Did you know May is Preservation Month? The national initiative shares the stories of historic places across the country.
We’re ready to celebrate Boston’s rich history all month long, with help from the Boston Preservation Alliance. Here are three ways you can promote preservation in our city.
🛣️ Explore the origins of Boston’s streets
Embrace your inner history buff by using the Boston Public Library’s Atlascope to see how city streets have changed over the years.
Not sure where to start? No problem. We broke down the origins of 15 street names around Boston, including Shawmut Avenue and Acorn Street.
🏠 Learn about the oldest home in Boston
It’s no secret Boston has its fair share of historic buildings (we’re looking at you, Union Oyster House and Old North Church). However, only one building takes the cake as the oldest in the city — and that’s the James Blake House.
The two-story Dorchester property on Columbia Road was built in 1661 by English immigrant John Blake. In 1895, the house was restored and moved from its original location on current-day Massachusetts Avenue.
🗓️ Attend a Boston Preservation Alliance event
Our local preservation organization has a stacked calendar this month (think: neighborhood tours, virtual book clubs, and concerts).
Here are just a few events to check out:
- Hidden Spaces of the Nichols House Museum | Saturday, May 6 | 1-2 p.m. | $20 | Peek into rooms and spaces not usually on view — museum members attend for free.
- Bulfinch Triangle Tour | Sunday, May 14 | 1-2:30 p.m. | $9-$16 | Meet the tour guide on Causeway Street to learn about how the area transformed from a transportation hub to a growing neighborhood on Boston’s skyline.
- Colonial Dance Tunes and Love Songs | Saturday, May 27 | 1-3 p.m. | Free | Head to the Paul Revere House to hear 18th-century tunes.