Boston
Boston is an American city with a European feel. Here you are actually encouraged to stroll around the city center and experience the good and friendly atmosphere.
Boston is a very popular destination and more than 12 million tourists visit the city annually. Tourism is important for the region and the city is well equipped to give you value for money, with many interesting museums and attractions, and a story you will not find in any other city in the United States.
Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and is located in the New England region where the first pilgrims from Europe settled.
Boston is often called the cradle of independence and the city had an important role in America’s early history. Here happened the famous Boston Tea Party, a trigger for the American War of Independence, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. And the city has more than culture and history. Not far from Boston is the famous and idyllic holiday peninsula of Cape Cod.
In other words, if you choose Boston, everything is organized for a holiday trip that meets the needs of most tourists.
Get to know Boston
Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts, which was one of the original 13 US states. Boston was founded by Puritan colonists as early as 1630, but excavations show that Indians have lived in the area for about 7,000 years.
The Puritans opened the continent’s first public school in 1635, and the following year they opened the first university. This was the world-famous Harvard University, which is still one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Boston was North America’s largest city until the mid-18th century. In the 1770s, Bostonians rebelled against the ever-increasing taxes imposed by the British on their colonies, including through the famous Boston Tea Party, where colonists destroyed tons of tea by throwing cargo into the harbor basin. This was one of the triggering factors of the American War of Independence (1775-1783).
Several of the first battles of the war against the British occurred in and around Boston, and most famous is probably the Battle of Bunker Hill, which is just north of downtown. One of America’s foremost national heroes is Paul Revere, who rode from his home in central Boston one night to warn the rebels that the British were on their way. For many generations, every American schoolchild could frame poems and songs about Paul Revere.
After the end of the war, Boston became one of the richest and most important port cities in the United States, with export and import goods unloaded on and off. Immigration from Europe exploded in the 19th century, and Boston became a rallying point for Irish immigrants (including the now-powerful Kennedy family), which characterizes the city to this day. The biggest religion in the city is Catholicism.
Boston gained city status in 1822. Large parts of the city’s downtown areas and financial district burned down in 1872.
City Profile
- Abbreviation: BST
- Country: United States
Downtown Boston and Downtown
Boston has evolved into a political hub in both New England and the United States. Despite just under 700,000 residents, Boston is a compact city on an American scale. According to the US Census Bureau, only a few cities across the United States have a larger proportion of residents walking to and from work each day.
The city center can be said to be the boroughs closest to the harbor, with the Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Government Center Square as recurring points for visitors. Here are the town hall, the two courthouses and several other administrative buildings.
Boston ‘s Chinatown is also part of downtown areas, and the district is mainly covered by Washington Street, Beach Street, Essex Street and Kneeland Street. This is one of the city’s most densely populated areas. Over 70% of the population is of Asian origin, which you can also see in the many restaurants and shops with Asian food and goods, with golden lions, incense scent and dragon carvings.
You are guaranteed to visit Downtown Crossing. This is an old town with pedestrian streets full of shops, market stalls and department stores. Downtown is the area where the city’s residents and visitors go to shop, eat, make friends or have a drink.
North of downtown Boston
North of downtown is the North End, which is really Boston’s oldest neighborhood. In the North End, people have lived continuously since 1630. Today, this is mainly a residential area of limited interest to foreign tourists, if you do not intend to visit the area’s authentic Italian restaurants and Irish pubs, both share a legacy of the city’s first immigrants.
American tourists, on the other hand, have a tremendous interest in visiting historic landmarks such as Paul Rever’s house [see photo first in article] and Old North Church of 1723 located in this district
West of downtown Boston
To the west of downtown is the large green park Boston Common, the United States ‘oldest public park, and the Public Garden, the United States’ oldest botanical garden. Boston Common is a vast green area and is Boston’s favorite place for picnics and outdoor activities.
In the Public Garden you have lagoons, monuments, statues and fountains, and you can take a tour of the city’s semi- legendary Swan boats, which have been around for over 100 years.
Beacon Hill is just north of Boston Common and has been named after the lighthouse that once stood here. Today it is one of the more exclusive residential areas in the United States with many celebrities, and here is the Massachusetts State House, the state’s powerhouse.
The main shopping streets of Beacon Hill are Cambridge Street and Charles Street. These are known for their forties antique shops, delicatessens and exclusive restaurants.
