About Us

The West End Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history and culture of Boston’s West End Neighborhood.

The history of the West End is one of continual change, American firsts, Boston innovations, and modern icons. The West End Museum celebrates the story of the neighborhood that led the way in Boston’s immigrant era, supporting thousands of the world’s “huddled masses” as they found their way from North End slums to the American Dream. By then, the West End had already produced America’s first native-born architect, provided a home for free Black citizens after the Revolution, and led the way in the construction of railroads, electric street cars, and so much more. The neighborhood changed dramatically after 1950. Two decades of Urban Renewal led to the clearing of more than half the neighborhood, and reinvention in its modern form.

Today, we continue to collect West End artifacts, investigate stories of West End community and culture, and share those stories with the public through our programs and exhibitions.

Our Mission

The West End Museum interprets and presents the history of Boston’s West End, along with the broader history of urban planning, renewal, development, and activism. It engages people in the West End; promotes respect for people and places past and present; advocates for responsible urban growth; preserves cultural artifacts; and encourages citizens to consider the legacy they leave for their communities.

Board of Directors

Officers

Lois Ascher

President • Board Member • Chair of Strategic Planning

Lois is a retired Professor of Humanities at Wentworth University.

Tom Palmer

Treasurer • Board Member • Chair of Finance

Tom is the Principal at Tom Palmer Communication.

Duane Lucia

Clerk • Board Member • Chair of Governance • Chair of Unit 5

Duane is the CEO of Gallery East Network, and a current West Ender.

Members

Leland Alexander

Board Member • Chair of Development

Leland is a Project Manager at PWC Company.

Katie Burke

Board Member • Chair of STEPS

Katie is an Archivist at the Olmstead National Historic Site.

Samantha DiMauro

Board Member

Samantha is a Graphic Designer for Phoenix3 Collective and the descendant of a displaced West Ender.

Bruce Guarino

Board Member

Bruce is Senior Docent at The West End Museum, a retired postal worker, and a displaced West Ender.

Bill Kuttner

Board Member

Bill is the President of the Shirley-Eustis House Association.

Andy Matteis

Board Member

Andy is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Bentley University and a former investment & finance executive.

Dan McGrath

Board Member

Dan is Senior Vice President, Director of Asset Management at Berkeley Investments.

A woman of color with mid-length brown hair wearing a plaid scarf of red and teal

N'Dia Riegler

Board Member • Chair of Community Engagement

N’Dia is an educator in BPS, the 2020 MA History Teacher of the Year, an Educational Consultant at Educurious, and a current West Ender.

Jane Wilson

Board Member

Jane is the former President of the West End Civic Association and a current West Ender.

Members Ex-Officio

Richard ``Richie`` Hartnett

Old West End Housing Corporation

Richie was The West End Museum’s first Executive Director, serves on the board of the Old West End Housing Corporation, and is a displaced West Ender.

Nick Haney

Massachusetts General Brigham

Nick Haney is Public Coordination & Initiatives Director in Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Planning and Construction.

Emeritus Members

Joe Greenburg (emeritus)

Richard Hartnet (emeritus)

Chad Kindregan (emeritus)

Joe McDonald (emeritus)

Paul Mondello (emeritus)

Frank Privetera (emeritus)

Julia Forbes (emeritus)

Bob Campanella (emeritus)

Michael Gropman (emeritus)

Staff

Sebastian Belfanti

Executive Director

Sebastian joined WEM in 2019 as Volunteer Program Director, was hired in 2020 as the Museum’s first paid full-time staff member and became Executive Director in 2022. He holds a MS in nonprofit management from Northeastern University and MSc in geology from Vanderbilt University. He represented The West End Museum on the Board of the West End Civic Association and serves as Vice President of the Massachusetts History Alliance, as well as serving on multiple Impact Advisory Groups in the West End. He has previously served as a President-Elect, President, and Past President of the West End Civic Association, and Director Ex-Officio of the West End Community Center.

Before coming to the WEM, Sebastian was a geologist developing methods for the collection of multi-dimensional chemical data from minerals he collected in Yosemite National Park. He enjoys reading, drawing, collecting books about Boston, and tabletop roleplaying games.

