Panoramic view of the Boston Public Garden in Massachusetts, USA on a nice sunny day.

Adjoining Boston Common, the Public Garden is a 24-acre botanical oasis of Victorian flower beds, verdant grass and weeping willow trees shading a tranquil lagoon. The old-fashioned pedal-powered Swan Boats have been delighting children for generations. The most endearing spot in the Public Garden is the Make Way for Ducklings Statue, depicting Mrs Mallard and her eight ducklings, the main characters in the beloved book by Robert McCloskey.

Until it was filled in the early 19th century, the Public Garden was (like Back Bay) a tidal salt marsh. Now, at any time of the year, it is an island of loveliness, awash with seasonal blooms, gold-toned leaves or untrammeled snow.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Make Way for Ducklings Statue

0.01 MILES

The most endearing of the Public Garden monuments is Make Way for Ducklings, always a favorite with kids. The sculpture depicts the characters in Robert…

2. Ether Monument

0.1 MILES

On the northwest side of the lagoon in the Public Garden, the Ether Monument commemorates the first use of anesthesia (in Boston) for medical purposes.

3. Statue of George Washington

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At the main (Arlington St) entrance to the Public Garden, visitors are met by a statue of George Washington mounted nobly on his horse.

4. Acorn Street

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This atmospheric cobblestone alleyway is Boston's famous narrowest street. It was once home to artisans and to the service people who worked for the…

5. Soldiers & Sailors Monument

0.18 MILES

This massive monument is dedicated to the namesake soldiers and sailors who died in the Civil War. The four bronze statues represent Peace, History, the…

6. Gibson House Museum

0.19 MILES

Catherine Hammond Gibson was considered quite the pioneer when she moved to this Italian Renaissance row house in 1860 (that she was a female homeowner in…

7. Boston Common

0.2 MILES

America's oldest public park, Boston Common has a long and storied history, serving as a campground for British troops during the Revolutionary War and as…

8. Louisburg Square

0.21 MILES

There is no more prestigious address in Boston than Louisburg Square, a cluster of stately brick row houses facing a private park. Louisa May Alcott lived…