Back Bay and Dorchester
West of Beacon Hill is Back Bay, also one of America’s most exclusive locations. Here are many old brown stone Victorian mansions and some of New England’s tallest skyscraper buildings, such as the 241-foot-high 200 Calarendon Street, formerly known as the John Hancock Tower. The skyscraper’s new name matches the street address.
In Back Bay you will find two of the city’s leading shopping streets, Newbury Street and Parallel Boylston Street. The heart of the district is Copley Square, and here is the beautiful Trinity Church and Boston Public Library.
We will also mention the borough of Dorchester, which is south of downtown. Although now a residential neighborhood without the major attractions, it is known for America’s first and oldest public elementary school, the Mather School of 1639. It is located at 1 Parish Street, Dorchester.
Here lived the Kennedyk Clan, and you can visit the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum if you move east to Colombia Point. There are also the University of Massachusetts and Boston College High School, the Franklin Park Zoo and the legendary old pub Eire Pub, which both Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton have visited, but not at the same time. The address of this old original pub is 795 Adams Street.
The nightlife in Boston is very good and varied, perhaps not so strange considering that there are over 100 universities and colleges in Massachusetts. It is not without reason that Boston is called America’s Athens. In total, around a quarter of a million people study in Boston and neighboring Cambridge alone.
A lot of famous bands in the pop / rock genre have started in Boston, including The Cars, the Pixies, Aerosmith, Extreme, New Kids On The Block, Buffalo Tom and of course the Boston rock band.
Facts about Boston
Boston is located in the state of Massachusetts on the east coast of the United States and is the capital state. Boston is also the largest city in Massachusetts and a popular tourist destination.
Population
|
Around 600000. |
Official languages
|
English. |
Control Form
|
Republic |
Religion
|
No official religion, but 78% is a form of Christian. |
Time Difference
|
The US east coast is five hours behind the Norwegian winter time, in summer time six hours. |
Currency
|
US Dollar (USD). Credit cards like Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Diners are very common, and ATMs can be found almost everywhere. |
Tips
|
Most people who work in service in the United States have salaries based on tips. It is common to give 15-20% at the restaurant, in taxis, hairdressers, etc. Some eateries may have service stated on the bill. |
Embassy
|
The Norwegian Embassy in the US is located in Washington DC, but in Boston there is an honorary consul who can be reached by phone (+1) 617 423 2515. |
Tourist
|
Two Copley Place, Suite 105. |
Telephone
|
+1 |
Emergency
|
911 |
Electricity
|
110 / 120V. Both two- and three-point connectors are common, so bring an adapter with you if you want to bring along electrical items. |
Holidays and Holidays
|
Most US holidays such as Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and even Martin Luther King Day are moving. The exception is Indepencence Day, July 4th. |
Visa
|
Not required for Norwegian citizens if you have the new type of machine-readable passport. From 2009, you must register your arrival on an electronic system on the Internet at least 72 hours before arriving in the United States.Read more on the Travel Plan’s page about passports and visas. |
Vaccinations
|
No vaccines are required. |
Water
|
Can be easily drunk from the tap. |
Nearest major cities
|
New York City, Albany, Providence. |
Safety
|
Little crime of violence, although some neighborhoods are more charged than others. Police are clearly visible in the street scene, and frequent and thorough security checks on tourist attractions and airports will, for many Norwegians, manifest themselves on the verge of paranoia. But for good reason. |
List of Boston Acronyms
The most commonly used abbreviations about Boston is BST which stands for Boston. In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Boston, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.
