USA
Boston

Boston

Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts, one of the oldest cities in the United States. It is the economic and cultural center of the New England region. Boston attracts 20 million tourists every year with its beauty and rich history. The Boston Latin School was the first public school in the US (1635). The first metro system across the country was built in 1897.

According to the 2010 census, the actual city had a population of 617,594. Greater Boston is home to 4.5 million people and it is the tenth largest urban area in the country. Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth, Worcester, northern Bristol County, Rhode Island and parts of New Hampshire are part of the commuter area of Boston.

Boston_{Photo: Public Domain}

Boston and the surrounding areas are the international hub of higher education and of medicine with numerous renowned colleges and universities. The economy is based on research, electronics, trade and advanced technology. Boston has grown into a leading financial center due to its strong economy.

Location

Harbour Boston_{Photo: QinnShou CC4.0 International no changes made}

Boston is situated at 42 ° 71 north latitude and 03 ° 42 west longitude. Boston is located on the Massachusetts Shawmut Peninsula at the mouth of the Charles and Mystic River. The rivers flow to Boston Harbor. This port is part of Massachusetts Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. Shawmut was originally a hilly peninsula, almost completely separated from the mainland by swampy swamps. Over the years, the hills were leveled.

The city has a total area of 89.6 square miles. The highest point in Boston is Bellevue Hill at 101 meters above sea level. Boston Harbor consists of 34 islands, the most famous of which is Castle Island, known for the fort.

Weather

Boston has a continental climate with maritime influences due to its location on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Summers are usually warm, rainy and humid. Winters are cold, windy and snow falls regularly. Spring and fall are usually mild depending on the cardinal directions. When the prevailing wind comes from the interior, the influence of the Atlantic Ocean decreases. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 23.3 °C. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -1.5 °C. Annual precipitation falls in the form of 42 inches of rain and 42 inches of snow. The proximity of water increases the humidity and regularly causes fog. The breeze from the Atlantic Ocean keeps Boston's climate relatively mild compared to other cities in the northeastern United States, but makes Boston one of the country's windiest cities.

History

Some prehistoric Indian excavations with archaeological finds on the Shawmut peninsula prove that the region was already inhabited in 5000 BC. The peninsula was connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land and was surrounded by the waters of Massachusetts Bay and Back Bay, a mouth of the Charles River.

The city of Boston was founded on September 17, 1630 by Puritan settlers from England. The Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony are sometimes confused with the Pilgrims, who founded Plymouth Colony in Bristol County ten years earlier. The two groups, which differed greatly in religious views and lived in separate colonies. They were only unified during the formation of Massachusetts Bay Province in 1691.

Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor 1846_{Photo: Public Domain}

In the 1770s, British attempts to brutally maintain control of the thirteen colonies led to the American Revolution. In the late 18th century, Boston was the scene of some major events that triggered the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party are still commemorated. Some early battles of the American Revolution, such as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston, took place in the city and surrounding areas.

After the Revolution, Boston became one of the richest international trading ports in the world. The exports consisted of rum, fish, salt and tobacco. In the early 21st century, the city has developed into an intellectual, technological and political center.

Sights

Boston National Historical Park_{Photo: Public Domain}

Boston played a prominent role in the American Revolution and a number of historical sites related to that period are preserved as part of the Boston National Historical Park. Monuments can be found along the Freedom Trail, marked by a red line of bricks embedded in the ground. Faneuil Hall, the place that played a very important role in the American Revolution (also called "The Cradle of Liberty") is a well-known stop on the Freedom Trail.

Lobby Cutler Majestic Theatre_{Photo: Takomabibelot CC2.0 Generic no changes made}

Boston has a number of ornate theaters, including Cutler Majestic Theater, Boston Opera House, City Performing Arts Center, the Colonial Theater, and the Orpheum Theater. The city is known for a very high-quality music culture. Some examples are: the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Ballet, the Boston Early Music Festival, the Boston Lyric Opera Company, the Boston Opera, and the Handel and Haydn Society.

Boston King's Chapel_{Photo: Chensiyuan CC 4.0 International no changes made}

Boston has been a religious center since the early days. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston serves nearly 300 parishes and is housed in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (1875) in the South End. The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is located in St. Paul's Cathedral (1819) and serves approximately 200 congregations. The oldest church in Boston is King's Chapel, the first Anglican Church founded in 1686

Museum for fine art Boston_{Photo: Alex Feldstein CC 3.0 Unported no changs made}

There are several prominent museums in the city, including the Museum of Fine Arts. The most famous works in the Museum of Fine Arts include the artists Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Rembrandt. Permanent and changing exhibitions include jewelery from the 18th century and other fine works of art. The Museum of Fine Arts is known for its Impressionist paintings, Asian and Egyptian collections, and early American art.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston_{Photo: Biruitorul in the public domain}

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is housed in a Venetian palace located in the center of Boston, it is one of the most popular museums in the city. The museum is known for its eclectic and impressive collection of American, European and Asian art, with works by Rembrandt, Botticelli, Raphael, Titiaan and Matisse. The museum has paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles and an interesting collection of furniture.

Boston Institute of Contemporary Art_{Photo: Ekabhishek CC 2.0 Unported no changes made}

In December 2006, the Institute of Contemporary Art moved from the Back Bay location to a new contemporary building in the Seaport District. The Boston Athenaeum (one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States), the Boston Children's Museum, the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium are other points of interest in the city. The University of Massachusetts campus at Columbia Point is home to the John F. Kennedy Library.

Tips

Harvard Square in Cambridge_{Photo: Chensiyuan CC 4.0 International no changes made}

For student life you have to be in Cambridge on the other side of the river. Strictly speaking, Cambridge is a different city. Surrounding Harvard University and MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is a neighborhood that has the charm of an old-fashioned student city. There are many cafes, bookstores, galleries, specialty shops and especially lively evening entertainment. The center of this is Harvard Square.

In addition to other year-round cultural events, the Harbor festivities and Boston Pop concert are accompanied by fireworks on the banks of the Charles River for a week. Boston is also known for the authoritative marathon that is run there every year.