Are you planning a visit to Boston? Our Boston Civic Center scavenger hunt will take you from Old City Hall to the New England Aquarium by way of Boston Commons, Massachusetts State House, and Faneuil Hall!
Indeed, solve challenges at every step to discover your next destination. At each step, you will learn a little history as well as interesting facts about what surrounds you.
Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the largest city in this eastern state of the United States. Its own population is slightly less than 700,000, but its metropolitan area exceeded 4.5 million in 2017.
3.6 km
2.3 mi
43
Sights
37
Challenges
- Faneuil Hall
- Freedom Trail
- Boston Common
- Massachusetts State House
- Old State House
- Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
- New England Aquarium
- Rose F. Kennedy Greenway
- Old South Meeting Hall
- Post Office Square
- Boston City Hall
- Quincy Market
- New England Holocaust Memorial
- And much more!
Indeed, we’ve visited Boston many times since 2010, including all of these sites.
Specifications
- Starting Point: in front of the Omni Parker House, 60 St School, Boston, MA 02108, USA
- Distance: 3.62 km / 2.25 mi
- Duration: 3 hours
- Method: Walking
- Required:
- Fully-charged smartphone with internet access (data plan).
- Suggested:
- Bottled water
- A local road or tourist map hours
Ancient History
The first Europeans named this region Trimoutaine for its 3 mountains. Only hills remain today of these “mountains”. The name changed to Boston in 1630, honoring a town in Lincolnshire, England, from which came many of the prominent settlers.
This peninsula is thought to have been inhabited since 5,000 BC.
Puritan colonists strongly influenced the education and ethics of this city from the start. The first public school in America was founded in Boston in 1635.
Its citizens participated in four wars (for the English) against France and the First Nations (commonly called Indians) until Britain conquered the territory permanently.
Boston was the largest city in British America until Philadelphia overtook it in the mid-18th century. Indeed, its proximity to the ocean has kept its port and shipping very active from its earliest days.
In fact, many significant events leading to the American Revolution happened in or near Boston. British laws, Bostonian protests against them, and British measures to enforce these laws led to the Boston Tea Party and from there, to the American Revolution. Boston was besieged by the British from 1775 until 1776.
Recent History
The village of Boston became a city in 1822. After the revolution, the War of 1812 greatly affected the maritime trade. Indeed, merchants found alternative trading partners to maintain activity as northern Europe was pretty much shut down during this time. When this war ended, returning business contributed to an economic boom.
Many Irish immigrants found their way to Boston, especially during the potato famine. Then, towards the end of the 19th century, most neighborhoods had become ethnic enclaves: Irish, Italians, Russian Jews, etc. Each brought his religion and culture which would eventually blend to some degree.
The top of Beacon Hill, one of the 3 hills where stands the Massachusetts State House, was leveled to fill marshy areas, creating more living space. However, a great fire razed a large portion of Boston in 1872.
The first half of the 20th century was difficult as many industries relocated elsewhere for cheaper labor. The second half saw an economic boom during which many skyscrapers were built. Then, Boston’s elite hospitals, colleges, and universities have greatly contributed to this boom.
Today, Boston is an intellectual, technological and political center.