Abbreviation |
Meanings |
ABCD |
Action for Boston Community Development |
ABNORMAL |
Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods |
ABN |
Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods |
AFHB |
Architecture for Humanity Boston |
ADSB |
Art Deco Society of Boston |
AFAB |
Asosiyasyon Fanm Ayisyen Nan Boston |
BKB |
BankBoston Corporation |
BST |
Boston |
BSN |
Boston |
BAE |
Boston Academy of English |
BAAD |
Boston Access Advocates for the Deaf |
BAHRAIN |
Boston Acoustics, Inc. |
BA |
Boston Acoustics, Inc. |
BALF |
Boston Adult Literacy Fund |
BADS |
Boston Air Defense Sector |
ZBW |
Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center |
BABL |
Boston Amateur Baseball League |
BAGS |
Boston Amateur Golf Society |
BM |
Boston and Maine Railroad Corporation |
BMT |
Boston and Maine Transportation Railroad |
BACS |
Boston Archdiocesan Choir School |
BACHELOR |
Boston Architectural Center |
BAC |
Boston Architectural Center |
BACHELOR |
Boston Architectural College |
BAC |
Boston Architectural College |
BAATAF |
Boston Area Anticoagulation Trial for Atrial Fibrillation |
BACAP |
Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy |
BADX |
Boston Area DXers |
BAKE |
Boston Area Kodály Educators |
BALMEST |
Boston Area Liberation Medics |
BALM |
Boston Area Liberation Medics |
BANG |
Boston Area Naturists Group |
BASEA |
Boston Area Solar Energy Association |
BAFL |
Boston Asian Football League |
BAA |
Boston Athletic Association |
BAMA |
Boston Atlanta Metropolitan Axis |
BBM |
Boston Bacterial Meeting |
BBB |
Boston Baked Beans |
BBA |
Boston Bar Association |
BBC |
Boston Beer Company |
BBWS |
Boston Beer Works |
BBW |
Boston Beer Works |
BBFF |
Boston Bike Film Festival |
BBRI |
Boston Biomedical Research Institute |
BBU |
Boston Bluegrass Union |
BBC |
Boston Borough Council |
BBC |
Boston Business Computing |
BCU |
Boston Carmen’s Union |
BCMC |
Boston Catholic Men’s Conference |
BC |
Boston Celtics |
BOS |
Boston Celtics Limited Partnership |
BRDC |
Boston Census Research Data Center |
BCAE |
Boston Center for Adult Education |
BCIL |
Boston Center for Independent Living |
BCA |
Boston Center for the Arts |
BCYF |
Boston Centers for Youth and Families |
BCE |
Boston Chamber Ensemble |
BCMS |
Boston Chamber Music Society |
BCI |
Boston Chicken Inc. |
BCC |
Boston Church of Christ |
JBC |
Boston City Heliport |
BCH |
Boston City Hospital |
BCAN |
Boston Climate Action Network |
BCFE |
Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression |
BC |
Boston College |
BCH |
Boston College High School |
BCLS |
Boston College Law School |
BCRFC |
Boston College Rugby Football Club |
BC |
Boston Common |
BCGI |
Boston Communications Group Inc |
BCC |
Boston Community Cooperatives |
BCLA |
Boston Community Leadership Academy |
BCAM |
Boston Company Asset Management, LLC |
BCS |
Boston Computer Society |
BETON-A-CARACTERISTIQUES-NORMALISEES |
Boston Concert Network |
BCN |
Boston Concert Network |
BOCO |
Boston Conservatory |
BCT |
Boston Consolidated TRACON |
BCG |
Boston Consulting Group |
BECE |
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center |
BCC |
Boston Convention Complex |
BCPT |
Boston Crossword Puzzle Tournament |
BACHELOR |
Boston Crusaders |
BC |
Boston Crusaders |
BAC |
Boston Crusaders |
BEMF |
Boston Early Music Festival |
BECO |
Boston Edison Company |
BSE |
Boston Edison Company |
BELA |
Boston E-Learning Association |
BEPA |
Boston Elementary Principals Association |
BEMS |
Boston Emergency Medical Services |
BEAN |
Boston Environmental Ambassadors to the National Park Service |
BEC |
Boston Equestrian Center |
BEX |
Boston Equity Exchange |
BEU |
Boston Euro Unit |
BEACON |
Boston Exchange Automated Communication Order-Routing Network |
BFFF |
Boston Fantastic Film Festival |
BFSB |
Boston Federal Savings Bank |
BFC |
Boston Film Critics |
BFF |
Boston Film Festival |
BFD |
Boston Fire Department |
BFH |
Boston Floating Hospital |
BFS |
Boston Foundation for Sight |
BGBL |
Boston Gay Basketball League |
BGMC |
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus |
BG |
Boston Globe |
BEIGE |
Boston Globe |
BGEA |
Boston Globe Employees Association |
BGS |
Boston Guppy Session |
BHC |
Boston Harbor Cruises |
BHC |
Boston Hardcore |
