rather to Beacon Hill and Boston’s power and wealth loom beneath a historical cover. Find solace from the college students and chaos of the city at the Boston Common and Public Garden. The Gardens provides the necessary escape away from all that brick and concrete covering downtown.
Founded by the Puritans, Boston was originally a place of religious freedom. Called the “shining city on a hill”, Boston’s diversity and openness is apparent throughout is network of diverse neighborhoods and boroughs. No matter the nationality, Bostonians seems to always be Bostonians first, and Red Sox fans second.
