Boston Attractions and Things to Do

Boston Irish Famine Memorial

School St at Washington St, Boston, MA 02108 781-849-4444

Description: DOWNTOWN. This million-dollar memorial park was unveiled in 1998 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. The memorial exists thanks to the tireless efforts of Boston's Irish community. Its bronze statues depict dedicated, enduring Irish families and offers a nod to the fortitude of the Irish in America. Since the dedication, the memorial has attracted in excess of three million visitors.
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Boston Massacre Monument

Devonshire St at State St, Boston, MA 02109 617-357-8300

Description: DOWNTOWN. This stone monument, surmounted by a bronze figure, serves as a tribute to victims of the Boston Massacre. These citizens, caught in a fray with British soldiers, were the first casualties for a movement that eventually spawned the American Revolution. Although issues of control and taxation figured into the dispute, it was the deaths of these Bostonians that ultimately sparked the rise against foreign control.
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Boston's Freedom Trail

148 Tremont St, Visitor Information Center, Boston, MA 02111 617-357-8300

Description: DOWNTOWN. This self-paced excursion lets visitors lead themselves on one of the best walking tours of Boston. The well-marked red brick trail winds 2.5 miles through the city and features 16 official historical sites, including the Old State House, Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution. The best part is that you can leave and pick up the trail whenever you want -- perfect for exploring hidden sites or spreading your tour over a few days.
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Faneuil Hall Marketplace

1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA 02109 617-523-1300

Description: FANEUIL HALL/GOVERNMENT CENTER. A Boston social and commercial centerpiece since 1742, Faneuil Hall was originally established as a market for merchants, fishermen and vendors. It later hosted inspirational appearances by prominent figures like Samuel Adams and George Washington, which earned it the nickname "Cradle of Liberty." In the 1970s, a major renovation to the aging structure transformed it into one of America's premiere urban marketplaces. Now, it boasts more than 50 shops, 14 restaurants, and 40 food stalls. Some folks (and publications) refer to the retail component as Quincy Market.
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Harvard University

1350 Massachusetts Ave, Holyoke Center Arcade Information Center, Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-1573

Description: CAMBRIDGE. The country's oldest institution for higher learning, founded in 1636, was named for its first patron, Reverend John Harvard. Initially conceived as a seminary, the university now features ten graduate and professional schools. Notable alumni include eight United States presidents and more than 45 Nobel Laureates. Audio and mobile campus tours are available for download at www.harvard.edu.
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Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge

I-93 and US 1, Boston, MA

Description: DOWNTOWN. Bostonians have notched another mark in their belts with the completion and opening of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in 2002. Named after civil rights activist Lenny Zakim and those who fought the British at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the bridge serves as a gateway for those entering and exiting downtown from points north. Part of the notorious Big Dig project and suspended over the Charles River, it's the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Check it out. It's hard to miss.
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 617-253-4795

Description: CAMBRIDGE. One of the most well known and respected universities in the world, MIT is at the top of its game when it comes to 21st century technology. The school's first students walked through its doors in 1865 marking the culmination of an effort led by natural scientist William Barton Rogers. Over 57 Nobel Prize winners are associated with the school, 23 of which are alumni and ten who are currently on staff. Today, the river front campus continues to expand and keep pace with the evolving times. Restaurants, bars and a vibrant urban neighborhood are lovely places to kick back when you're done soaking up the intellectual vibes.
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New England Holocaust Memorial

98 Union St, Carmen Park, Boston, MA 02110 617-457 -8755

Description: FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Recipient of the prestigious AIA Henry Bacon Medal for its inspirational architecture, this sobering memorial remembers the six million Jews murdered during WWII. The memorial features six 54-foot tall glass towers, each hovering above its own concrete pit filled with smoldering coals that illuminate the name of a concentration camp inscribed on the pillar. Extensive narrative texts at the site further inform visitors about the horrors of war. In addition, the site regularly hosts remembrance ceremonies.
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