Thursday marks the beginning of May. While typically this calls for celebrating the transition from winter to spring to summer, there’s another reason to party. And party you shall – with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, no less. To aptly observe National Historic Preservation Month, Mayor Walsh and the Boston Landmarks Commission will be launching Buildings and Grounds, the theme of Boston’s citywide festivities aimed paying homage to its heritage.
National Historic Preservation Month was established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. According to the National Park Service, “During Preservation Month, many events are planned to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism, and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.”
Mayor Walsh, for his part, will be ringing in National Historic Preservation Month by offering a slew of city tours, talks and exhibits that peer into Boston’s storied past while promoting and honoring its architecture, archaeology, and neighborhoods.
“Boston’s historic buildings and landscapes enrich our neighborhoods. They enhance the daily experiences of our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement. “I hope residents and visitors alike will take advantage of all the excellent programming we’re offering this month.”
Mayor Walsh will kick things off by throwing the program’s keynote event Mated for Life: Boston and the Swan Boats. Taking place at the Taj Boston Hotel overlooking the Public Garden, the keynote will feature a presentation by Lyn Paget, the fourth generation of Boston’s Swan Boats operators. Paget will discuss the origins of the Swan Boats, which date back to 1877, examine the community impact of the Swans and subsequent pop culture imagery, and offer her unique perspective on a celebrated Boston staple.
You can check out the full event calendar below. There are, however, a handful of items worth pointing out:
Every Tuesday at 12:00 p.m., a tour will depart in either the Back Bay, South End, Downtown Boston landmarks and Beacon Hill (May 6, 13, 20 and 27, respectively). Dubbed Tour de Grounds, these tours will shed insight on the culture and structures that give character to Boston’s distinct neighborhoods courtesy of the Landmarks Commission. Keep an eye out for an intriguing emphasis on coffee.
On Friday May 2, Boston By Foot’s The Dark Side of Boston Tour will bring interested attendees to the North End and transport them back in time to when the close-knit neighborhood was bustling with new immigrants. Relive the scourges of smallpox and influenza, the Great Molasses Flood, the Brink’s Job “and other tales of mishaps, malfeasance and mortality.”
On Friday May 9, artists living and working in the Fort Point area’s swanky and sustainable spaces will open up their studios to everyone who’s interested. Formerly warehouses of the industrial era, the studio tour will kick off Fort Point’s Spring Open Studios Weekend.
On Saturday May 10, there’s a tour in store for those with a wicked sweet tooth. The Neponset River, which separates Boston from Milton, once played host to the Baker Chocolate Factory – the building of which still survives today. Join a park ranger and Dorchester Historical Society President Earl Taylor for a stroll around the grounds and the Baker Chocolate Artist Lofts to learn about Boston’s luscious legacy.
Be sure to check out the calendar below for all meeting places, times and prices for tours. Some events will cost money, while others will politely ask for a small donation. See an event you like? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
2014 National Preservation Month
Image via Shutterstock
