These posts kind of jump around a bit because I visited a lot of these places on the same day (yet I don't want to bore or overwhelm anyone with TOO much history!) so this post should definitely be enjoyed with the Public Garden post!
First stop on the way to the Common - the State House! Weirdly, I've never actually been here before, despite being a state worker for about 4 years. Charles Bulfinch designed this building that was opened in 1798 - remember how the Old State House was once the seat of state government from 1776 until this opened? Many people think there is a pineapple on top of the gold dome, but it's really a pinecone (well, they were half right!) which was chosen as a nod to the pine trees of New England that were used to build houses, ships and buildings.
There are a bunch of cool facts about our Massachusetts state house: First, the original dome was made of wood, BUT... it leaked. Like a lot. So they hired Paul Revere and Sons to replace the wood with copper in 1802. Since then, it's been covered with 23 carat gold leaf although it was painted dark gray during World War II so that German ships and planes did not see it.
Boston Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in America - which makes sense because it's situated just across the street from Boston Common, which was the FIRST public park in America, founded in 1634! William Blackstone originally owned the land, but Puritan colonists purchased the 44 acres from him for 30 pounds (6 shillings per landowner at the time.) It was a pasture at the time, and became a common area for the Puritan colonists animals to graze.
While the Common had been a site for the Puritans to dole out public punishments (including hangings), it now is a great place for ice skating in the winter on Frog Pond!
Also on the Common, along Beacon Street is a monument to the 300th anniversary of the founding of Boston in 1630. The monument was dedicated in 1930, which means there's only 7 more years until we actually reach the 400th anniversary of Boston!
Another interesting monument on the Common is one to Pope John Paul II, who gave his first mass in the United States here on the Common on October 1, 1979. It was, surprisingly (given the high number of Catholics in Boston and the northeast) the first visit by a Pope to Boston!
I didn't know whether I liked THIS picture of Beacon Street better or...
... THIS picture of Beacon Street? Hmmm. I like them both!
Another monument on the Common is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which was dedicated to all who died fighting in the American Civil War.
One monument on the Common that's been in the news lately is the brand new Martin Luther King, Jr. monument known as The Embrace which sits adjacent to Tremont Street.
Love is such a powerful force. It's there for everyone to embrace - that kind of unconditional love for all of humankind. That is the kind of love that impels people to go into the community and try to change conditions for others, to take risks for what they believe in.
I liked this side of it because their embrace is shaped like a heart. Boston Common has a long history of being a place of public assembly. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke here on April 23, 1965 in front of 22,000 people. He called Boston his second home, having met Coretta here and having gotten his Ph.D. at Boston University!
The Central Burying Ground is located near the corner of Boylston and Tremont Street. Inside of the Central Burying Ground, Gilbert Stuart is buried. He is best known for painting George Washington's famous portrait known as the Athenaeum Portrait, which you now probably see all the time on the $1 bill. Stuart painted MANY other famous portraits of famous people, such as John Jacob Astor, Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, James Madison and James Monroe, the first ladies AND even King George's III and IV.
This sign for the Central Burying Ground said that Gilbert Stuart was America's First Composer, which is incorrect. He was a portrait artist. William Billings was America's first choral composer, and he was ALSO buried here. Looks like they need to get this sign corrected!
British soldiers who died at Bunker Hill (or of disease between 1775 and 1776) were also buried here.
The buildings that surround the Common on Boylston and Tremont are mostly commercial or belong to Emerson College.
I love the Crispus Attucks monument on the Common. The Crispus Attucks Museum website says, "On top stands a figure representing the Spirit of the Revolution inspired by Eugene Delacroix’s painting of Liberty Leading the People, a symbol of the French Revolution. She holds a broken chain in her right hand to symbolize freedom from the oppressors and in her left hand she holds the American flag. With her right foot she crushes the crown of the British monarchy and next to her other foot an eagle prepares to fly."
Another post I did about the Boston Massacre talked about Crispus Attucks, but what I didn't mention is that he was likely born in Natick (where we lived from 2009-2015). His mother is thought to have belonged to the Wampanoag Tribe and his father was an enslaved African. Crispus was considered to be the property of William Brown of Framingham for 27 years before he escaped in 1750 and became a sailor (because that was one occupation open to free African Americans.)
I apologize that this monument is difficult to see, but this one is a full copy of the Declaration of Independence, complete with the signatures at the bottom. It's actually a bronze copy by John Paramino of the painting by John Trumball from 1818 that currently sits in the Capitol Rotunda.
Couldn't find the sign until I was well into my stroll around the Common!
The Emerson College dorms are located across Boylston Street from the Common. Can you imagine having this view!? I loved seeing all of the signs in the windows ("Hi!")
That's cool. A Christmas tree still on the Common, not far from the Park Street Church. In February.
If you stop at the street next to Brewer Fountain, you get a really great view of the Common and the State House. Notice the Freedom Trail's bricks follow along this road!
AND, if you've seen Hamilton, you definitely know who the Marquis de Lafayette is. They have a monument to him on Boston Common which was also designed by John Paramino (same sculptor as the Declaration of Independence monument above.)
Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting Frenchman! Did you know his full name was Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette? He played a big role in the Battle of Yorktown (the last major land battle of the American Revolution) and also fought in the French Revolution. He became an honorary American citizen after his death (but not until 2002!)
We do have a pretty State House and I'm certainly glad the dome is gold again! The last time the dome was gilded was in 1997 at a cost of $300,000.
As I made my way back to the office, I passed by the Park Street Church, which has been here since 1809 (the church has been in existence since 1804.) At 217 feet, this was the tallest building in the United States from 1810 to 1828! Harriett Beecher Stowe's brother Edward was the pastor in 1826, and My Country 'Tis of Thee was played for the first time here (or anywhere) on July 4, 1831 after Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics at the Andover Theological Seminary. So once again, you see yet another Boston building with QUITE a lot of history!
Unfortunately, it's only open for tours in the summer, so I guess I'll just have to go back then! Until next time, Boston Common!
No comments:
Post a Comment