Most of historic and new Boston is easily accessible by foot, car or trolley, but a better perspective is gained on a boat out in the harbor. Whether you are new to Boston or a life-long resident, you really should invest 90 minutes of your time and just under $30 to take in the breath taking beauty of the City's skyline and an entertaining and often humorous narration aboard one of the Boston Harbor Historic cruises.
On a recent picture perfect summer's day, my partner and I treated an Australian friend to the historic cruise, departing from centrally located (next to the NE Aquarium) Long Wharf. From the moment the boat pulled away from the dock, our history lesson began. Kevin, our very knowledgeable and animated narrator, immediately started pointing out places of historical importance along Boston's waterfront juxtaposed with the City's newest (less than six years old) skyscrapers in the bustling Seaport District.
Our cruise next brought us alongside South Boston and historic Castle Island as we made our way to The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, a series of 34 small islands most notable of which are the popular Georges Island with its civil war era Fort Warren and controversial Long Island, which has played home to British sheep, cattle and swine during Revolutionary times, a Massachusetts Civil War Regiment and some of Boston's homeless people in more recent years. Kevin was at his story-telling best when he spun yarns about the Confederate Lady in Black ghost on Georges Island and the Tory Scarlet Lady ghost of Long Island.
Passing within view of Boston Light at the head of Boston's outer harbor, the next leg of the cruise took us by the multi billon dollar Dear Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, which Kevin actually made to sound quite interesting; Logan Airport; the old ship building yards of East Boston; and Charlestown Navy Shipyard with views of Old Ironsides, the US Navy's oldest commissioned warship.
With so much to see and so much history to absorb, the 90 minutes flew by and we were back at Long Wharf far too soon, but to mitigate the disappointment that our little trip had ended, Kevin graciously stood at the dock as we disembarked and invited questions from us and our shipmates. A happy ending to a delightful trip.