Boston’s Oldest Buildings and Where to Find Them

A lavishly illustrated look at some of Boston’s most historic buildings, now available in a new, updated edition. Winner of the Historic New England Book Prize and a Boston Preservation Alliance Annual Achievement Award.

As Boston fast approaches its four-hundredth anniversary, the city’s architecture plays an important role in preserving its historic character. This book introduces readers to the city’s early history through fifty buildings, which all pre-date 1800. Employing an approachable narrative that will appeal to non-architects and those new to historic preservation, Joseph M. Bagley guides readers through an overview of the historic preservation movement in Boston before explaining the historical significance of these structures, which include homes, churches, warehouses, and restaurants.

The book begins with a map of the buildings’ locations and organizes entries from the oldest to the most recent. The majority of the properties are located within Boston’s downtown area, along the Freedom Trail, and within easy walking distance from the core of the city. While this makes the book an ideal guide for tourists, Boston residents will also discover buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods. Each chapter features a building, a story about its history, and the efforts made to preserve it over time. Full­color photos and historical drawings illustrate each structure and area.

Boston’s Oldest Buildings and Where to Find Them presents the ideals of historic preservation in an easy­-to-read manner appropriate for the broadest audience. Perfect for history lovers, architectural enthusiasts, locals, and visitors alike.

This new edition features a foreword by Robert Allison, professor of history, language, and global culture at Suffolk University, and includes three new buildings identified by the author as being amongst the oldest in the city, which illustrates the dynamic nature of archaeology.

Joseph M. Bagley is the city archaeologist of Boston, a historic preservationist, and a staff member of the Boston Landmarks Commission. He is the author of the award-winning A History of Boston in 50 Artifacts.