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Convention Centers: Steps to the Heart of Boston 3 | walk walkBoston © WalkBoston 3/08 min. 0 .5 mile / 1 ith only a few minutes' walk W very walkable one. Many sites that walkable one. Many very ou'll experience the character of Boston. ou'll experience the character y The Boston Convention & Exhibition The Boston Convention Convention Center [BCEC] and the Hynes best close to the City’s are Center [Hynes] sights. Boston is not only a historic city but also not only a historic Boston is a of development significant in the were along with and the nation, Massachusetts and modern neighborhoods well-known main Boston's lie between landmarks, — Boston Common, centers convention Garden,Beacon Hill, the Public the State Square, Copley Back Bay, House, Chinatown, Basement [the original], Hancock Filene’s Newbury Street Towers, and Prudential Village lofts in Bay shopping, residential and the Fort Channel District. Point Explorationswith ease N

Text: Bob Sloane Sponsored by The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Design: ninagarfinkle.com

Choose your route What to look for • Majestic, Wang, Shubert & Wilbur Theatres – Tremont St. • Louis – once the Museum of Natural History • Charles Playhouse – off Stuart St. bkCommonwealth Avenue – This central boulevard Walking and transit make exploring the City easy. Boston Common [1630] – A part of Boston since its • Opera House, Paramount & Modern Theatres – 3 1 of the Back Bay is lined with tall brownstone and The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center [BCEC] and founding as the grazing ground for cows and sheep, blocks up Washington St. past turn on Beach St. granite Victorian townhouses, each with a tiny front Hynes Convention Center [Hynes] are close to every- the Common remains the city’s most important open • 12 ft. bronze bear – Floating Hospital for Children garden. The wide mall down the center is studded thing. Walk and see as much as you want — the full space. It buffers Beacon Hill and Back Bay from the in Tufts New England Medical Center with sculpture. route is approx. 2.8 mi./70 min. If time is limited or bustle of Downtown shopping and financial areas. • City Place food court – Mass. Transportation Bldg. • Alexander Hamilton statue [1865] – at Arlington St. you tire, the T's transit stations are always nearby. • Frog Pond – wading in summer, skating in winter 6 Bay Village – Tiny townhouses, replicas of Beacon • First Baptist Church [1871] – by H.H. Richardson, at Convention Center T stations: • Park Street Station – the nation’s first subway [1893] Hill grandeur, line the streets of this small neighborhood Clarendon St. • Hynes – Hynes Station @ Boylston St./Mass. Ave. • Park Street church [1809] that has a history of speakeasies, film production and • Vendome Firefighters Memorial – Dartmouth St. • BCEC – World Trade Center Station • Massachusetts State House [1797] by architect openness to all ethnic groups. • Statue of Samuel Eliot Morison [1982] – sailor & Charles Bulfinch – gold dome overlooking the Common. AHynes to BCEC via Boston Common • The Castle Armory of the First Corps of Cadets [1863] maritime historian, at Exeter St. • Beacon Hill mansions facing the Common Exit Hynes/Boylston St. doors, turn R onto Boylston – Medieval Romanesque building with towers, turrets, • Boston Women’s Memorial [2003] – first lady St., then L on Gloucester St. and R on Commonwealth 2Downtown Crossing – The retail center of Boston is moats and crenellations, Columbus Ave. & Arlington St. Abigail Adams, journalist Lucy Stone, and African Ave. Follow the landscaped mall 6 blocks. Cross the intersection of Summer and Washington Sts. Four • Cocoanut Grove Memorial [1942] – most fatalities writer Phyllis Wheatley, at Fairfield St. Arlington St. into the Public Garden. Take the path subway lines converge here and shoppers, workers [492] by fire in Boston’s history, 17 Piedmont St. blBoston Public Garden [1837] – The filling of the around the statue of Washington on his horse, over and tourists crowd the sidewalks and streets. 7 Boylston Street/Copley Square – As the principal Back Bay began with the construction of the Garden, the suspension bridge and cross Charles St. into • Pedestrian shopping zone – stores & carts business street in the Back Bay, Boylston St. connects which became a fashionable focus that encouraged Boston Common. Head straight toward the tall Park • Filene’s building [1912] by architect Daniel Burnham some of the city’s largest buildings and shopping areas development of blue-chip residences nearby and Street Church steeple. Cross Tremont St. to Winter St., • Filene’s Basement – the original/best [under constr.] to Downtown. Along the route are public spaces – along streets leading westward. [Winter St. changes to Summer St at Washington St], • Mercantile buildings – 19th and 20th century Boston Common, the Public Garden, and Copley Square, • Mini suspension bridge over the Lagoon and begin to follow Summer St. 12 blocks to BCEC. • Mansard roofs – built after the Great Fire of 1872 with its fountain, farmers’ market and Tortoise & Hare • Ducklings’ fictional island home BHynes to BCEC via Theatre District . 