Want to brush up on your local history? Here are some facts about Boston Common you may or may not already know.
Often called by the incorrect name “the Boston Commons”, the Boston Common continues to be the central meeting place for many Bostonians. It opened in 1634, making it is the oldest public park in the United States. It covers 50 acres and includes a playground and a skating rink. It is surrounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, and the mouth of Beacon Hill, including Charles Street and the luxury apartments of Beacon Street. The park is lined with green benches and, in the summertime, you often see sunbathers and college students playing Frisbee.
The Boston Common has always been a place for locals to rally and speak up against issues they oppose. The rallies started as early as 1713, when citizens of Boston complained about a food shortage. In 1965, hundreds gathered to protest the Vietnam War, leading to a bigger protest later in the year, with the number of protesters exceeding one hundred thousand.
The park is a great place for formal and informal gatherings. There are often pickup games of softball in the common’s baseball diamond. Students of Berklee College of Music give impromptu concerts for the patrons of the outdoor café near the park’s main fountain. Other more famous people have given concerts too; in 1967, Judy Garland performed her second largest concert ever here. Great speakers have graced the common with their rhetoric: both Martin Luther King and Pope John Paul have made speeches in the common.
Next to the common, separated by just one street, are the public gardens. The public gardens are known for their beautiful flora and fauna, and also the swan boats that people ride on the manmade pond in the middle of the gardens. The gardens are often playgrounds for runners, and welcome visitors looking to relax or take a quick nap under one of the many willow trees.
Another great thing about these two public parks is their proximity to other parts of Boston. If you keep walking on Boylston Street when you exit the park, you’ll pass restaurants and luxury apartments [ https://1330boylston.com/ ]. You can easily find something to eat or drink before heading back to the park to meet friends.
On the other end of the park, closer to the state house, you can access Beacon Hill, which is one of Boston’s historical districts, home to many celebrities and important American figures. Robert Frost, an American poet, was a resident of Beacon Hill; as was John Hancock, one of the original founding fathers of the country. Current residents include Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as David Lee Roth of Van Halen. Maybe you’ll get to see some celebrities walking around Boston Common the next time you go. Keep your eyes peeled!
Boston Common is a great place to spend a day with your friends, cozy up on a bench with a good book, attend a concert or engage in some physical activity. You can surely find a way to enjoy yourself in America's oldest public park.
