Long Wharf (Boston)
Long Wharf and Custom House Block | |
Boston, Massachusetts | |
Coordinates | 42°21′37″N 71°2′59″W / 42.36028°N 71.04972°W |
---|---|
Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
Built | 1710 |
NRHP reference No. | 66000768 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
Long Wharf is a historic American pier in
History
18th century
Construction of the wharf began around 1710. As originally built the wharf extended from the shoreline adjacent to Faneuil Hall and was one-third of a mile long, thrusting considerably farther than other wharves into deep water and thus allowing larger ships to tie up and unload directly to new warehouses and stores. "Constructed by Captain Oliver Noyes, it was lined with warehouses and served as the focus of Boston's great harbor."[2] Over time the water areas surrounding the landward end of the wharf were reclaimed, including the areas now occupied by Quincy Market and the Customs House.[3]
"At the wharf's head in the 18th century was the
19th century
Among several similar structures, a grand granite warehouse known as the
In the late 1860s, as the city's port began to decline in importance as an international shipping destination,[7] Atlantic Avenue was cut through this and other wharves, changing the face of the waterfront.
20th century
The construction of the elevated Central Artery along Atlantic Avenue in the 1950s separated Long Wharf from Boston's business district.
The wharf and the 19th-century Custom House Block were recognized as a National Historic Landmark in recognition for the role they played in the history of Boston and its importance as a major 19th-century shipping center.[7]
21st century
The
Today, Long Wharf is adjacent to the
Custom House Block
The Custom House Block (42°21′35.95″N 71°2′58.53″W / 42.3599861°N 71.0495917°W) was built in 1845-87.[8] A former warehouse, architect Isaiah Rogers designed the four-storey building, constructed of granite and brick. In its 19th-century heyday, it contributed to the life of "Boston's busiest pier, commercial port, and embarkation point for travelers." Today private owners maintain the site.[9][10]
The building was renovated in 1973 by
Gardiner Building
The Gardiner Building (42°21′36″N 71°03′00″W / 42.360°N 71.050°W) is a brick Colonial style warehouse built in 1763 and rebuilt in 1812. At one time it was used as
The Gardiner Building features a
Services
The following marine services operate from the Long Wharf:
- MBTA Boat(north side)
- Ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (north side)
- Ferry to Salem, Massachusetts (north side)[11]
- Ferry to Provincetown, Massachusetts[12]
- Water taxi
- New England Aquarium harbor tours (south side) – Aquarium itself is on Central Wharf to the immediate south
- Various harbor cruises[13]
- Docks for private vessels
See also
- Custom House District, area near Long Wharf
- Boston Custom House, built 1849 on State Street
- State Street Block (Boston), built 1857 on State Street
- National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Boston, Massachusetts
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Boston
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Southworth & Southworth. AIA Guide to Boston, 3rd ed. 2008; p.74.
- ^ a b "Learn about history". The Boston Harborwalk. Archived from the original on August 25, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2006.
- ^ Southworth & Southworth. 2008; p.74.
- ^ a b "Long Wharf". The Boston Harborwalk. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2006.
- ^ Southworth & Southworth. 2008.
- ^ a b c "NHL nomination for Long Wharf and Custom House Block". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7627-4337-7.
- ^ Boston Directory. 1848
- ^ Southworth, Susan & Southworth, Michael (2008) AIA Guide to Boston (3rd ed.) p.74
- ^ "Salem Ferry". cityexperiences.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Bay State Cruise Company: Boston to Provincetown Fast Ferry".
- ^ "Boston Harbor City Cruises". cityexperiences.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
External links
- Google news archive. Articles about Long Wharf.
- Harvard Business School. Proprietors of the Boston Pier, or Long Wharf records, 1762-1903