3Fort Point Channel District – Long an industrial sculptures at the end of Boston Marathon route. • Swan boats in the Lagoon Exit Hynes/Boylston St. doors, turn R onto Boylston St., center for wool importing and exporting, this district • Copley Square – business focus of the Back Bay • Make Way for Ducklings statue – NE corner of Garden go 8 blocks, Turn R on Charles St. , L on Stuart St. through is now better known for its museums, offices, and • Trinity Church [1877] – by architect H.H. Richardson • Changing seasonal flower displays the Theatre District. Turn L on Washington St. and R on residential loft buildings in an attractive location just • Boston Public Library [1895] – Charles McKim bmBeacon Hill – Fabled aristocratic location of Beach St. through Chinatown. Turn L at end onto Atlantic minutes from the center of Downtown. • New Old South Church [1875] – Cummings & Spears Boston’s wealth and “good breeding,” the Hill is the Ave. Turn R on Summer St., follow it 6 blocks to BCEC. • Wool import-export buildings [over 80] – late 19th • John Hancock Tower [1975] – I.M. Pei first historic district in the city. It is the heart of state century, now artists’ studios CBCEC to Hynes via Boston Common 8 Prudential Center/Copley Place – These upscale government and still a prestigious residential area. • Fort Point Arts Community Galleries – 300 Summer St. Exit BCEC/Summer St. doors, turn L and follow malls are connected by a 4-block indoor path. They • Beacon Street mansions – look for old lavender glass • Summer St. Bridge [1899] – rare retractile drawback Summer St., [Summer St. changes to Winter St. at contain an impressive selection of shops & restaurants. • Chestnut Street townhouses bridge on rails Washington St]. Cross Tremont St. into the Common, • Prudential Tower [1964] & Skywalk – 360˚ city views • Acorn Street servants’ houses • Boston Tea Party site [1773] – north side of Channel follow diagonal path past the R side of the fountain • Prudential Center shopping & apartments • Louisburg Square – to Charles St. Cross into the Public Garden, over the 4Chinatown – The largest Chinese settlement in New • Copley Place shopping & offices the finest location suspension bridge to Arlington St. Cross to England has bustling streets, exotic grocery stores and • Southwest Corridor Park [1989] over Orange Line [1987] • Charles Street – the charming, Commonwealth Ave. and walk down the center of countless restaurants featuring Chinese, Cambodian, small-store shopping and 9Newbury Street – Known for its upscale shopping the boulevard in the landscaped mall. Turn L at Laotian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Malaysian cuisine. food center of the Hill. and dining, this is one of the city’s best streets for Gloucester St. and walk 2 blocks to reach the Hynes. • Chinatown Gate [1982] guarded by 4 marble Fu dogs walking and people-watching. It has a distinctive feeling • Restaurants – Asian specialities DBCEC to Hynes via Theatre District because of the relatively low buildings, high-toned • Beach Street – Chinatown’s principal thoroughfare Exit BCEC/Summer St. doors, turn L and follow retail stores and fashionable people. • Big Dig Chinatown Park – above Central Artery tunnels Summer St. to South Station at Atlantic Ave. Turn L, • Taj Hotel/formerly Ritz-Carlton [1927] – grand dame walkBoston then R on Beach St. through Chinatown. Turn L on 5Theatre District – A 100-year-old concentration of of Boston with Public Garden views Washington St. and R on Stuart St. through the theatres along Tremont and Washington Streets • Largest concentration of art galleries in Boston MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES MORE WALKABLE Theatre District. Turn R on Charles St. and L on remains the focus of city entertainment for plays, • Outdoor cafes – superb people-watching venues Old City Hall | 45 School Street | Boston MA 02108 | T: 617.367.9255 Boylston St. and follow it 8 blocks to the Hynes. musical events, performances and high drama. • Emmanuel Church [1860] – poetry and music programs F: 617.367.9285 | [email protected] | www.walkboston.org