Art Deco

Boston can claim examples of Art Deco rivaling New York's finest. Walk through Boston's financial district to see examples of opulent and eclectic Art Deco buildings built from a time of economic and technological optimism through the Great Depression and World War II.

Discover the downtown you often see but rarely notice.

Ashmont Hill

Explore a wonderful area of Dorchester, a town even older than Boston. Ashmont Hill was the site of several Colonial estates eventually giving way to lovely Victorian homes in this 19th century garden suburb.

Beacon Hill

From the State House through the historic streets of elegant row houses, experience examples of architect Charles Bulfinch and his followers.

Bulfinch Triangle

Explore the architecture, history and evolution of the Bulfinch Triangle.

Once considered a lost area of rundown buildings under the shadow of elevated tracks and highways, the Bulfinch Triangle is now evolving into a sophisticated urban neighborhood with new and restored buildings, restaurants, landscaping, and a growing base of Boston sports fans.

Churches of the Back Bay

See the revival architectures of churches in Boston's Back Bay. The 19th century movement into the Back Bay created protestant churches in the Romanesque and Gothic revival styles, many of which remain in pristine condition today. Learn about notable residents and the Victorian culture of one of Boston's most prestigious neighborhoods.

Commonwealth Avenue

The grand dame of avenues, Boston's Grand Boulevard features 19th-century urban architecture at its finest. Blocks of stately brownstones lined with splendid memorial statues, Commonwealth Avenue captures the elegance and pride of Victorian Boston.

Contemporary Boston

This tour through the downtown Financial District traces the city's evolution from its depressed state in the 1960's to a thriving hub of Boston's commerce today. We will examine the history and effects of the rise of the skyscraper as steel-frame construction supplanted masonry and see a variety of approaches to revitalizing an urban environment.

The Flat of Beacon Hill

Discover the new 19th century neighborhood of Beacon Hill. From the early carriage houses to Victorian row houses, the Flat is a charming neighborhood with colorful history and architecture with notable landmarks such as the Church of the Advent and the Charles Street Meeting House.

Harvard Yard

Explore the oldest and one of the most foremost educational institutions in America. From its founding in 1636, Harvard University includes edifices that span the architectural styles of the nation. Learn the history of this venerable institution, as well as the academic history of America, through this eclectic mix of structures and objects in Harvard Yard.

Jamaica Plain

Jamaica Plain encompasses only 3.07 square miles but offers a tremendously rich and varied narrative. From an early Puritans settlement to an area of wealthy summer estates, the rise of modern transportation transformed JP into a streetcar suburb. This walking tour features a selection of very impressive Victorian houses and the Emerald Necklace park system. Discover why Jamaica Plain is so well-loved by its residents.

Preserving Boston's History

Learn the story behind the survival of some of Boston's most beloved historic landmarks and the destruction of others as we discuss Boston's role in the development of the Historic Preservation movement and the role of preservation in a vibrant modern city.

The South End

The South End is a tour of a vibrant Boston neighborhood, full of wonderful buildings, and diverse culture. Built entirely on made-land, the South End, with its lovely parks and early Victorian row houses, has experienced dramatic changes from an enclave for Boston's 19th century elite, to a poor immigrant neighborhood, through its present day urban, architectural, and cultural renewal.

Tory Row

When George Washington arrived in Massachusetts in 1775, he made his headquarters in the abandoned mansions of wealthy loyalists along Brattle Street in Cambridge. Walk through one of America's finest neighborhoods and see elegant examples of early New England architecture.

Victorian Back Bay

Tour the 19th century made-land and one of America's richest collections of art & architecture. This tour features Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, New Old South Church, and the many Victorian townhouses along streets designed after the grand boulevards of Paris.