The following Powerpoint presentation takes the place of the intended i-movie, yet it may eventually become an i-movie with preparatory training. I completed the work individually, and I plan on using this in an American History Class while discussing the Enlightenment philosophies that pervaded our Constitution and early search for a national identity. This also may serve as the opener to a Unit on Local Bostonian history, or even an introduction to a field trip into Boston to view our architectural heritage. I added content from our own trip into Boston, where we had the opportunity to see some exceptional and informative tours of the areas I describe in this presentation.

I would like my students to understand that leadership opportunities may come through valuing education and civic participation as Charles Bulfinch models for us. His ambition and care for detail developed out of civic duty, and his livelihood depended on Boston’s.

-MJB

Building up BostonBuilding up BostonAn Early Geographical and Architectural An Early Geographical and Architectural History of Boston and the Leaders that History of Boston and the Leaders that

Designed the Course of that HistoryDesigned the Course of that History

Created by Matthew J. BachCreated by Matthew J. Bach

IntroductionIntroduction

““Boston, which now appears to the casual visitor to be built Boston, which now appears to the casual visitor to be built upon a solid segment of the Massachusetts coast, was upon a solid segment of the Massachusetts coast, was

in the early seventeenth century a hilly peninsula, almost in the early seventeenth century a hilly peninsula, almost completely surrounded by water. To the geologist, whose completely surrounded by water. To the geologist, whose sense of time is more spacious than that of a historian, sense of time is more spacious than that of a historian,

the site of Boston has worn more aspects than can even the site of Boston has worn more aspects than can even be hinted at here.”be hinted at here.”

-the late Walter Muir Whitehill (former director of the Boston -the late Walter Muir Whitehill (former director of the Boston Athenæum, and resident of North Andover), from his Athenæum, and resident of North Andover), from his book: book: Boston: A Topographical HistoryBoston: A Topographical History

Primary Source: 1722 Bonner Map of Boston Primary Source: 1722 Bonner Map of Boston

Some Facts Some Facts

Boston’s first “Town House” was built between 1657-1711 on the site Boston’s first “Town House” was built between 1657-1711 on the site where the Old State House currently stands. This marked a shift for where the Old State House currently stands. This marked a shift for Boston- from a small colonial town to a more cosmopolitan and Boston- from a small colonial town to a more cosmopolitan and urban settlement.urban settlement.By 1722 the street names conspicuously emulated London’s, and By 1722 the street names conspicuously emulated London’s, and architectural style was not far behind.architectural style was not far behind.After the Revolution: Boston grows by 360% to a population of After the Revolution: Boston grows by 360% to a population of 28,000 (New York was about 33,000 at the time) and sea trade 28,000 (New York was about 33,000 at the time) and sea trade reaches as far as Russia.reaches as far as Russia.1790’s witness an increased effort towards improving inland 1790’s witness an increased effort towards improving inland transportation: roads, canals, and turnpikes unhindered by Boston’s transportation: roads, canals, and turnpikes unhindered by Boston’s topographical handicaps.topographical handicaps.Although the industrial leaders (Lowells, Jacksons, and Appletons) Although the industrial leaders (Lowells, Jacksons, and Appletons) seek out quicker rivers (Merrimack rather than Charles) north of the seek out quicker rivers (Merrimack rather than Charles) north of the city, they live and spend their money in Boston- hence Boston’s first city, they live and spend their money in Boston- hence Boston’s first Renaissance architectural tradition…Renaissance architectural tradition…

The Georgian Style: Bostonian Prosperity The Georgian Style: Bostonian Prosperity

Chooses an European ExpressionChooses an European Expression Georgian Architecture Georgian Architecture

emulates the Italian emulates the Italian Renaissance work of Renaissance work of Andrea Palladio and the Andrea Palladio and the interpretation of that work interpretation of that work by Indigo Jones, an English by Indigo Jones, an English architect of one generation architect of one generation later. Palladio’s treatise, later. Palladio’s treatise, Four Books of ArchitectureFour Books of Architecture, , instructed on the classical instructed on the classical instruments of balance, instruments of balance, harmony, and function; a harmony, and function; a necessary companion to necessary companion to the enlightenment the enlightenment philosophies that prodded philosophies that prodded Boston through the Boston through the Revolution.Revolution.

