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During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
First Public School/Benjamin Franklin Statue
A colorful folk-art mosaic in the sidewalk marks the site of the first public school in the country. It was founded in 1634, 2 years before Harvard College. Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Cotton Mather studied there. The original building (1645) was demolished to make way for the expansion of King's Chapel, and the school moved across the street. The prestigious institution is now called Boston Latin School. Other alumni include Charles Bulfinch, Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Santayana, Arthur Fiedler, and Leonard Bernstein.Behind the fence in the courtyard to your left is the Benjamin Franklin statue, the first portrait statue erected in Boston (1856). Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 and was apprenticed to his half-brother James, a printer, but they got along so poorly that in 1723 Benjamin ran away to Philadelphia. Plaques on the base of the statue describe Franklin's numerous accomplishments. The lovely granite building behind the statue is Old City Hall (1865), designed in Second Empire style by Arthur Gilman (who laid out the Back Bay) and Gridley J. F. Bryant, and opened in 1865. The administration moved to Government Center in 1969, and the building now houses commercial tenants.To continue on the Freedom Trail: Follow School Street to Washington Street.
Harvard University Art Museums
The Fogg Art Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum house some 160,000 works, from ancient sculptures to contemporary photos. The exhibit spaces also serve as teaching and research facilities. If you prefer to explore with a guide, take a tour of the Fogg weekdays at 11am, of the Busch-Reisinger weekdays at 1pm (both year-round), or of the Sackler at 2pm weekdays September through June, Wednesdays only in July and August.The Fogg Art Museum (32 Quincy St., near Broadway) is composed of two floors of galleries opening off an impressive 16th-century Italian stone courtyard. Each of the 19 rooms here displays something different -- among the offerings are 17th-century Dutch and Flemish landscapes, 19th-century British and American paintings and drawings, French paintings and drawings from the 18th century through the Impressionist period, and contemporary sculpture. Changing exhibits often draw on the museum's extensive collections of paintings, drawings, prints, and photos.The Busch-Reisinger Museum in Werner Otto Hall (enter through the Fogg) concentrates on the painting, sculpture, and decorative art of northern and central Europe, specifically Germany. Particularly notable are the early-20th-century collections, including works by Klee, Feininger, Kandinsky, and artists and designers associated with the Bauhaus.The Arthur M. Sackler Museum (485 Broadway, at Quincy St.) houses Asian, ancient, Islamic, and Later Indian art. Here you'll find internationally renowned Chinese jades, superb Roman sculptures, Greek vases, Korean ceramics, Japanese woodblock prints, and Persian miniature paintings and calligraphy.
The New England Holocaust Memorial
Erected in 1995, these six glass towers spring up in the midst of attractions that celebrate freedom, reminding visitors of the consequences of a world without it. The pattern on the glass, which at first appears merely decorative, is actually 6 million random numbers, one for each Jew who died during the Holocaust. As you pass through, pause to read the inscriptions.To continue on the Freedom Trail: The trail now passes through a lot of post-Big Dig construction and emerges in the North End. Follow Cross Street to Hanover Street, turn left, and follow Hanover to Richmond Street. Turn right, go 1 block, and turn left.
Hyatt Regency Boston
Located in the heart of the city. Hyatt Regency Boston is just one block from the Boston Common and within walking distance of the city's financial, shopping, and theatre districts. Our 498 spacious guest rooms are beautifully decorated with a modern feel. The rooms overlook lush, private atriums designed to give guests the intimate feeling of a small, exclusive ...
Lenox Hotel
The Lenox, under family ownership for more than 35 years, has the personal attention and quiet, intimate atmosphere of a small, classic European hotel. It appeals to both leisure and business travelers and is a comfortable alternative to larger, commercial hotels.Recognized for its gracious accommodations, personalized service and attention to detail, The Lenox offers guests a full-range of services and amenities, from plush terry bathrobes to in-room fax machines and dual-line speaker phones. ...
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