Boston Common

Why visit / Interesting facts:

• One of the oldest city parks in the US
• Great spot during any season

Time required: 10 minutes

Web site: http://www.cityofboston....

Public transport:

• Subway Red Line: Park Street
• Subway Green Line: Boylston

Address: 147 Tremont Street, Boston, MA - USA

Things you need to know:

• Boston Common (often referred to as "the Common") is a central public park in Boston, and is one of the oldest city parks in the United States (dating from 1634)
• The Common consists of 50 acres of land, and is bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street, Charles Street, and Boylston Street. It is the far end of the Emerald Necklace of parks that extend all the way to Franklin Park in Roxbury
• Was used by many families as a cow pasture during the 1630s, until overgrazing by affluent families ended it
• Played a big role in Boston history: used as a camp by the British before the Revolutionary War (they left from here for the Battle of Lexington and Concord), as a site of public hangings until 1817, and as a place for Civil War recruitment and anti-slavery meetings in the 1860s
• The Common has long been a place for many formal and informal gatherings. As such, it consists of lots of open grass, a pond, baseball fields, and many benches. The frog pond turns into an ice skating rink in winter
• Besides being an area that's great for relaxing in the middle of the city, it has also long been a stage for free speech and public assembly
• Boston Common is located just across Charles Street from the more landscaped Boston Public Garden, which was originally considered an extension of the Common
• A visitors' center is located on the Tremont side of the park, near the Park Street T station