Fun Facts about Boston: Your Essential Trivia

Boston is one of the most iconic American cities. Its deep historical roots, legendary sports culture, and even its signature accent make Boston famous. You’ve heard stuff about the Red Sox, lobster rolls, and “Havahd Yahd,” but do you know these fun Boston facts?

Top Boston Facts 1-10

1. The Boston “T” system is the oldest subway system in America. They built the first part of the subway in 1897.
2. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles long. It stretches from Boston Common to Charlestown and the pathway of red bricks marks it.
3. Heard of the Boston Americans? They are now the Red Sox – they chose their name in 1908.
4. The oldest park in Major League Baseball is Fenway Park.
5. The Prudential Center, home of the Skywalk Observatory, is the second-tallest building in Boston.
6. The Boston Common was first established in 1634—making it the oldest public park in the country.
7. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was the victim of the biggest art heist in history, with more than 500 million dollars worth of paintings stolen in 1990.
8. The Hancock Building lights up according to the weather! Different colors indicate different weather patterns, and flashing red in season means the Red Sox game is canceled.
9. The Boston area was the location for the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the seventeenth century. Visit the Salem Witch Museum to learn more.
10. Harvard is the oldest university in America. It opened in 1636—more than 50 years before the second-oldest, the College of William and Mary.

Top Boston Facts 11-20

1. Each year on December 16, the city re-enacts the Boston Tea Party to commemorate its role in American freedom. This event is hosted by the historic Old South Meeting House.
2. A city in England gave Boston its name. It is located approximately 100 miles north of London in Lincolnshire.
3. The House of the Seven Gables, the inspiration for the Nathanial Hawthorne novel of the same name, is a real house that visitors can explore.
4. The Boston Public Library is one of the largest public libraries in the United States. It's third after the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library.
5. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is home to the most unique bouquet in the world—a collection of intricately-crafted glass plants by Leopold Blaschka and his son.
6. The Boston Celtics are the most successful basketball team in NBA history, with 17 NBA Championship titles.
7. The USS Constitution earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” for its ability to withstand cannonballs fired at ship’s hull during the War of 1812.
8. In 1919, a molasses storage tank on the Boston Harbor burst. It unleashed a massive wave of the sticky substance that killed 21 and injured 150.
9. The Old State House is called the birthplace of the American Revolution, and it’s also where the Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed.
10. Revere Beach was the first public beach in the country.

Top Boston Facts 21-25

1. The Louisa May Alcott House, where the beloved novel Little Women was set, is still standing in Concord, Massachusetts and is open for tours. [you could work in a link to LMA post here.]
2. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest marathon and is one of the most prestigious running events in the world.
3. Paul Revere was a talented man: in addition to being a silversmith and engraver, he also worked as an amateur dentist for a time.
4. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Boston natives, took Robin Williams to a dive bar in Southie to give him a real taste of the city while they were filming Good Will Hunting.
5. The original pub that inspired Cheers is located in Beacon Hill—but only exterior shots of the building were ever used in production.

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