Remnants of Urban Renewal Walking Tour

The story of urban renewal has become synonymous with Boston's West End. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, more than 50-acres of tenement housing were demolished under the premise of 'slum clearance' to make way for luxury high-rise buildings. Around 7,000 mostly working class residents were displaced from the neighborhood. The West End is known for what was demolished, but this tour takes you to the buildings that survived. 

A number of historically significant buildings were preserved, as was the North Slope of Beacon Hill – a part of the historic West End neighborhood. These buildings represent a lineage of early Boston architects: Charles Bulfinch, Asher Benjamin, Alexander Parris, and Gridley J.F. Bryant. 

Join former Museum curator, Duane Lucia, on this one and a half hour tour of the pieces of the West End that urban renewal left behind.

This tour begins at the West End Museum. 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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Host or Publisher The West End Museum