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During your Boston vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Boston Public Library
The central branch of the city's library system is an architectural and intellectual monument. The original 1895 building, a National Historic Landmark designed by Charles F. McKim, is an Italian Renaissance-style masterpiece that fairly drips with art. The lobby doors are the work of Daniel Chester French (who also designed the Abraham Lincoln statue in the memorial in Washington, the Minute Man statue in Concord, and the John Harvard statue in Cambridge). The murals are by John Singer Sargent and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, among others. Visit the lovely courtyard or peek at it from a window on the stairs. The adjoining addition, of the same height and material (pink granite), was designed by Philip Johnson and opened in 1972. The lobby holds changing exhibits. Novel serves lunch and afternoon tea Monday through Friday, and Sebastian's Map Room Café is open for snacks 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday.Free Art & Architecture Tours (www.bpl.org/guides/tours.htm) begin Monday at 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at 11am, with an additional tour October through May on Sunday at 2pm. Call tel. 617/536-5400, ext. 2216, to arrange group tours.
Bunker Hill Monument
This 221-foot granite obelisk honors the memory of the colonists who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. The rebels lost the battle, but nearly half the British troops were killed or wounded, a loss that contributed to the redcoats' decision to abandon Boston 9 months later. The Marquis de Lafayette, the celebrated hero of the American and French revolutions, helped lay the monument's cornerstone in 1825. He is buried in Paris under soil taken from the hill. A punishing flight of 294 stairs leads to the top of the obelisk. There's no elevator, and although the views of the harbor and the northern portion of the Big Dig are good, the windows are quite small. The ranger-staffed lodge at the base of the monument holds dioramas and exhibits.Note: Planned renovations may affect open hours during your visit. The walk and the view from the hill are still worth the time, but if you want to climb the monument and see the exhibits, call ahead to make sure that's possible.
Harrison Gray Otis House
Legendary architect Charles Bulfinch designed this gorgeous 1796 mansion for an up-and-coming young lawyer who later became mayor of Boston. The restoration was one of the first in the country to use a computer analysis of the wall paint, and the result was revolutionary: It revealed that the colors on the walls were drab because the paint was faded, not because they started out dingy. Furnished in the style to which a wealthy family in the late-18th-century and early-19th-century United States would have been accustomed, the Federal-style building is a colorful, elegant treasure. Guided tours (the only way to see the house) discuss the architecture of the house; post-Revolutionary social, business, and family life; and the history of the neighborhood.
Hampton Inn & Suites Boston Crosstown Center
Boston's newest Hampton Inn & Suites is ideally located at Boston Crosstown Center, adjacent to Boston Medical Center. We are at the crossroads of Boston, the most direct and accessible hotel to Logan International Airport and the convention centers. Guests will love our chic hotel d'cor designed with urban comfort in mind. We offer free shuttle service to and from Logan Airport and nearby Longwood Medical Area. We're also close to the Back Bay, Fenway Park, Copley Place and Boston's ...
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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