Fan Pier Park
Boston Fan Pier Park
One of the most popular photo spots in Boston is the buildings along the waterfront with the harbor in front. People take this photo from Boston Fan Pier in the Seaport District. It's a nice place to get a harbor side view of the city skyline.
The Boston Harbor Association describes Fan Pier:
From the HarborWalk on the Fan Pier, visitors can enjoy one of the best panoramas of the city, with unobstructed views of downtown to East Boston and the Harbor Islands.
Things I Learned about the Boston Fan Pier Park Area
- Fan Pier first earn its name in 1903 - That's when the New York, New Haven rail lines "fan out" at the end of the line. (There were multiple tracks at the end of the line that was spread out like a fan.)
- By the 1930s the tracks were removed as fishing became more important use of the land.
- More land in the South Boston was filled in the 1950s.
- The United States Courthouse was built here in 1998. It was built so that the rotunda would look like a lighthouse.
- The original estimated construction cost was $184 million (1991). By 1993, the Court House construction project was estimated to be $223 million. It actually cost $170 million upon completion. (Unsure how that happened)
- There is silhouette cut out of ships that use to be in the harbor. These make great photo opportunities. (Try to take a picture so that it looks like the ships are still in the harbor.)
- As you continue to walk down the Fan Pier Park you'll encounter a sign on the sidewalk to inform you where the Edge of Pier 1 was in 1878. (18 78 Historic Edge of Pier 1)
Things I learned about the HarborWalk
Harborwalk, the area in front of Fan Pier Park, was inaugurated on July 4, 1982.
- The goal of Harborwalk was to illustrate all the things that you can do along the Harbor.
- The Harborwalk is highlighted with a dotted blue line. (It's modeled after the Freedom Trail.)
- Harborwalk starts at the Old State House where you can get a guide for free.
- You can also pick up the self-guide walking guide at the Bostix, Boston Common Information booth.
- The Harborwalk is a fifty miles of waterfront - from Boston to Milton.
Directions to Fan Pier
The easiest way to get to the Fan Pier is to take the Silver Line to the Courthouse stop.
Once you get up to the street level, head towards Boston (walk with the direction of the car traffic). You will see a lot of tall buildings in the distance.
At the first light take a left towards a brick building (That's John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse)
At the end of the road, take a left towards a couple of old bridges, this is the Old Northern Ave Bridge.
Then take a right and walk along the Boston Harbor. This is the Harborwalk.
As you continue to walk, you'll see a sign that welcomes you to the Fan Pier Park.