Tower sights in Boston
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Dorchester Heights
In the winter of 1776, rebel troops dragged 59 heavy cannons to Boston from Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. On the night of March 4, they perched them high atop Dorchester Heights, from where the British warships in the Harbor were at their mercy. The move caught the British completely by surprise, and ultimately convinced them to abandon Boston. The Georgian revival tower that stands here today was erected in 1898. To reach the Dorchester Heights Monument, walk east along West Broadway from the T station, turn right onto Dorchester St and head up any of the little streets. (Or take bus 11 and get off near Dorchester St.)
reviewed
-
B
John Hancock Tower
Constructed with more than 10,000 panels of mirrored glass, the 62-storey John Hancock Tower offers an amazing perspective on Trinity Church, often reflected in its façade. Designed in 1976 by Henry Cobb, the tower suffered serious initial problems: when the wind whipped up, some panes popped out, falling hundreds of feet to the ground. Fortunately, the panes were replaced and the design problem fixed before anyone was hurt. The top-floor observatory was closed for security reasons in the aftermath of September 11.
reviewed
