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During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Paul Revere House
One of the most pleasant stops on the Freedom Trail, this 2 1/2-story wood structure presents history on a human scale. Revere was living here when he set out for Lexington on April 18, 1775, a feat immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride" ("Listen, my children, and you shall hear, / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere"). The oldest house in downtown Boston, it was built around 1680, bought by Revere in 1770, and put to a number of uses before being turned into a museum in the early 20th century. It holds neatly arranged and identified 17th- and 18th-century furnishings and artifacts, including the famous Revere silver, considered some of the finest anywhere.The thought-provoking tour is self-guided, with staff members around in case you have questions. The format allows you to linger on the artifacts that hold your interest. Revere had 16 children (he called them "my lambs") -- eight with each of his two wives -- and he supported the family with a thriving silversmith's trade. At his home, you'll get a good sense of the risks he took in the events that led to the Revolutionary War.Across the courtyard is the home of Revere's Hichborn cousins, the Pierce/Hichborn House. The 1711 Georgian-style home is a rare example of 18th-century middle-class architecture. It's suitably furnished and shown only by guided tour (usually twice a day at busy times). Call the Paul Revere House for schedules.Before you leave North Square, look across the cobblestone plaza at Sacred Heart Church. It was established in 1833 as the Seamen's Bethel, a church devoted to the needs of the mariners who frequented the area. Today it's Roman Catholic, and one Mass every Sunday is in Italian. Wharves ran up almost this far in colonial days; in the 19th century, this was a notorious red-light district.To continue on the Freedom Trail: The trail leaves the square on Prince Street and runs along Hanover Street past Clark Street. Before turning onto Prince Street, take a few steps down Garden Court Street and look for no. 4, on the right. The private residence was the birthplace of Rose Fitzgerald (later Kennedy).
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
The Kennedy era springs to life at this dramatic library, museum, and educational research complex overlooking Dorchester Bay. It captures the 35th president's accomplishments and legacy in video and sound recordings and fascinating displays of memorabilia and photos. Far from being a static experience, it changes regularly, with temporary shows and reinterpreted displays that highlight and complement the permanent exhibits. An exhibit called Campaign! (through Jan 31, 2005) explores the young senator's run for the White House.Your visit begins with a 17-minute film narrated by John F. Kennedy -- a detail that seems eerie for a moment, then perfectly natural. Through skillfully edited audio clips, he discusses his childhood, education, war experience, and early political career. Then you enter the museum to spend as much time as you like on each exhibit. Starting with the 1960 presidential campaign, the displays immerse you in the era. The connecting galleries hold campaign souvenirs, a film of Kennedy debating Richard Nixon and of Kennedy delivering his inaugural address, a replica of the Oval Office, gifts from foreign dignitaries, letters, documents, and keepsakes. There's a film about the Cuban Missile Crisis and displays on Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, the civil rights movement, the Peace Corps, the space program, and the Kennedy family. As the tour winds down, you pass through a darkened chamber where news reports of John F. Kennedy's assassination and funeral play. The final room, the soaring glass-enclosed pavilion that is the heart of the I. M. Pei design, affords a glorious view of the water and the Boston skyline.
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Across from the Hynes Convention Center, the ICA mounts rotating exhibits of 20th- and 21st-century art, including painting, sculpture, photography, and video and performance art. Its shows are among the most imaginative around, focusing on everything from baseball to Mexico. The institute also offers films, lectures, musical performances, poetry readings, and educational programs for children and adults. The 1886 building, originally a police station, is a showpiece in its own right.The ICA's profile is on the rise. It's in the process of building a new museum at Fan Pier, on the South Boston waterfront near the federal courthouse. A $37 million project designed by the pioneering New York firm Diller + Scofidio, the new building is scheduled to open in 2006. Check this space for details and updates in future editions.
Millennium Bostonian Hotel Boston
Located in the heart of Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Bostons Financial District. The Millennium Bostonian Hotel offers every amenity imaginable in this intimate and highly personalized luxury hotel. Some of the 201 guest rooms feature working fireplaces and French doors opening onto quaint balconies. The Millennium Bostonian Hotel, Boston is an intimate and highly personalized luxury hotel offering guests a high-quality residential atmosphere. Located at Faneuil Hall, straddling Bostons ...
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