Boston By Boat
Charles River Architecture Cruise
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow courted Frances Appleton following the death of his first wife. He made many trips from his home in Cambridge to the Appleton home on Beacon Hill crossing the West Boston Bridge. He used the bridge as a metaphor to contrast the melancholy of his widowerhood with his newfound peace in his 1845 poem, The Bridge.
In the poem, he notes the wooden piers, the smell of the ocean, and the bright furnace at Brighton reflecting off the river. The old wood-pile bridge was replaced in 1906 and the ocean tides no longer enter the Charles. In 1927, this new bridge to Cambridge was named for Longfellow.
For the 150th anniversary of another famous Longfellow poem, Sidewalk Sam painted The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere across the top.
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Boston's first seaworthy exploration of the buildings, parks, and bridges along the Charles River.
Take in the scenery and explore the Charles River and its surround with Boston By Foot docents in partnership with the Boston Society of Architects whose knowledge of Boston's history and architecture make this cruise of Boston like no other.
The Head of the Charles Regatta was first held in 1965 following the English tradition of 3-mile head races. Since then, the Head of the Charles Regatta has grown into the world's largest two-day rowing event attracting over 8,000 athletes competing among 55 different events. 300,000 spectators line the river and cheer from the bridges.
Cruise under magnificent bridges aboard a Charles River Boat Company vessel and experience the architecture in Boston and Cambridge from a truly unique perspective. You will see the works of renowned architects such as Robert Swain Peabody, Charles Follen McKim, Ralph Adams Cram, Alvar Aalto, Josep Lluís Sert, and Kyu Sung Woo.
Christian Menn 1998-2003
The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge is a hybrid steel concrete asymmetric cable-stayed bridge serving the I-93 river crossing. It is the first hybrid cable-stayed bridge in the country and at 183' wide is currently the widest such bridge in the world.
This bridge was designed not only to be elegant but also to be exceptionally strong. It can withstand winds in excess of 400 miles per house and hold up to a 7.9 magintude earthquake. The largest recorded earthquake in Massachusetts occurred November 18, 1755 at about a 6.0.
Learn the evolution of the Charles River from a tidal commercial waterway to the envied urban water park through the development of the Back Bay and the construction of the Charles River Dam. Once lined with docks, mills, and slaughterhouses, today the Charles River is the crown jewel of a contemporary city characterized by a changing skyline, beautifully landscaped parks, sports events, and world-class universities.
1930
The Dunster House is one of the Harvard dormitories on the banks of the Charles River. Its notable alumni include Normal Mailer, Casper Weinberger, Governor Deval Patrick, John Lithgow, and acting roommates Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore.
The tour will also feature the river-side campuses of Harvard University, Boston University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology whose students may have played a prank or two along the way.
Charles Luckman and Associates 1960-1964
The Prudential Tower is the second tallest building in Boston but when it was completed in 1964 it was the tallest building in the world outside New York.
The roof houses two FM radio antennas broadcasting 7 local radio stations, 22,000 watts each, in HD radio.
From the comfort of a riverboat and with mimosas in hand, voyage through Boston's history on this unique and spectacular Charles River cruise.
