Walk in Boston # 1: the forgotten West End

Choose Walk in Boston # 1: the forgotten West End if you want to visit a part of Boston often overlooked but very interesting once you know its history.

It is a unusual self-guided 2.5 miles tour to see what urban renewal meant in the 1950’s.

​If you like 20th century architecture, this walk will introduce you to many different examples of it, as well as to older buildings.

🍿There is an excerpt of it below to give you an idea of what ​​it is.

 💕 Otherwise, it is available in full for a few $ on Payhip/ImagesVoyagesImpressions in a PDF file that you'll be able to download on your phone.

✌️NB: 

• You can read much more about the general content and philosophy of these walks on the home page and see some comments there too.
• The excerpt is the beginning of the description (a bit truncated here), after the full map and the useful info about highlights, metros, buses, bikes, restrooms, and so on. 🚋
• The letters correspond to points indicated on the map, so you always know where you are along the trail or where you're heading.

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​A: Your walk starts at ... (the train station, not the subway station so head towards it from the station-there is direct access) and if it's not like Grand Central in NYC, there is still an atmosphere of travel and awaiting.
 
If you sit for a while and watch the crowd go by, you will see a lot of different and sometimes surprising people, but be discreet! You might also see them put their hand on the station cloverleaf and you will then know where it is.
 
Above you is the ... where the Bruins (the Boston hockey team) or the Celtics (the basketball team) play; if a game is scheduled, fans will be yellow for the Bruins, green for the Celtics and you won't miss them. This is also where big names in rock and pop perform.
 
At the street level in front of the station, you will find numerous shops, restaurants, a supermarket, cinemas and another smaller performance hall.
 
Note that the map here is not very precise because it takes you past the station, but you will easily find how to enter it.
 
B: Once you exit it, though, you will be in front of the Bulfinch triangle, a historic district which owes its name and character to Charles Bulfinch, a famous Boston architect representative of the Federal style in the 18th/19th century. This triangle is almost all that remains of the old West End.

You can take a walk there to see some of the building facades (Bulfinch = simple line, ornaments over the windows, colons, balanced facades), but then return to ... St and take a right (or go straight left out of the station).

You will then walk alongside the ... Federal Building which will be on your right.
 
Built mainly of pink granite in 1986, it replaced the Madison Hotel where used to stay stars and sports teams who came to play at what was the Garden at the time.


(The rest is in the pdf...)

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Ready to explore the city on your own?

Find this Walk in Boston # 1, the forgotten West End, at Payhip.com/ImagesVoyagesImpressions along with some of the 17 others of the same series that you might like, all updated regularly, and you’ll soon be on your way to unique adventures!

NB: In case you haven't seen it already, the map showing you where all these walks are is on the Walk in Boston page, along with links to some walks’ bundles offers and suggestions for your first visit.