Elements of the Georgian StyleElements of the Georgian Style

Early Boston ContributionsEarly Boston Contributions•Longfellow House, 1759-Vassel

•Province House, 1679-Sergeant

•Old State House, 1712-Unknown

•Old South Meeting House, 1729-Blanchard

•Faneuil Hall, 1742-Smibert

The Man Who Built BostonThe Man Who Built Boston

Charles Bulfinch 1763-1844Charles Bulfinch 1763-1844 Attended Harvard collegeAttended Harvard college ““Grand Tour” of Europe 1785-Grand Tour” of Europe 1785-

87- Inspired by Indigo Jones 87- Inspired by Indigo Jones and Christopher Wrenand Christopher Wren

Becomes a Gentleman Becomes a Gentleman Architect, and the first Architect, and the first American architect of great American architect of great reputationreputation

Civically Active: Board of Civically Active: Board of Health, Selectman - repeals Health, Selectman - repeals law against plays in city, and law against plays in city, and then promptly designs and then promptly designs and builds first Theatrebuilds first Theatre

From a Gentleman Architect to a Public From a Gentleman Architect to a Public ServantServant

Bulfinch wagered large Bulfinch wagered large investment on a investment on a development plan for development plan for Franklin Place titled the Franklin Place titled the Tontine CrescentTontine Crescent

He did not procure the He did not procure the investors needed, and investors needed, and despite being head of the despite being head of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Selectmen and Police Superintendent he Police Superintendent he had to spend a month in had to spend a month in Debtor’s jail in 1811 for Debtor’s jail in 1811 for insolvency. insolvency.

His architectural career His architectural career becomes his livelihood- and becomes his livelihood- and he therefore is prolific in he therefore is prolific in Boston’s transformation to Boston’s transformation to a world class architectural a world class architectural metropolis.metropolis.

““Although Charles Bulfinch may have been a poor Although Charles Bulfinch may have been a poor business man, he was as an imaginative architect business man, he was as an imaginative architect as he was a devoted public servant. Boston owes as he was a devoted public servant. Boston owes him a unique debt for his skill in transforming an him a unique debt for his skill in transforming an

eighteenth-century town into a nineteenth-century eighteenth-century town into a nineteenth-century city.” – Walter Muir Whitehillcity.” – Walter Muir Whitehill

State House: 1795-1797- Bulfinch refines the Georgian style in America

Changing the Face of Boston: More than Just Changing the Face of Boston: More than Just Building up ArchitectureBuilding up Architecture

Primary Source: Cutting Down Beacon Hill- Primary Source: Cutting Down Beacon Hill- Lithograph by JH Bufford, 1858, after a first hand drawing by JR Smith, 1811Lithograph by JH Bufford, 1858, after a first hand drawing by JR Smith, 1811

Under Bulfinch’s Under Bulfinch’s tenure as Selectman, tenure as Selectman, his private his private development development company, the Mt. company, the Mt. Vernon Proprietors, Vernon Proprietors, leveled the western leveled the western peak of the Tri-peak of the Tri-Mountain area above Mountain area above the Common in the Common in anticipation of anticipation of widening the neck that widening the neck that connected Boston to connected Boston to RoxburyRoxbury

By 1807 the Mill By 1807 the Mill Proprietors and Proprietors and Boston’s citizenry Boston’s citizenry reached an agreement reached an agreement for filling in the Mill for filling in the Mill Pond and developing it Pond and developing it based on Bulfinch’s based on Bulfinch’s plans.plans.

Fill was brought from Fill was brought from Beacon Hill, although Beacon Hill, although the rights to the gravel the rights to the gravel were in dispute at the were in dispute at the time.time.

