Throwback Thursday: Five Vintage Photos From St. Paddy’s Day Parades Past
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston needs no introduction—it’s brought out droves of viewers, both Irish and not, for years. Today, it garners more than 500,000 spectators.
The tradition began on St. Patrick’s Day in 1901 after plans for the Dorchester Heights Monument were announced. Honoring another March 17 event, the monument recognizes Evacuation Day, or the day when the British army was ousted from Boston in 1776. Evacuation Day is a holiday that’s only recognized in Suffolk County, and is often celebrated along with the parade festivities.
This year’s parade will be held on Sunday, March 20 at 1 p.m, though it has evolved since its official beginning 115 years ago. Free of shamrock goggles and oversized leprechaun hats, here are five photos of the parade from years past.
Photo via Boston City Archives
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade sometime between 1960 and 1968. (Note the window watchers.)
Photo by majunznk on Flickr/Creative Commons
Watching the parade in 1971.
Photo via Digital Commonwealth/Creative Commons
The parade in 1966.
Photo via Digital Commonwealth/Creative Commons
Another shot from the event in 1966.
Photo via City of Boston Archives
Mayor John F. Collins stands behind bunting along the St. Patrick’s Day parade route with Speaker of the House of Representatives John McCormack and Mary Collins in front of Amrheins Restaurant (in the same spot and on the same day as the first photo in this series.) The photo was taken sometime between 1960 and 1968.
