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Boston

Its appeal isn't just a thing of the past.

Learn more about Boston Our resources will help you familiarize yourself with the seemingly endless opportunities, resources, and attractions in "Beantown." Attractions Calendar of Events Healthcare Facilities Neighborhoods Nursing Resources Shopping Transportation Weather Web Cams

Listen, my children, and you shall hear of a city that's much more than Paul Revere. Boston's legacy of colonial patriots and American Revolutionaries has long made this city attractive to tourists and history buffs. Boston's residents, however, embrace the city for its ethnic diversity, exceptional medical facilities, and outstanding architecture.

Rising high above Boston's easily recognizable skyline is the 62-story John Hancock Tower. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, Hancock Tower offers an incredible 30-mile view from its observation deck. On a clear day you can see all the way to Provincetown at the end of Cape Cod, and to Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts.

It's also clear to see that Boston is a work in progress. Its $14.7 billion Big Dig, the largest civil works project in U.S. history, aims to replace a six-lane elevated highway with an eight-to-ten-lane underground expressway. Begun in 1991, the Big Dig is set for completion in 2005. In addition to alleviating the daily traffic congestion in and around downtown Boston, completion of the project means that neighborhood streets—many severed or disrupted since the 1950s by the old elevated highway—will be reconnected. And Boston is truly a city of neighborhoods. From the "Little Italy" of the North End and the artsy South End to the ethnically diverse East Boston and ideally suburban West Roxbury, each neighborhood has its own personality, while blending seamlessly with the others.

Classic architecture

In 1630, Boston's geographic area was one-third of its present size. In the 19th century, landfill projects altered the shoreline and extended the boundaries of the city toward the sea, allowing for future residential development. While Boston often seems synonymous with the red brick rowhouses, gas streetlamps, and cobblestone roads of historic areas such as Beacon Hill and Charlestown, the architecture of Boston neighborhoods is varied.

East Boston is a mix of renovated older homes and newer "three-deckers"—three-story, three-family flats—while homes in the Back Bay are among the most elegant in the city. The exclusive Back Bay neighborhood primarily has Victorian-style single-family homes and luxurious townhouses. Dorchester, Boston's oldest neighborhood, features architecture that's as diverse as its history. The 19th-century mansions of the city's early elite stand next to the multi-family dwellings constructed when Dorchester became home to groups of immigrants. The quiet neighborhood of Brighton is popular with graduate students, young professionals, and families, all of whom appreciate the close-knit, community feel to the neighborhood. Housing in Brighton is mainly moderate-sized houses and small apartment buildings.

Population tapestry

Boston's ethnic makeup is diverse, with non-white residents accounting for nearly half the population of the city. Latinos and Asians are the fastest growing ethnic group here, with Boston's Chinatown ranking as America's fourth largest Chinese community. One-third of the city's residents are between 20 and 34 years old. Adding to this energetic young dynamic are the students who attend the nearly 40 colleges and universities in the Boston area—Harvard University is just across the river in Cambridge, as is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The next largest population group is the 35 to 55-year-old Baby Boomers, many of whom are credited, in part, with revitalizing Boston's urban living. "Empty nesters," whose children are grown, are moving from the more suburban neighborhoods into to the heart of the city. Living in loft apartments or townhouses, they enjoy the easy commute to work and their close proximity to Boston's cultural center.

Getting around

Try to get around by car in Boston and you'll soon understand why the city needs the Big Dig. Traffic moves at a crawl for nearly 10 hours each day. But it's not only the gridlock on the highway that frustrates motorists—Boston's streets are laid out in a pattern of dead-ends, one-ways, detours, and street-name changes. The typical shortage of parking spaces in the downtown area just adds to the challenge of driving in Boston. It's no wonder that nearly one-third of Boston's residents use public transportation.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, also known as the "T," is the nation's oldest and fourth largest transportation system. The T operates an extensive system of subways, buses, trolleys, and inner harbor ferries. Fares are priced right for daily travel—subway tokens are $1, basic bus fare is 75 cents, and the ferry is $1.25 for a one-way ticket—but you also can get a monthly pass, which has the added incentive of discounts and benefits, such as reduced rates for auto insurance. Although the T stops running shortly after midnight during the week, "Night Owl" service continues to operate on Fridays and Saturdays until 2:30 a.m.

Entertainment options

Boston has a number of natural and man-made recreational opportunities. Whether it's a whale-watching trip on Boston Harbor, sailing on the Charles River, or skating along the Esplanade, Boston's natural beauty encourages outdoor activities. At Public Garden, the country's oldest public botanical garden, you can ride a people-powered Swan Boat or walk across the world's shortest suspension bridge. The "Emerald Necklace"—a six-mile linear park that begins at Boston Common—is a favorite of walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park, the Emerald Necklace is one of the oldest series of public parks in the country.

Shopping enthusiasts enjoy Newbury Street, Boston's eight-block equivalent of Los Angeles' ritzy Rodeo Drive. Sports fans cheer hometown teams like the Celtics, the Bruins, and the New England Patriots. And Fenway Park, America's oldest major-league ball park, is home to the Boston Red Sox. One of Boston's most popular tourist attractions is the Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Street. It's the place "where everybody knows your name"—the restaurant and bar that was the model for the basement bar on TV's Cheers.

How's the weather?

Living in Boston means you can expect a wide range of weather conditions. Although summer is often hot and humid, and winter is cold and snowy, you may swelter in March and shiver in July. Residents enjoy getting a weather forecast by watching a column of lights on the old John Hancock building in downtown Boston, which follows this code:
Steady blue, clear view;
Flashing blue, clouds due;
Steady red, rain ahead;
Flashing red, snow instead.

A company of nurses

Nearly one-quarter of employed Bostonians work in educational and health services. The 48-square-mile city encompasses more than a dozen significant hospitals, most of these rated among the world's best. Notable examples are Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The city also is distinguished for its breakthrough discoveries in medical research.

Without a doubt, Boston's 18th-century defiance of British rule planted the seeds for its refreshing, independent character. Cosmopolitan in flavor, personable in personality, living in Boston is an unforgettable experience. In the words of Charles Dickens, "Boston is what the whole United States should be."