BHEI |
Boston Health Economics, Inc. |
BHSI |
Boston Healthy Start Initiative |
BHCA |
Boston Home Care Associates |
BHC |
Boston House College |
BHRA |
Boston Human Resources Association |
BIS |
Boston Inspectional Services |
BIDE |
Boston Institute for Developing Economies |
BICSO |
Boston Intercollegiate Community Service Organization |
BITSA |
Boston Intercollegiate Taiwanese Students Association |
BITA |
Boston Irish Tourism Association |
BJV |
Boston Jazz Voices |
BJP |
Boston Jolly Pirates |
BJC |
Boston Juvenile Court |
BLA |
Boston Latin Academy |
BLS |
Boston Latin School |
BLC |
Boston Law Collaborative |
BL |
Boston Legal |
BLC |
Boston Library Consortium |
BLSI |
Boston Life Sciences, Inc. |
BLO |
Boston Lyric Opera |
BMSF |
Boston Main Streets Foundation |
BMIP |
Boston Marine Industrial Park |
BMSA |
Boston Medical and Scientific Advisors, LLC |
BMC |
Boston Medical Center |
BMCHP |
Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan |
BMW |
Boston Metro-West |
BMC |
Boston Municipal Court |
BMRB |
Boston Municipal Research Bureau |
BMOS |
Boston Museum of Science |
BMH |
Boston Music Hall |
BMV |
Boston Musica Viva |
BML |
Boston Mutual Life |
BMC |
Boston Mycological Club |
BNT |
Boston Naming Test |
BOST |
Boston National Historic Park |
BNHP |
Boston National Historical Park |
BNN |
Boston Neighborhood Network |
BNPG |
Boston Neighborhood Producers Group |
BNG |
Boston Newspaper Guild |
BOSP |
Boston Ocular Surface Prosthesis |
BOP |
Boston Oil Party |
BOX |
Boston Options Exchange |
BPON |
Boston Parent Organizing Network |
BPRD |
Boston Parks & Recreation Department |
BPOA |
Boston Partnership for Older Adults |
BPI |
Boston Photo Imaging |
BYPASS |
Boston Pizza |
BP |
Boston Pizza |
BAGPIPE |
Boston Pizza |
BPOC |
Boston Pizza Oakridge Centre |
BENZO |
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre |
BPT |
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre |
BPD |
Boston Police Department |
BPRA |
Boston Police Relief Association |
BPO |
Boston Pops Orchestra |
BPB |
Boston Print Buyers |
BPBTC |
Boston Private Bank Trust Company |
BPFH |
Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc |
BPA |
Boston Process Approach |
BPHA |
Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc. |
BPAC |
Boston Progress Arts Collective |
BXP |
Boston Properties, Inc. |
BPHC |
Boston Public Health Commission |
BPL |
Boston Public Library |
BPS |
Boston Public Schools |
BQ |
Boston Qualify |
BQT |
Boston Qualifying Time |
BRS |
Boston Red Sox |
BOS |
Boston Red Sox |
BRA |
Boston Redevelopment Agency |
BRA |
Boston Redevelopment Authority |
BRMC |
Boston Regional Medical Center, Inc. |
BNR |
Boston Restaurant Associates, Inc. |
BRS |
Boston Retirement System |
BSC |
Boston Sailing Center |
BSP |
Boston Scholars Program |
BSX |
Boston Scientific Corporation |
BSC |
Boston Scientific Corporation |
BSKC |
Boston Sea Kayak Club |
BSAS |
Boston Security Analysts Society |
BSP |
Boston Shear Pump |
BSAA |
Boston Society for Antique Automobiles |
BSA |
Boston Society of Architects |
BSLA |
Boston Society of Landscape Architects |
BSC |
Boston Sports Club |
BSE |
Boston Stock Exchange |
BSECC |
Boston Stock Exchange Clearing Corporation |
BS |
Boston Stoker |
BSQ |
Boston String Quartet |
BSO |
Boston Symphony Orchestra |
BTC |
Boston Tattoo Convention |
BTP |
Boston Tea Party |
BTU |
Boston Teachers Union |
BT |
Boston Terrier |
BTCN |
Boston Terrier Club Nederland |
BTR |
Boston Terrier Rescue |
BTRN |
Boston Terrier Rescue Network |
BTTP |
Boston Terrier Tea Party |
BTI |
Boston Theological Institute |
BTMA |
Boston Tooling and Machine Association, Inc |
BTD |
Boston Transportation Department |
BTPR |
Boston Transportation Planning Review |
BTA |
Boston Tufts Alliance |
BUFF |
Boston Underground Film Festival |
BU |
Boston University |
BU-2 |
Boston University |
BUA |
Boston University Academy |
BUID |
Boston University ID |
BUIC |
Boston University India Club |
BUMP |
Boston University Marine Program |
BRITE |
Boston University Representative Internet Topology Generator |
BUSM |
Boston University School of Medicine |
BUSSW |
Boston University School of Social Work |
BUTI |
Boston University Tanglewood Institute |
BUVS |
Boston University Virus and Security Tool |
