To Boston residents today, the Back Bay section of the city is associated with posh apartments, high end shops, and fine dining. However, Back Bay wasn’t always the upscale neighborhood that it is today. In the early 1800s, the city of Boston was a small port built on the Shawmut Peninsula. Back Bay was literally what it sounded like—a saltwater bay. As industry boomed in the Boston area, developers needed more space to expand the city. In 1856, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts invested in what would be a 25 year project to fill in “the back bay.” Today, residents and visitors alike can enjoy all the history and culture that Back Bay has to offer. If you find yourself in Back Bay, consider visiting the observation deck in the Prudential Center, which offers beautiful city skyline views, or check out the impressive architecture of the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church.

Image: Flickr, Darwin70

September 29th, 2009