Rowes Wharf
Encyclopedia
The current incarnation of Rowes Wharf (built 1987) is a modern development in downtown Boston, Massachusetts
. It is best known for the Boston Harbor Hotel
's multi-story arch over the wide public plaza between Atlantic Avenue
and the Boston Harbor
waterfront. Along the waterfront can be found a marina
, restaurants, a water transportation terminal, and a floating stage offering free concerts and movies during the summer.
MBTA boat services
link the wharf to Hingham
, while water taxi
s operate to and from Logan International Airport
. Cruise boats also operate from the wharf.
, Dutch
, and Spanish
marauders. The South Battery was strengthened over the following years but was obsolete by the middle of the 18th century.
In 1764, John Rowe
bought the land and built the first Rowes Wharf, which extended a short distance into Boston Harbor
. For the next 150 years or so, commercial shipping continued to be a main user of the area.
With the opening of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad
in 1875, a ferry
connection was established from Rowes Wharf to the railroad's southern terminus in East Boston
. With the construction of the Atlantic Avenue Elevated
in 1901, a station at Rowes Wharf connected the wharf to Boston's elevated
and subway rail system. However, both the railroad and the elevated railway had closed by the middle of the 20th century and the wharf had become dilapidated, the victim of changing patterns in shipping. This remained the case until the 1980s, when the current development was constructed.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It is best known for the Boston Harbor Hotel
Boston Harbor Hotel
The Boston Harbor Hotel is a Mobil Travel Guide Five Star hotel overlooking historic Boston Harbor and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The hotel is also a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and has been honored as one of the “World's Best Places to Stay” on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List...
's multi-story arch over the wide public plaza between Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (Boston)
Atlantic Avenue is a street in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, USA, partly serving as a frontage road for the underground Central Artery and partly running along the Boston Harbor...
and the Boston Harbor
Port of Boston
The Port of Boston, , is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston...
waterfront. Along the waterfront can be found a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
, restaurants, a water transportation terminal, and a floating stage offering free concerts and movies during the summer.
MBTA boat services
MBTA boat
The MBTA Boat system is a public boat service providing water transport in the Greater Boston area via Boston Harbor. Both inner harbor and longer distance commuter ferries are operated...
link the wharf to Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
, while water taxi
Water taxi
A water taxi or water bus, also known as a commuter boat, is a watercraft used to provide public transport, usually but not always in an urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar...
s operate to and from Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
. Cruise boats also operate from the wharf.
18th century
The site currently occupied by Rowes Wharf was once occupied by the South Battery, erected by the first settlers in 1630 to protect the fledgling colony from FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
marauders. The South Battery was strengthened over the following years but was obsolete by the middle of the 18th century.
In 1764, John Rowe
John Rowe (merchant)
John Rowe was a property developer and merchant in 18th century Boston, Massachusetts, USA. As a merchant, John Rowe's most famous cargo was the tea that played a starring role in the Boston Tea Party...
bought the land and built the first Rowes Wharf, which extended a short distance into Boston Harbor
Port of Boston
The Port of Boston, , is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston...
. For the next 150 years or so, commercial shipping continued to be a main user of the area.
19th-20th century
Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad
The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts.It was constructed as an 8.8-mile gauge narrow gauge passenger-carrying railroad to serve the Boston area....
in 1875, a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
connection was established from Rowes Wharf to the railroad's southern terminus in East Boston
East Boston, Massachusetts
East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately 40,000 residents. The community was created by connecting several islands using landfill and was annexed by Boston in 1836. East Boston is separated from the rest of the city by Boston Harbor and bordered by Winthrop,...
. With the construction of the Atlantic Avenue Elevated
Atlantic Avenue Elevated
The Atlantic Avenue Elevated was an elevated railway around the east side of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, providing a second route for the Boston Elevated Railway's Main Line around the Washington Street Tunnel...
in 1901, a station at Rowes Wharf connected the wharf to Boston's elevated
Elevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
and subway rail system. However, both the railroad and the elevated railway had closed by the middle of the 20th century and the wharf had become dilapidated, the victim of changing patterns in shipping. This remained the case until the 1980s, when the current development was constructed.