BUFSA |
Boston University’s Filipino Students Association |
BUAC |
Boston Urban Asthma Coalition |
BUMP |
Boston Urban Music Project |
BVTC |
Boston Valley Terra Cotta |
BVS |
Boston Vegetarian Society |
BWPS |
Boston West Photographic Society |
BWC |
Boston Winter Conference |
BWG |
Boston Working Group |
BYC |
Boston Yacht Club |
BYC |
Boston Young Contemporaries |
BYPASS |
Boston Young Professionals Association |
BYF |
Boston Youth Fund |
BYS |
Boston Youth Symphony |
BOS |
Boston, MA, USA – Logan International Airport |
BBX |
Boston-Buffalo Express |
BE |
BostonEventworks |
BMB |
Boston-Montreal-Boston |
BSSCA |
Boston-Strasbourg Sister City Association |
CBCU |
Cabot Boston Credit Union |
CBVA |
Cambridge Boston Volleyball Association |
CCAB |
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston |
CCCB |
Child Care Choices of Boston |
CHB |
Children’s Hospital Boston |
CCB |
Community Church of Boston |
CMCB |
Community Music Center of Boston |
CSFB |
Credit Suisse First Boston |
CSFBI |
Credit Suisse First Boston Inc. |
CSFBI |
Credit Suisse First Boston International |
EBMS |
East Boston Main Streets |
EBMT |
East Boston Memory Test |
EBNHC |
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center |
EBSC |
East Boston Social Centers |
ECUADOR |
Emerson College Boston Ma |
ECONOMICS |
Emerson College, Boston, Ma |
EC |
Emerson College, Boston, Ma |
FSGB |
Family Service of Greater Boston |
FRBB |
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston |
ACTIVITY |
Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Massachusetts |
AUSTRIA |
Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Massachusetts |
ATTACK |
Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Massachusetts |
ANNUAL |
Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Massachusetts |
A |
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Massachusetts |
FBC |
First Boston Corporation |
FBF |
FleetBoston Financial Corporation |
FSSGB |
Folk Song Society of Greater Boston |
GBA |
Greater Boston Academy |
GBAA |
Greater Boston Anesthesia Associates |
GBBA |
Greater Boston Bankers Association |
GBCC |
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce |
GBC |
Greater Boston Chapter |
GBCOA |
Greater Boston Council on Alcoholism, Inc. |
GDBS |
Greater Boston Diabetes Society |
GBFCU |
Greater Boston Federal Credit Union |
GBFB |
Greater Boston Food Bank |
GBMA |
Greater Boston Metropolitan Area |
GBPC |
Greater Boston Police Council |
GBREB |
Greater Boston Real Estate Board |
GECB |
Greek Evangelical Church of Boston |
HBSAB |
Harvard Business School Association of Boston |
HSAB |
Hellenic Scientists Association of Boston |
HB |
Hoffman-Boston |
ICB |
Islamic Center of Boston |
ISBU |
Islamic Society of Boston University |
JCBC |
Japan Club of Boston College |
JCCGB |
Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston |
JLB |
Junior League of Boston |
LRCGB |
Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston |
MBI |
Media Boston International |
MCBI |
Medical Center of Boston International |
MBHP |
Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership |
NBF |
New Boston Fund |
NBHA |
New Boston Housing Authority |
NOB |
North Of Boston Library System |
OASP |
Office of AHANA Student Programs (Boston College; Boston, MA) |
PAGB |
Pakistan Association of Greater Boston |
PRAB |
Paranormal Research Association of Boston |
PATOB |
Polish Amateur Theater of Boston, Inc. |
PIB |
Professionisti Italiani a Boston |
PMAB |
Purchasing Management Association of Boston |
SNOB |
Somewhat North of Boston |
SBAA |
South Boston Artists Association |
SBAA |
South Boston Arts Association |
SBCA |
South Boston Citizens’ Association |
SBHA |
South Boston Harbor Academy |
SBHS |
South Boston High School |
SBMC |
South Boston Manufacturing Center |
SBPF |
South Boston Parking Freeze |
TBA |
TechBoston Academy |
TAGB |
Telugu Association of Greater Boston |
TBC |
The Boston Company |
TBF |
The Boston Foundation |
GABC |
The German-American Business Council of Boston, Inc. |
UNAGB |
United Nations Association of Greater Boston |
UMB |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
WCAB |
Wellesley College Alumnae of Boston |
WTCB |
World Trade Center Boston |
YDB |
Youth Design Boston |