The city can trace its roots right back to the early seventeeth century.
In March 1630 a fleet of 11 ships carrying 700 Puritans sailed into Massachusetts Bay after a 3 month voyage from England. The migrants established a town, naming it Boston after Boston in England from where many of the settlers came.
During the American Revolution, Boston was a focus of opposition to the English. The Siege of Boston started in April 1775 and continued for nearly 10 months only ending when soldiers under the command of George Washington compelled the British to withdraw.
The growth of industry in the middle of the 19th century brought many immigrants, and Boston transformed from a trading city with citizens of generally English origin, to a manufacturing center populated by an Irish majority.
Today Boston has become the major hub of New England, a magnet for trade, research, hi-tech and art.
Boston’s Black Falcon Cruise Terminal sits on the south coast of Boston Inner Harbor’s Main Channel, across the water from the airport.
A large disused building, previously utilized as a United States Army base, was converted into the cruise terminal in 1986.
In 2010 an ambitious $12 million makeover of the terminal produced double the space on the top floor to allow for a dedicated check-in area for embarking passengers.
The terminal boasts efficient embark/debarkation, and includes a full range of useful facilities like informative signage, telephone kiosks, taxi rank, customs, check-in desks and soda machines.
The secure parking garage located across from the cruise terminal provides easy parking.
To drop off passengers, you can continue past the garage and make a right into the cruise terminal.
For a calendar of cruises, see cruises from Boston.
Freedom Trail
A stroll along the three mile Freedom Trail is one of the best ways to get acquainted with Boston and to see the city's historic treasures. The best points on the tour include Old North Church, whose tall steeple was used to relay revolutionary messages, USS Constitution, nicknamed Old Ironsides, Old State House, home of the Massachusetts Assembly, Paul Revere House, Boston’s oldest building and King’s Chapel Burying Ground, with the grave of Mary Chilton the first woman to alight from the Mayflower. A self guided walking tour map is sold by the Freedom Trail Foundation.
Paul Revere’s House
The Paul Revere House, the oldest remaining building in downtown Boston, stands as a witness to American history. On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere left this unpretentious wooden home to set out on a bold journey that would turn him into a hero. In 1908 the Paul Revere Memorial Association completed an extensive restoration programme on the building and invited the public to tour one of the earliest historic house museums in the United States. The house is open every day excluding winter Mondays and public holidays.
Boston Public Garden
A short distance from the Freedom Trail, Boston’s Public Garden is an ideal place to take a break away from busy downtown. At the Lagoon you’ll find the Swan Boats, a popular Boston tourist attraction, managed by the Paget family since 1877. In summer the boats are usually joined by a group of real swans.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the biggest museums in the US, attracting more than one million visitors annually. The museum has a number of fine galleries such as Photography, Textile Arts, the Art of the Ancient World and the Art of the Americas. The museum offers four eateries - the New American Café, the Garden Cafeteria, the Bravo restaurant and the Taste café/wine bar.
USS Constitution
A national icon for over 2 centuries, the battleship USS Constitution has had a memorable and distinguished career since her construction in Boston in 1797. In 1940 the ship became the symbolic flagship of the US Navy. The ship is moored at Pier 1 of the Charlestown Navy Yard, in the Boston National Historic Park.
Timezone ETZ
Currency USD
Language English