The landscape of Constant FluxThe landscape of Constant Flux

•By 1842 the “neck” begins to vanish into the former Back Bay

•Copp’s Hill is dug out and Mill Pond disappears

•Wharfs are built up and improved

•Many new bridges over the Charles A. Willard and J.W. Barber Engraving

Primary Source: HS Tanner Map 1842Primary Source: HS Tanner Map 1842

In contrast to the In contrast to the Bonner Map of Bonner Map of 1722, the Mill 1722, the Mill Pond has notably Pond has notably shrunk, while also shrunk, while also being spanned, being spanned, along with the along with the Back Bay, by a Back Bay, by a web of rail web of rail bridges. The bridges. The wharfs have also wharfs have also been extended been extended and the space and the space between them between them filled in in some filled in in some instances.instances.

As Boston Expanded, so Did Bulfinch’s As Boston Expanded, so Did Bulfinch’s PortfolioPortfolio

First Harrison Grey Otis House, 1796- note the Palladian window

Second Otis House, 1800- note the hipped roof and changing size of fenestration to create the illusion of height

MA General Hospital, 1818, the skylight allowed natural illumination, and the building itself is an essay on Classical temple symmetry.

Faneuil Hall, 1806- Bulfinch expanded on the original structure.

…and numerous other-existent or lost- in Boston, Cambridge, and New England.

““When Charles Bulfinch was once asked if he should train up any of his When Charles Bulfinch was once asked if he should train up any of his children in his own profession, he replied that he did not think there was much children in his own profession, he replied that he did not think there was much left for them to do… When one recalls that in addition to the entire streets, left for them to do… When one recalls that in addition to the entire streets, public buildings, and churches [he had designed], he had built in Boston five public buildings, and churches [he had designed], he had built in Boston five banks, four insurance offices, two hospitals, and three schools, one cannot banks, four insurance offices, two hospitals, and three schools, one cannot blame him for wondering what was left for his successors.” – Walter Muir blame him for wondering what was left for his successors.” – Walter Muir WhitehillWhitehill

Bulfinch was appointed head architect of the US Capital in 1818- successor to Benjamin Latrobe- and Bulfinch completed the wings and dome seen here- not disimilar to the MA State House design he is so well- regarded for.

Bulfinch did, however, inspire architects to carry on Bulfinch did, however, inspire architects to carry on with the Classical/Renaissance identity of Boston…with the Classical/Renaissance identity of Boston…

Tremont Street Theatre, 1827- Isaiah Rogers

Quincy Market, 1826- Alexander Parris

Louisburg Square, 1826- SP Fuller (A nod to the row house community of Bulfinch’s Tontine Crescent)

Beyond BulfinchBeyond Bulfinch•Most scholars agree that Boston did not veer from Bufinch’s stylistic direction until mid-nineteenth century when architects such as Upjohn, Ware, Van Brunt, and Richardson ushered in a Gothic compendium to Boston’s architectural identity

•Today Boston continues to dialogue with the past- and Bulfinch- with every new addition. Even architects who designed buildings in modernist idioms- such as Rudolph’s State Health complex or Mckinnell, Kallmann and Knowles’ City Hall- have suggested a distant relationship to Bulfinch’s State House.

Suggested Further ReadingSuggested Further Reading AIA Guide to Boston, AIA Guide to Boston, by Susan and Michael Southworthby Susan and Michael Southworth Boston: A Century of Progress, Boston: A Century of Progress, by Anthony Mitchell Sammarcoby Anthony Mitchell Sammarco Boston: A Topographical History, Boston: A Topographical History, by Walter Muir Whitehill & by Walter Muir Whitehill &

Lawrence W. KennedyLawrence W. Kennedy Built in Boston: City and Suburb, 1800-2000, Built in Boston: City and Suburb, 1800-2000, by Douglas Shand-by Douglas Shand-

TucciTucci Lost Boston, Lost Boston, by Jane Holtz Kayby Jane Holtz Kay