HISTORICAL TOURS
in and about
BOSTON

Compliments of
AMERICAN OIL COMPANY

CONTENTS
★

I
INTRODUCTION

II
A DAY’S TRIP THROUGH HISTORIC BOSTON

III
A DAY’S AUTO TRIP THROUGH HISTORIC SUBURBAN BOSTON

IV
BOSTON: THE CITY OF CULTURE

V
A DAY’S AUTO TRIP ON THE NORTH SHORE

VI
A DAY’S AUTO TRIP ON THE SOUTH SHORE

Copyright 1935, American Oil Company

INTRODUCTION
BOSTON
★

You are now in the Historic City of Boston, the Birthplace of American Liberty.

The Boston you see around you today is the capital city of the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a population, in its Greater Boston area, of 2,307,897, and it covers 1022.6 square miles. The town was settled over three hundred years ago by a God-loving people of rugged character, industry and vision. Today it has grown into this great modern manufacturing and commercial center. It boasts of two hundred universities, colleges and schools, of which the major ones are Boston University, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Radcliffe, Wellesley, Tufts, Simmons, Boston College, New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern, and Massachusetts School of Art. There are two hundred and twenty-four public libraries available with more than four million books. There are five museums open to the public.

This little book has been designed by the American Oil Company for your convenience during your stay in this historic town and has been divided into five tours, each of which may be made easily in a day’s time.

A DAY’S TRIP THROUGH HISTORIC
BOSTON
★

The Start: Leaving the Providence Street side of the Hotel Statler, walk directly ahead on Arlington Street one block to Boylston Street. Turn right, proceed on Boylston Street to Charles Street, at which point we cross to the

Boston Common

The Boston Common is a tract of land, containing nearly fifty acres, bought in 1634 by Governor Winthrop and others from William Blaxton, who held his title by right of possession gained prior to the settlement of Boston in 1630. It was set apart for common use as a cow pasture and training field, and amusingly still retains that status. As you enter the Common, pause for a moment at the little cemetery on the Boylston Street side for here lies buried Gilbert Stuart, the noted portrait painter, and also a number of prominent Boston citizens.

Proceeding through the Common, we view the Soldiers’ Monument which crowns Flagstaff Hill where British Artillery was stationed during the siege of Boston, when troops were quartered and entrenched there. From what is now Park Square, the British embarked for Lexington on April 18, 1775. On the Common, the British mustered before the Battle of Bunker Hill and here also gathered contingents for Colonial expeditions against Louisburg and Quebec. Many Massachusetts regiments assembled here prior to going to the front in the Civil War. On Beacon Street Mall, opposite the State House, stands the Shaw monument by Augustus St. Gaudens, a memorial to Colonel Robert G. Shaw and the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry.

Continuing our stroll, we come to the Park and Tremont Street side of the Common and directly across the street we find the old

Park Street Church

The Park Street Church was erected in 1810 on the site of the Granary where the sails of the “Constitution” were made. Brimstone was stored in the basement in 1812, giving the church the name of “Brimstone Corner.” Here, on July 4, 1832, “America” was first publicly sung.

Leaving the Park Street Church, we turn left on Tremont Street and move on to the

OLD GRANARY BURYING GROUND

Granary Cemetery

Here lie buried most of the personages of Historic Boston. Nine early governors—Bellingham, Dummer, Hancock, Bowdoin, Eustis, Sumner, Adams, Sullivan and Gore. Also Peter Faneuil, Paul Revere, the parents of Benjamin Franklin, Robert Treat Paine, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Mary Goose (Mother Goose), and Thomas Fleet, who arranged and published the Mother Goose Rhymes. Here also lie buried in one grave Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick and Samuel Gray, who were the victims of the Boston Massacre. Buried in the same grave with these men is Christopher Snyder, a twelve year old boy, the only person to lose his life at the famous Boston Tea Party.

Leaving the Granary Cemetery, we cross Tremont Street and turn left toward School Street, on the corner of which stands

KING’S CHAPEL

King’s Chapel

King’s Chapel was founded in 1686. The first chapel was built in 1688 the present one in 1749 of old English architecture. Here the British worshipped during the siege. By a strange turn of events, this Tory Church became the First Unitarian Church in the United States in 1785. Although it is still considered Unitarian, it retains many of its Episcopal symbols such as the cross, communion table, Apostle’s Creed and Ten Commandments on the altar. This Chapel is open daily to the public from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m.

Leaving King’s Chapel, turn right on Tremont Street and enter the

King’s Chapel Burying Ground

This was the first burial ground in Boston. A stone bearing the inscription “Captain Welden, February 18, 1630” proves this statement. Here lie buried Governor John Winthrop, Lady Andros, wife of Governor Andros, John Cotton, John Davenport, the founder of New Haven, Conn., William Dawes, who made the famous ride on another route with Paul Revere, Mary