The Boston Waterfront and North End
The Waterfront and North End in the eastern part of historic Boston are some of the most toured and fascinating areas in the city. The Waterfront, once the colonial British port, was one of the largest ports in the western world. Over the years, it has become a leisure destination for Boston locals, home to historical and themed museums, as well as numerous waterfront dining and entertainment options at the piers.
- The Waterfront stretches as a narrow line east of Boston's downtown, enjoying the city's stunning skyline
- North of the Waterfront lies Boston's historic North End. This neighborhood was the original hub of English settlement in the city and was home to many of the patriots who rebelled against the British.
- Today, the North End is home to many Americans of Italian descent, blending the atmosphere of Little Italy with that of old Anglo-Saxon America.
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8 Must-See and Do Activities at the Waterfront and North End
- Hop on the Tea Party Ships
- Family fun at the New England Aquarium
- Enjoy a family day at the Boston Children's Museum
- Rest in the shade of the towers and bay view at Christopher Columbus Park
- Feel the vibe of Little Italy on Hanover Street in the North End
- Hang out at Long Wharf
- The history of the patriots at the Paul Revere House and Old North Church
- Contemporary art at the Institute of Contemporary Art
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Map of Boston's Waterfront and North End
Boston Waterfront
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
Christopher Columbus Park is a perfect blend of Boston's downtown area and the waterfront. The park stretches over the harbor piers, offering a delightful mix of open air and greenery, with stunning views of the waterfront on one side and the downtown towers on the other.
The park is just a minute's walk from Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market), Boston's most vibrant and central area. In the center of the park is the charming Rose Kennedy Rose Garden. Nearby, you'll find pathways, seating areas, trees, and everything needed for a delightful urban park in New England style (lush greenery with views of the harbor's sailing boats).
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The Long Wharf
The Long Wharf is the most attractive pier among Boston's harbor piers. The city's harbor piers have been revamped and now feature residential buildings and hotels with stunning views of the bay's waters. The eastern part of the pier is dominated by the cool Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel.
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The hotel is built in former port warehouses that have been converted into a luxurious hotel. Nearby, there's a large plaza right on the waterfront, a popular hangout for city residents with restaurants and entertainment spots. The pier itself was the center of Boston's harbor since the British settlement. It was built in 1710 and stretches more than half a kilometer deep into the bay's waters.
New England Aquarium
The pier south of Long Wharf is Central Wharf, another historic pier in the former grand harbor of Boston. This pier houses the New England Aquarium, a popular spot for the whole family. The aquarium itself is a transparent water tank of about 1000 cubic meters, with a spring-shaped path that allows you to explore every corner of the tank.
Inside the aquarium, there are hundreds of different marine species typical of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Around the main tank, there are smaller aquariums. There's a tank with a tropical reef where colorful fish swim, a large pool where penguins reside, and a display of sharks and other large fish.
Address: Central Wharf 1, Boston
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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum is located south of the wharves on the Fort Point Channel. The channel at the mouth of the Bass River seals off downtown Boston from the south. The ship is situated on the Congress Street Bridge, the main street that crosses downtown from south to north.
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On December 16, 1773, the historic party was held at Griffin's Wharf, a pier that was on the northern part of today's channel and has since been filled in. During this event, the patriots, led by Samuel Adams, set out from the Old South Church, disguised as Native Americans, and boarded a ship of the East India Company docked at the pier. They threw the tea barrels into the harbor waters in an event that was one of the precursors to the American Revolutionary War which began three years later.
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The Floating Tea Party Museum consists of two ships that are replicas of the original British ships from that era. Besides the ships and the story of the Tea Party, the museum tells the story of the patriots and Boston’s history as part of the American Revolution. This historical museum is a must-see site in the city and vividly illustrates Boston’s importance during key moments in U.S. history.
Address: 306 Congress St., Boston
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Boston Children's Museum
When you cross the Congress Street Bridge over the Fort Point Channel, you arrive at the Boston Children's Museum. The museum is located on the southern bank of the channel opposite the Tea Party ships. The museum occupies two giant warehouses that were originally part of the Boston Harbor warehouse complex.
The museum boasts a multitude of rooms filled with educational activities for kids, interactive exhibits, and everything that can turn the day into fun for the whole family. The museum features a large creative area stocked with numerous materials and guides for crafting using a wide array of techniques. The museum also includes a tall climbing wall and numerous playground facilities.
Address: Congress St. 308, Boston
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Institute of Contemporary Art
A short walk from the children's museum, along the waterfront, lies the prestigious contemporary art museum. This grand museum is largely dedicated to hosting temporary exhibitions with a precise curation and a lot of pyrotechnics.
The museum began with an impressive and controversial display of German Expressionist artists in the 1930s. Since then, they've consistently aimed to stir as much controversy as possible, embracing radical artistic paradigms. The institution is considered one of the avant-garde leaders in art, in stark contrast to its sibling – the Museum of Fine Arts in Fenway-Kenmore.
Address: 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston
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Boston's North End
Paul Revere Mall
The beautiful avenue named after Paul Revere is the heart of Boston's oldest neighborhood, North End. The neighborhood is located north of downtown and the waterfront of Boston, and it contains all residential streets dating back to the colonial era. The avenue consists of a path leading from the George Robert Fountain to the Paul Revere Statue, who is depicted riding his horse.
Paul Revere is considered an American hero for the night he rode his horse to warn the patriots of the approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. This led to the Americans achieving a victory in the grand battle deemed one of the most important and decisive in the American Revolutionary War. Revere's story was immortalized in the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the giant poet from Portland, Maine, which became an American classic.
The Paul Revere House
Just south of the avenue, in the beautiful streets of the North End, stands an old wooden house prominent against a triangular city square. This was the home of Paul Revere, from which he set out on his famous ride that immortalized him in the American ethos. The preserved house is one of the oldest in Boston and serves as an important landmark in the city's history.
Address: 19 N Square, Boston
Old North Church
The Old North Church is the oldest church built in Boston that still stands today. It was constructed in 1723 in a period British style with a pointed neo-Gothic spire rising high into the sky. The church also played a significant role in the Patriots' struggle against the British. On April 18, 1775, Robert Newman warned the Patriots that the British were coming by hanging lanterns in the bell tower. Just north of the church is the ancient Copps Hill Burying Ground, established in 1659.
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Boston's Little Italy
Although it's the undisputed capital of New England, perhaps the whitest region in all of America, Boston is still a city of immigrants. Boston boasts two huge and famous communities of Italians and Irish. These communities are as much a part of American culture as the immigrants who arrived in New York, with plenty of films and representations in American culture. Hanover Street is the main street of the North End and is considered the heart of the Italian community in the city. St. Stephen's Catholic Church is the center of the city's Italian Catholic community.
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