Introduction The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in Boston in 1865 and moved to its current location in Cambridge in 1961. It is a private university in the United States dedicated to cultivating advanced scientific, technological, and managerial talent, as well as engaging in science and technology education and research. When MIT was first established, it had only 15 students. After nearly 14…
Guide Currently, the first-floor meeting hall serves as a venue for town meetings, while the second-floor hall is still used by citizens for various gatherings. The third floor houses a museum operated by the headquarters of the Boston Artillery Regiment. Quincy Market is located right behind Faneuil Hall, where restaurants and shops are also clustered. Introduction Faneuil Hall was built by Peter…
Introduction The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is a memorial themed around the ship named "Beaver II." It is docked at the end of Congress Street, in the shallows of Boston Harbor. The original ship is long gone, and the one on display is a 1976 replica. Visitors can board the deck to experience the atmosphere of the time. Transportation Loc…
Introduction For most Americans, Concord and Lexington are inevitably linked. Those familiar with history will find these two places particularly fascinating, as they are the birthplace of the American Revolutionary War. Although geographically and historically close, Concord is more charming than Lexington...
At the end of Congress Street Bridge, next to the Pier Museum, there is a giant 40-meter-tall milk bottle that has become an icon of Boston. Since being donated to the children’s museum in 1977, this bottle has served as an outdoor snack stand. Behind it lies one of the largest children's museums in the country. With exhibits spread across four floors, it caters to…
Introduction The Freedom Trail is a winding, red-bricked pathway stretching over 3 kilometers from Boston Common to Charlestown, lined with mostly 17th- and 18th-century houses, churches, and sites related to the American Revolutionary War…
Introduction This historic district is close to the vibrant Chinatown and the trendsetting Ladder District. A wave of new restaurants, bars, and hotels has infused it with lively energy. Visitors can easily reach Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail from this area...
Guide The monument is located on Breed's Hill, offering a panoramic view of the Charlestown Navy Yard. Introduction The Bunker Hill Monument was built to commemorate a historic battle. Bunker Hill is one of the most famous battlefields in American Revolutionary history. In June 1775, the Continental Army, commanded by Colonel William Prescott, was ordered...
Guide In front of the University Hall stands a bronze statue with three lines inscribed on its base: “John Harvard, Founder, 1638.” In fact, none of these three lines are accurate. First, John Harvard was not the founder—he was merely an important benefactor. Second, the university was not founded in 1638 but two years earlier, in 1636. Third, when the statue was created in the early 20th century, no photograph of Harvard could be found, so a handsome recent graduate was chosen as the model. As a result, the statue is not actually of Harvard himself. These are the three well-known “Harvard Myths” often cited with amusement.
Introduction Boston Common is a 59-acre tract of land in downtown Boston. Since 1634, it has served as a public park, making it one of the oldest parks in the United States. Originally used for grazing cattle and sheep, and even briefly as a military training ground, it is now an ideal spot for strolling and people-watching. …
Introduction The grand-sounding title of the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site refers to an unassuming little house on the outskirts of Brookline Village. It has been restored to look as it did on May 29, 1917, the day of Kennedy’s birth. Most of the items, furniture, and furnishings inside belong to the Kennedy family. The Kennedys lived in this house…
Introduction Atop Beacon Hill stands a classical building with a golden dome, described by Oliver Wendell Holmes as the "hub of the solar system." The distinctive gold dome of the Massachusetts State House has long been an iconic symbol of Boston. Constructed in 1798 by renowned 18th-century architect...
Guide Visit: Please line up at the Jefferson Building before opening time. Introduction The Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world by collection size. It is located just east of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and consists of the Jefferson Building, the Adams Building, and the Madison Memorial Building. It was first...
Introduction Built in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the memorial was initiated under the supervision of President Roosevelt in 1938 and completed in 1943. The memorial is designed in the style of a Roman Pantheon-style dome, which Jefferson favored, and is a white marble structure standing 96 feet tall. Every April, the memorial...
The parts of the White House currently open to visitors are mainly in the East Wing, including the ground floor’s Diplomatic Reception Room, China Room, Vermeil Room, and Library, as well as the first floor’s State Dining Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, and East Room. It is the only official residence of a head of state in the world that is regularly open to the public. The free tour of the White House is very popular but unfortunately available only during limited periods. However, the White House Visitor Center at the Department of Commerce plays videos about the interior of the White House at all times, showcasing everything from the luxurious decor of the State Rooms to profiles of the First Family, press conferences, and meetings with world leaders. White House Visitor Center
Introduction The International Spy Museum opened on July 19, 2002, in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, located near the FBI. The museum is divided into several exhibition themes, including "School for Spies," "The Secret History of History," "Spies Among Us," "The Secret War of Spies," and "After the Mission"…
Introduction Built in honor of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln made great contributions to the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and was assassinated on April 14, 1865. The memorial's construction began in 1914 and was completed in 1922. It is a neoclassical structure modeled after the ancient Greek Parthenon,...
Tour Guide Upon entering the National Museum of American History from the National Mall, you will find yourself on the second floor. In the center of the hall, there is a large Foucault pendulum suspended from the ceiling, a replica of an exhibit that was displayed at the 1851 Paris International Exposition. On the main wall of the central hall is a giant mural of the American flag. Visitors first enter a small screening room where they can watch a short film introducing rural life in the American East Coast — then still British colonies known as “New England” — between 1780 and 1800. From near the Washington statue, you can go up to the third floor, which features exhibitions on the armed forces, coins, textiles, and a precious collection of about 75,000 stamps and paper currency. The National Museum of American History has been open to the public free of charge since 1964. It is a rectangular five-story white marble building that houses many significant artifacts in American history, such as the desk used by Jefferson when drafting the Declaration of Independence, and the world’s first telephone invented by Bell. By the 1990s, the museum’s collection had reached 16 million items. Admission/Tickets & Opening Hours: Free. Open daily from 10:00 to 17:30, closed on Christmas Day.
Introduction Georgetown is part of Washington, D.C., where many 18th- and 19th-century buildings have been preserved. The streets are dotted with fountains and sculptures, and there’s a scenic boardwalk along the river — making it a very charming area. This neighborhood is not only a famous tourist destination but also home to numerous small restaurants and boutiques,…
Introduction The National World War II Memorial is located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was built to honor the 16 million Americans who served during World War II. The entire memorial is designed as a sunken elliptical plaza, with a circular fountain in the center. On either side, there are 56...