Five Activities for Boston Architecture Buffs
Here's how to learn more about the city's ever-evolving skyline.
1. Boston Architecture Cruises
Did you know the Longfellow Bridge was named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow because he often crossed it to court his future wife, Fanny? That’s just one of many historical tidbits you’ll learn on a Boston Architecture Cruise, offered daily through September 3, and on weekends through October 28. Co-sponsored by the BSA Foundation and Boston By Foot, the 90-minute cruises offer panoramic views of both historic and contemporary architecture from the Charles River Basin, the Charles River Locks, and Boston Harbor. Tickets are available up to two weeks in advance of a cruise, and reservations are recommended.
$29.50 for adults, $22.50 for children under 12, seniors, and students. Tickets and schedules available at charlesriverboat.com/tickets.
2. An Instagrammable Beacon Hill Tour
How does one capture the historical beauty of Beacon Hill’s architecture in a single snapshot? Instagrammer Matthew Dickey can show you the ropes during Historic New England’s Instagram walking tour. He’ll point out the best architectural photo ops, plus divulge a few tips and tricks.
Saturday, August 4, 3-4 p.m., Otis House, 141 Cambridge St., historicnewengland.org.
Photo by Eric Clark
3. Boston by Foot Tours
You can’t call yourself an architecture buff if you don’t have a fierce love for walking tours. Boston by Foot tours are excellent for learning about off-the-beaten path buildings, but it’s the organization’s “special topic” tours that we love the most. Every year, Boston by Foot offers an “Art Deco in the Back Bay” tour, “The Ladder Blocks” tour, and more. Peep the roster of regularly offered tours and special topic tours at bostonbyfoot.org.
Boston by Foot, bostonbyfoot.org.
4. Architecture Trivia Nights
The BSA Foundation launched architecture trivia nights this spring, inviting industry folks to flaunt their architecture knowledge while noshing on pizza and beer. Keep an eye on the BSA’s event calendar for the next installment.
Architecture trivia nights, architects.org.
Photo by Margaret Burdge
5. A Summer Architecture Tour of the ICA
Love it or hate it, Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s Institute of Contemporary Art is a fixture of the Seaport. These upcoming architecture tours point out the building’s most unique features—and describe how they relate to the museum’s mission.
Various dates in August and September 2018, Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., ica.org.
