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 andinformative 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, completely surrounded by water. To the geologist, whose sense of time is more spacious than that of a whose sense of time is more spacious than that of a

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

--the late Walter Muir the late Walter Muir WhitehillWhitehill (former director of the Boston (former director of the Boston AthenAthenææumum, and resident of North Andover), from his , 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 BostonBoston’’s first s first ““Town HouseTown House”” was built between 1657was built between 1657--1711 on the 1711 on the site where the Old State House currently stands. This marked a ssite where the Old State House currently stands. This marked a shift hift for Bostonfor Boston-- from a small colonial town to a more cosmopolitan and from a small colonial town to a more cosmopolitan and urban settlement.urban settlement.By 1722 the street names conspicuously emulated LondonBy 1722 the street names conspicuously emulated London’’s, and 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.17901790’’s witness an increased effort towards improving inland s witness an increased effort towards improving inland transportation: roads, canals, and turnpikes unhindered by Bostotransportation: roads, canals, and turnpikes unhindered by Bostonn’’s s topographical handicaps.topographical handicaps.Although the industrial leaders (Although the industrial leaders (LowellsLowells, , JacksonsJacksons, and , and AppletonsAppletons) ) seek out quicker rivers (Merrimack rather than Charles) north ofseek out quicker rivers (Merrimack rather than Charles) north of the the city, they live and spend their money in Bostoncity, they live and spend their money in Boston-- hence Bostonhence Boston’’s first s first Renaissance architectural traditionRenaissance architectural tradition……

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

an European Expressionan European Expression

Georgian Architecture Georgian Architecture emulates the Italian emulates the Italian Renaissance work of Andrea Renaissance work of Andrea PalladioPalladio and the interpretation and the interpretation of that work by Indigo Jones, of that work by Indigo Jones, an English architect of one an English architect of one generation later. generation later. PalladioPalladio’’sstreatise, treatise, Four Books of Four Books of ArchitectureArchitecture, instructed on the , instructed on the classical instruments of classical instruments of balance, harmony, and balance, harmony, and function; a necessary function; a necessary companion to the companion to the enlightenment philosophies enlightenment philosophies that prodded Boston through that prodded Boston through the Revolution.the 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 Charles BulfinchBulfinch 17631763--18441844Attended Harvard collegeAttended Harvard college““Grand TourGrand Tour”” of Europe 1785of Europe 1785--8787--Inspired by Indigo Jones and Inspired by Indigo Jones and Christopher WrenChristopher WrenBecomes a Gentleman Architect, Becomes a Gentleman Architect, and the first American architect of and the first American architect of great reputationgreat reputationCivically Active: Board of Health, Civically Active: Board of Health, Selectman Selectman -- repeals law against repeals law against plays in city, and then promptly plays in city, and then promptly designs and builds first Theatredesigns and builds first Theatre

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

BulfinchBulfinch wagered large wagered large investment on a development investment on a development plan for Franklin Place titled plan for Franklin Place titled the Tontine Crescentthe Tontine CrescentHe did not procure the He did not procure the investors needed, and despite investors needed, and despite being head of the Board of being head of the Board of Selectmen and Police Selectmen and Police Superintendent he had to Superintendent he had to spend a month in Debtorspend a month in Debtor’’s jail s jail in 1811 for insolvency. in 1811 for insolvency. His architectural career His architectural career becomes his livelihoodbecomes his livelihood-- and he and he therefore is prolific in Bostontherefore is prolific in Boston’’s s transformation to a world class transformation to a world class architectural metropolis.architectural metropolis.

““Although Charles Although Charles BulfinchBulfinch may have been a poor business may have been a poor business man, he was as an imaginative architect as he was a man, he was as an imaginative architect as he was a

devoted public servant. Boston owes him a unique debt for devoted public servant. Boston owes him a unique debt for his skill in transforming an eighteenthhis skill in transforming an eighteenth--century town into a century town into a

nineteenthnineteenth--century city.century city.”” –– Walter Muir Walter Muir WhitehillWhitehill

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

Under Under BulfinchBulfinch’’sstenure 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 Tripeak of the Tri--Mountain area above Mountain area above the Common in the Common in anticipation of anticipation of widening the neck widening the neck that connected Boston that connected Boston to Roxburyto RoxburyBy 1807 the Mill By 1807 the Mill Proprietors and Proprietors and BostonBoston’’s citizenry s citizenry reached an reached an agreement for filling agreement for filling in the Mill Pond and in the Mill Pond and developing it based developing it based on on BulfinchBulfinch’’ss plans.plans.Fill was brought from Fill was brought from Beacon Hill, although Beacon Hill, although the rights to the the rights to the gravel were in dispute gravel were in dispute at the time.at the 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 As Boston Expanded, so Did BulfinchBulfinch’’ss 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 When Charles BulfinchBulfinch was once asked if he should train up any of his was once asked if he should train up any of his children in his own profession, he replied that he did not thinkchildren in his own profession, he replied that he did not think there was much there was much left for them to doleft for them to do…… When one recalls that in addition to the entire streets, When one recalls that in addition to the entire streets, public buildings, and churches [he had designed], he had built ipublic buildings, and churches [he had designed], he had built in Boston five n Boston five banks, four insurance offices, two hospitals, and three schools,banks, four insurance offices, two hospitals, and three schools, one cannot one cannot blame him for wondering what was left for his successors.blame him for wondering what was left for his successors.”” –– Walter Muir Walter Muir WhitehillWhitehill

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

BulfinchBulfinch did, however, inspire architects to carry on with the did, however, inspire architects to carry on with the Classical/Renaissance identity of BostonClassical/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’sTontine Crescent)

Beyond Beyond BulfinchBulfinch•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 ReadingAIA Guide to Boston, AIA Guide to Boston, by Susan and Michael by Susan and Michael SouthworthSouthworthBoston: A Century of Progress, Boston: A Century of Progress, by Anthony Mitchell by Anthony Mitchell SammarcoSammarcoBoston: A Topographical History, Boston: A Topographical History, by Walter Muir by Walter Muir WhitehillWhitehill & Lawrence W. & Lawrence W. KennedyKennedyBuilt in Boston: City and Suburb, 1800Built in Boston: City and Suburb, 1800--2000, 2000, by Douglas by Douglas ShandShand--TucciTucciLost Boston, Lost Boston, by Jane Holtz Kayby Jane Holtz Kay