Bob Potenza

Cultural Preservation Manager

Bob joined WEM in 2021 as a Volunteer Researcher and was hired as Archivist/Curator in 2022. He holds a BA in Economics from Boston University and a MA in History and Archival Science from University of Massachusetts Boston.

Before coming to the WEM, Bob was a US Army aviation officer and worked in supply chain management and product development at IKEA. He is a native Bostonian, proud father to four daughters, and enjoys travel, book collecting, reading, writing and cooking.

Jaydie Halperin

Interpretation Manager

Jaydie started at WEM in 2024 as an archives intern and continued to volunteer as she finished her degree. In 2025 Jaydie was hired as Education Coordinator. She has a BA in English and Medieval Studies from Wesleyan University and a MA in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University.

With a passion for creating community through connections to history and the arts, Jaydie focuses on providing creative opportunities for engagement. In her spare time, Jaydie enjoys knitting, creative writing, and participating in community theatre.

Maya Colman

Community Engagement Manager

Maya first got involved with WEM in 2021 as a volunteer. She joined the staff in 2026 as the Community Engagement Manager. She has a BA in History with a minor in Sociology from Oberlin College and a MA in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University.

As a life-long urban and industrial history enthusiast, Maya is thrilled to create opportunities and forge community connections that are grounded in the historic legacy of the West End. Outside of work, Maya loves to cook, hike, make music, and spend time with her pet turtle.

Kaylee Redard-Cryan

Operations Coordinator

Kaylee joined WEM as Operations Coordinator in 2025. She earned her BA in History with minors in Public History and English at Franklin Pierce University. She continued her education at UMASS Boston, earning her MA in History specializing in Public History.

Before coming to WEM, Kaylee shared her love of history and creative learning at various institutions in Massachusetts, such as The House of the Seven Gables and Plimoth Patuxet Museums. Outside of the museum, Kaylee enjoys nature walks, reading, crocheting and baking.

Annual Reports

A cover reading The West End Museum Annual Report 2024 and showing a modern streetscape overlain with what the street looked like in the past

The cover of a report reading The West End Museum Annual Report 2023 and showing a stylized map of the West End with photos filling in a simplified street pattern.

Visit

Hours

Monday:	Closed
Tuesday:	Closed
Wednesday:	10.30am – 5pm
Thursday:	10.30am – 5pm
Friday:	10.30am – 6pm
Saturday:	10.30am – 6pm
Sunday:	1.30pm – 5pm

Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Admission

Price	Admission Type
$12*	General Public
$8	Seniors Students Veterans
$0	Children Under 10 Museum Members Displaced West Enders
$0	Card to Culture for WIC, EBT, and ConnectorCare Cardholders

Handicapped Accessible

Tours

Tours must be scheduled ahead of your visit.

Please contact us for availability and pricing.

Schedule a Tour

Upcoming Closures:

Directions

Blue Line

From Bowdoin Square Station walk up Staniford Street and then take a left onto Lomasney Way.

Green Line

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a right onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way.

Orange Line

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a right onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way.

Red Line

From Charles/MGH follow Charles Street north, then take a right onto Martha Road and continue onto Lomasney Way.

Bus

From Haymarket follow Merrimac Street to the end, then continue straight onto Lomasney Way.

Commuter Rail

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a right onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way.

Charter Bus

Charter bus rentals are available through Boston Charter Bus Company. For alternative options, consider Boston Charter Bus Rentals or National Charter Bus, offering bus rentals to Boston from anywhere in the nation.

Biking

Bike racks available free directly in front of the Museum
Blue Bikes are available across the street at West End Park

Driving

Garage Parking is available at the North Station Garage on Nashua Street and the Alcott on Lomasney Way, the Museum is within sight of both garages.
Lot parking is available on Merrimac Street, from the lots follow Merrimac away from Government Center then continue straight onto Lomasney Way.

Where exactly is the West End?

The West End has a variety of boundaries through time, and depending upon perspective.

The modern neighborhood extends from Cambridge Street to Washington Street and from the Charles River to New Chardon Street, however, its historic Boundaries extend further.

Until the 1958 the West End extended south to Pickney Street and east to Pemberton Square, it had reached those boundaries over time, as land was filled and the area, called the New Fields, West Boston and the West End at various times, expanded.

Learn More

*Admission prices may be adjusted upon request to match guest’s ability to pay.