The Ladder District, an area bounded by Washington Street and Tremont Street with side roads spanning between them (thereby forming rungs of a ladder), and the southeastern edge of Boston Common is a great mix of business, history, and recreation.
This area was part of the original settlement on the Shawmut Peninsula. Over the years, it has gone through cycles of development, destruction by fire, rebuilding, abandonment, and revitalization.
The following provide the visitor with a few special gems.
The original “7” is comprised of:
1) 2 – Art/Music, Gargoyles at The Corner Mall [Formerly Gilchrist's] - Boston, MA WM2Q4Q (
visit link) in “Gargoyles”: If you walk to where Winter and Summer Streets meet with Washington Street, there is a building on one corner with gargoyles (more accurately, they are chimeras) hovering over shoppers. This building was once Gilchrist’s Department Store, which, along with Filene’s and Jordan’s at this intersection, were the anchor stores of Downtown Crossing. Now, only Macy’s, which took over both Jordan’s and Filene’s, remains here.
(
visit link)
2) 4 – Buildings, Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts WM7ZW (
visit link) in “Masonic Temples”: Toward the bottom rungs, at the corner of Tremont and Boylston Streets stands a building that houses the headquarters for Freemasonry in Massachusetts, the oldest jurisdiction of that body in the western hemisphere. Paul Revere was a Grand Master (top position) and did much to expand the fraternity within the state.
3) 5 – Business/Commerce, The Brattle Book Shop WM2PK4 (
visit link) in “Used Book Stores”: Compared to the busier Tremont and Washington Streets, the ‘rung’ streets are often quiet. Many smaller businesses such as dealers, jewelers and restaurants line these streets, and the Brattle Book Shop is a fine example of one.
4) 6 – Entertainment, The Christmas Tree on the Common WM2Q4W (
visit link) in “Holiday Displays”: If you are lucky enough to be in Boston in December, you will be able to see the Christmas Tree on the Common, which is a gift from another city. If not, well, I guess you get a ‘freebie’ to check off on this list.
5) 7 – History/Culture, First Intelligible Voice Transmission Over Electric Wire, 1876 WM26AA (
visit link) in “Massachusetts Historical Markers”: Near this location the principles of transmitting human voice over wire were proved, and today’s telephone came into being.
6) 8 – Memorials/Monument, Paul Revere – Famous Rider and Innovator WM14B0 (
visit link) in “American Revolution Patriot Graves”: Earlier I mentioned Paul Revere. In the Old Granary Burial Ground, Paul Revere is buried. There are other famous patriots, entrepreneurs, martyrs and others buried here.
7) 13 – Structure, The Boston Subway (Park St to Boylston St) – Boston, MA WM2N4Q (
visit link) in “Engineering Landmarks”: If you’re tired of going up and down “the ladder,” you can take a ride on the Green Line between Park Street and Boylston Street.
Two more (making 9) is comprised of:
8) 11 - Signs, Loew's Theatre, Boston Commons - Boston, MA, WM2W90 (
visit link) in "Neon Signs": The Loews Theatre on Tremont Street is the only movie theatre in the downtown area (other that the occasional 'classic' movies shown in one of the performing theatres a few blocks away).
9) 15 - Waymarking Games, Boston Subway Ditch - Boston Common, WM2WBP (
visit link) in "Photos Then and Now": If you walk instead of ride between Park Street and Boylston Street you can walk to Parkman Plaza and compare the "Then and Now" photos with what you see.
More:
4/27/2008
10) 9 - Nature, Parkman Plaza - Boston, MA, WM3MT2 (
visit link) in "Municipal Parks and Plazas: Parkman Plaza is located on the Boston Common, not far from the Park Street Station. There are three statues here, and and the tourist information hut is the starting point of the Freedom Trail.