52 Must Know Boston Facts While Planning Your Travel To The City

Boston's population rapidly grew in the 1820s, changing the ethnic composition of the city with the first European immigrants.

Around a quarter of the population in Boston are foreign residents. Only around 17% of the population make up kids below 18 years.

Boston is one of America's oldest and most beloved cities. If you're planning a trip there, make sure to check out these must-know fun facts about Boston!

From the city's rich history to its love for sports teams, Boston has something for everyone. Some popular Bostonians are George H. W. Bush, Emily Dickinson, Barbara Walters, Benjamin Franklin, Edgar Allan Poe, and John F. Kennedy.

And if you're a fan of the red sox or Boston marathon, you'll be in for a real treat! Make sure to check out some of Boston's beautiful public parks too while you're there.

History Of Boston

Puritan settlers from England founded Boston in the year 1630. The city's name is derived from the town of Boston, Lincolnshire, England. A key role in the American Revolution was played by Boston and its home to many iconic historical landmarks such as the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution Museum.

• Boston was the scene of many important events during the American Revolution, such as the Battle of Bunker Hill, the siege of Boston, and the Boston Tea Party.
• On December 16, each year, the City of Boston re-enacts the Boston Tea Party for the remembrance of its role in the independence of America.
• Boston built the oldest higher education institution in 1636, in the United States, named after John Harvard, its benefactor.
• In the 19th century, Boston captured neighboring towns like Charlestown, West Roxbury, East Boston, and South Boston.
• The first state or public school was established in 1635 that was named Boston Latin School.
• Boston Marathon is a popular sports event in the city. It's a 26.3 mi (42.2 km) race and is also the world's oldest marathon.
• The TD Garden arena replaced the previous Boston Garden. It's home to two main league teams; National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics and National Hockey League's Boston Bruins.
• The greatest art heist in history took place in 1990, when over $500 million worth of paintings got robbed from Isabella Gardner Museum.
• Alexander Graham Bell called his assistant, in Boston's machine stop, which was the first phone call ever made.
• Initially, before the European colonization, the City of Boston was occupied by indigenous Massachusett.
• The Boston area was first named Trimountaine by the early European settlers.
• The City of Boston tripled its area from 1631-1890 through land reclamation, filling gaps, mudflats, and marshes.
• The 'T' system of the Boston subway is America's oldest subway system.

Tourist Attractions In Boston

Boston has many tourist attractions, such as the New England Aquarium and Fenway Park. The Freedom Trail connects main tourist attractions, stretching from Charlestown to Boston Common and it is a great introduction to the modern city.

• There are several islands on Boston Harbor and 34 of them are included in the National Recreation Area on Boston Harbor Island.
• The first public park in the United States was Boston Common. Boston Common Public Park is located near Beacon Hill and the Financial District.
• The highest National Park Region of the US is founding Boston, with 12 of them just within 30 mi (48.2 km) of downtown Boston.
• Boston University Bridge is the only spot in America where you can spot an aircraft flying over a road vehicle over a train moving above a boat.
• The first public beach in the United States was Revere Beach. In 1896, the stretch of Revere beach sand was established.
• The first subway of America, the Tremont Street Subway in Boston was established in 1897. It's the world's third subway to use electric traction.
• Boston also has the first American lighthouse; the Little Brewster Lighthouse was built in 1716.
• The Faneuil Hall Marketplace has South Market, North Market, Quincy Market, and Faneuil Market. This place has great importance in Massachusetts political history.
• The Museum of Fine Arts is one of America's oldest art institutions. It houses one of the world's best art collections, like the Art of the Americas wing.
• The Massachusetts State House with the golden dome is a prominent building for several reasons and it is also included in the Freedom Trail. Charles Bulfinch designed this building that was completed in 1798.
• Around 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of the center of Boston is Cambridge, which is home to MIT and Harvard University.
• Kids can learn and enjoy in the Museum of Science. They will learn anatomy, earth sciences, and astronomy. They can also participate in some interesting interactive exhibits.
• You can attend the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony Hall. You can enjoy Boston Pops, traditional concerts, or family shows.
• In the New England Aquarium, you will find many marine species. It houses creatures like barracuda, eels, and sea turtles.

Famous Food Of Boston

Boston is known for its seafood and clam chowder in particular. You can find these dishes at many of the local restaurants or order them to-go if you're on a budget.

• Marshmallow fluff recipe comes from Somerville, through the Charles River, and chocolate chip cookie from Toll House Inn's Ruth Wakefield, Massachusetts.
• The name Fig Newton, a famous cookie, was inspired by a Boston suburb.
• Boston holds the title of United States' bean capital because of Boston baked beans.
• In 1765, Walter Baker built a chocolate factory in Dorchester. This chocolate factory was the first in the United States.
• One of the most famous Boston deserts is cannoli. Ricotta cheese that is topped with fruits, chocolate, or nuts is used as filling inside Italian pastry pipes.
• Since 1856, the Boston cream pie has been a staple of the diet among the people in Boston.
• Oysters are not only filling and delicious but also affordable in the city of Boston.
• Boston-style hot dogs called Fenway Frank have their roots in Fenway Park.
• The classic Yankee pot roast is particularly famous during the winter season.
• The lobster roll has lobster meat combined with melted butter or mayo that is served in a buttered or griddled bread roll.
• Clam chowder has been famous in Boston since the 18th century. It's made of onions, potatoes, milk or cream, and clams with oyster crackers.
• The desert beverage, a frappe is made of cold syrup and milk with ice cream. It is what the world calls a milkshake, but creamier and thicker.
• The roast beef sandwiches in the city are quite tasty. They make them of onion roll stuffed with many layers of roast beef and you can also add white American cheese, barbecue sauce, and mayo.

Facts About Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox is one of America's oldest major league baseball teams. They started playing at Fenway Park on April 20, 1912, and have won nine World Series titles since then.

• Boston's Hancock building has different colored lights to indicate the weather. For example, flashing blue indicates clouds are due, solid blue indicates a clear sky, and flashing red indicates that the Red Sox game is canceled.
• As American League East Division's member club, the Boston Red Sox plays in MLB or Major League Baseball.
• John I. Taylor, Boston Red Sox team owner, chose the team name around 1908.
• The recent World Series win of the Boston Red Sox was in 2018.
• In the first World Series of 1903, Red Sox defeated Pittsburg Pirates and by 1918 they went on to win four more World Series championships.
• After their 1918 win, the Red Sox went into an 86-year championship drought, which is the longest in baseball history.
• In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their sixth World Series championship.
• Boston Red Sox became the first team in the 21st century to be awarded the world championship trophies, with victories in 2004, 2007, then in 2013, and recently in 2018.
• Fenway Sports Group, the owner of Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League, also owns the Boston red sox.
• Two Red Sox anthems are 'Dirty Water' by The Standells and 'Sweet Caroline' by Neil Diamonds.
• The team originally had many nicknames like the Boston American.
• After adopting the color red in 1908, the Boston Americans got their official name, 'Boston Red Sox'.
• In 1901 and 1902, this Boston franchise played Huntington Avenue Grounds, their home games, and was placed second and third, respectively.
• This team was quite competitive around the late '60s and early '70s, however, they didn't finish higher than second place.