Charles Street
Encyclopedia
Charles Street is the name of a north-south street in the city center of Boston, Massachusetts. It begins in the north at Leverett Circle
, where it intersects Cambridge Street and Storrow Drive
, and gives its name to the Charles/MGH
station of the MBTA. It then heads south and forms the primary commercial spine of the affluent neighborhood of Beacon Hill. At Beacon Street
the direction of traffic changes from north-south to south-north, and the street widens to form the boundary between Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden
. Beyond Boylston Street
, which forms the southern boundary of the parks, the street continues as Charles Street South, terminating at Stuart Street in the Theatre District.
The street is the start and finish point for the annual B.A.A. 10K
race, first organised by the Boston Athletic Association
in 2011.
's 2006 film The Departed
was shot along Charles Street in Beacon Hill.
Leverett Circle
Leverett Circle is an intersection in Boston, Massachusetts. Completely rebuilt during the Big Dig, it is no longer a rotary. It marks the confluence of Storrow Drive, Charles River Dam Road, Nashua Street, Charles Street, and Martha Road....
, where it intersects Cambridge Street and Storrow Drive
Storrow Drive
Storrow Drive is a major cross town expressway in Boston, Massachusetts, running south and west from Leverett Circle along the Charles River. It is a parkway—it is restricted to cars; trucks and buses are not permitted on it...
, and gives its name to the Charles/MGH
Charles/MGH (MBTA station)
Charles/MGH Station also known as Charles or Charles Street, is located at the intersection of Cambridge Street and Charles Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. The rapid transit station is on the MBTA Red Line and is elevated, being located at the Boston side of the Longfellow Bridge, which carries...
station of the MBTA. It then heads south and forms the primary commercial spine of the affluent neighborhood of Beacon Hill. At Beacon Street
Beacon Street
Beacon Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts and several of its western suburbs. Beacon Street in Boston, Brookline, Brighton, and Newton is not to be confused with the Beacon Street in nearby Somerville, or others elsewhere.-Description:...
the direction of traffic changes from north-south to south-north, and the street widens to form the boundary between Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden
Boston Public Garden
The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common.-History:...
. Beyond Boylston Street
Boylston Street
Boylston Street is the name of a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Another Boylston Street runs through Boston's western suburbs....
, which forms the southern boundary of the parks, the street continues as Charles Street South, terminating at Stuart Street in the Theatre District.
The street is the start and finish point for the annual B.A.A. 10K
B.A.A. 10K
The B.A.A. 10K is an annual road running event for men and women over that takes place in June in Boston in the United States. A total of 3040 people finished the race at the inaugural edition....
race, first organised by the Boston Athletic Association
Boston Athletic Association
The Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit, organized sports association for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It hosts such events as the world-renowned Boston Marathon....
in 2011.
Notable residents
- John Albion AndrewJohn Albion AndrewJohn Albion Andrew was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 25th Governor of Massachusetts between 1861 and 1866 during the American Civil War. He was a guiding force behind the creation of some of the first U.S. Army units of black men—including the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry.-Early...
lived on Charles St., 1855-1867 - Annie Adams FieldsAnnie Adams FieldsAnnie Adams Fields was a United States writer.- 1834 -1881 :Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the second wife of the publisher and author James Thomas Fields, whom she married in 1854, and with whom she encouraged up and coming writers such as Sarah Orne Jewett, Mary Freeman, and Emma Lazarus...
, James Thomas FieldsJames Thomas FieldsJames Thomas Fields was an American publisher, editor, and poet.-Early life and family:He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on December 31, 1817 and named James Field; the family later added the "s". His father was a sea captain and died before Fields was three...
, Sarah Orne JewettSarah Orne JewettSarah Orne Jewett was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her local color works set in or near South Berwick, Maine, on the border of New Hampshire, which in her day was a declining New England seaport.-Biography:Jewett's family had been residents of New England for many...
(site of 148 Charles St.) - Lucretia Peabody HaleLucretia Peabody HaleLucretia Peabody Hale was a United States journalist and author.-Biography:Hale was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and educated at George B. Emerson's school there...
(127 Charles St.) - Davide RossiDavide RossiDavide Francesco Rossi , is a violinist, string arranger, composer and a record producer, perhaps best known for being the violinist, guitar and keytar-player for the British electronic music group Goldfrapp, and for his large contribution of electric violin parts and for all the string...
(143 Charles St.)
In film
Part of Martin ScorseseMartin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
's 2006 film The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
was shot along Charles Street in Beacon Hill.
See also
- Boston CommonBoston CommonBoston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
- Boston Public GardenBoston Public GardenThe Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common.-History:...
- Charles Street JailCharles Street JailThe Charles Street Jail or "Suffolk County Jail" is a historic former jail located at 215 Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts...
- Charles Street Meeting HouseCharles Street Meeting HouseThe Charles Street Meeting House, is an early-nineteenth-century historic church in Beacon Hill at 70 Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The church has been used over its history by several Christian denominations and is a good example of reuse and adaptive reuse, having recently been renovated...
External links
- Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey. 20th c. photos of house (built circa 1874), "one of the last single-family bow-fronted rowhouses to be built in Boston. This structure is included in the South End Historic District."
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3385484394/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffandfazia/3731460044/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/galahad/85003442/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterscript/3086139769/