Museum News

West End Community Clean-Up – April 26th at Thoreau Path Arboretum.

Opening reception for The West End Museum’s new exhibit ‘An Illusion of Freedom’ Set for Feb. 27Beacon Hill Times In 1641, Massachusetts became the first of England’s colonies in North America to legalize slavery. After Massachusetts abolished slavery in 1783, Boston became known as a safe haven for freedom-seeking slaves. However, Southern slave-holding states, fearing…

West End Museum Faces Uncertainty amid New Administration’s DirectivesThe Boston Sun Like museums and other institutions across the nation that depend on federal funding, The West End Museum now finds itself in a challenging position with the uncertainty surrounding the flurry of Executive Orders that President Trump signed immediately upon his return to the White…

‘A huge shock to the system’: Mass. arts and culture leaders react to Trump order to pause federal fundingBoston Globe Two weeks ago, Sebastian Belfanti was ecstatic. The West End Museum, where Belfanti is executive director, had been selected to receive a federal grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2025. The $25,000 sum…

Newton-based The RMR Group has proposed a 447-foot hotel and residential tower at the corner of Causeway and North Washington streetsBoston Globe Boston needs to build more housing. It also wants to preserve the sort of buildings that make it feel like Boston. And the developers behind a 40-story tower proposed near North Station say they’re trying…

2024 on the Hill in ReviewBeacon Hill Times 2024 was memorable year on and around Beacon Hill for a variety of reasons. Regarding preservation, it was a milestone year for the Beacon Hill Historic District. With the passage of a new law on July 3, the District was expanded to include the south side of…

West End Museum to Sponsor Honoree Night and Silent AuctionBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum, located at 150 Staniford St., Suite 7 (along Lomasney Way),  will sponsor its annual Honoree Night and Silent Auction on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. This event offers a unique chance for West End residents and…

A look at immigration through the lens of music at the West End MuseumBeacon Hill Times Immigration has played a long and significant role throughout Boston’s long and storied history, and along each step of the way has continued to enrich and inspire the City’s cultural landscape. The unique cultural perspectives, experiences, and traditions Immigrants…

A New Spot on the Fashion Map: The Fierce Styles Menswear Fashion ShowThe Harvard Crimson In the West End Museum in Boston, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, Boston’s most fashionable crowd flocked to see Fierce Styles Menswear Fashion show — Boston’s first all-menswear show, as a part of Boston Fashion Week. Organized by Cheryl Jean of…

Beatles Tribute Concert comes to the West End MuseumThe Boston Sun During the British Invasion of the American Revolution, General Gage’s forces occupied Boston to enforce colonial policies and suppress dissent. The tensions culminated in the Siege of Boston, where American colonists, under General George Washington, ultimately drove out the British troops in March 1776.…

For $50,000, Harvard buys a Green Book, a Jim Crow-era travel guide that lists local businesses safe for Black motoristsBoston Globe Near the mid-20th century, tucked away in the glove compartments of Black American travelers, lived a pocket-sized, green-tinged book. “Carry your Green Book with you — You may need it,” its cover warned. Its…

Beatles Tribute Concert Comes to the West End MuseumBeacon Hill Times During the British Invasion of the American Revolution, General Gage’s forces occupied Boston to enforce colonial policies and suppress dissent. The tensions culminated in the Siege of Boston, where American colonists, under General George Washington, ultimately drove out the British troops in March 1776.…

MGH Celebrates West End NeighborhoodMassachusetts General Hospital MGH neighbor and West End staple, The West End Museum, is once again open to the public this summer after being closed for more than two years because of a burst pipe. The newly renovated and reimagined space formally reopened in May. The museum focuses on the rich and…

Boston’s nightlife jolted in $300K grant awarded to ‘Wake Up the Night’Mass Live It’s been Laura Charles’ dream to host a haunted circus for Halloween in her multi-use Roslindale venue since opening in 2022. “There’ll be multiple circus performers – aerialist, like, or silk or trapeze,” the co-owner of Substation told MassLive on Friday. She’s envisioned stilt-walkers…

Boston’s Nightlife Czar Announces-grants EventsThe Business Journals The inaugural Wake Up the Night Grant awards recipients up to $10,000 to support nighttime activations. The funding will support 50 events, free and open to the public, from now until the end of the year. …

Nimoy’s Son Speaks at West End MuseumThe Boston Sun Adam Nimoy, the son of the late West End native Leonard Nimoy, who iconically portrayed Mr. Spock in the original 1960s ‘Star Trek’ TV series, was on hand for an Author Talk on Sunday, June 30, at the newly renovated and reopened West End Museum. At…

Adam Nimoy shares journey in ‘The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father’Boston Herald Growing up with Spock as a father, Adam Nimoy discovered early, was not easy. At 67, Nimoy’s new memoir, “The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy” (Chicago Review Press), examines the gulf between the public image of the “Star Trek” icon and…

Author readings around Boston through July 6Boston Globe All author appearances are in person and free unless otherwise noted. SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Tim Button (”Are You Giggly?”) will read at 11 a.m. at Hummingbird Books. Adam Nimoy (”The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy”) will discuss his book at 4 p.m. at the…

West End Museum Announces Summer Art CompetitionBeacon Hill Times Join the West End Museum for its inaugural Summer Art Competition, a celebration of creativity inspired by the vibrant West End neighborhood. Artists of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate by submitting their original artwork. Please only submit one work. …

Speakeasies, bootleggers, and jazz at the West End MuseumBeacon Hill Times Back in the days of Prohibition, there were speakeasies all over Boston…including Beacon Hill and the West End. Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe journalist and author of several nonfiction books, including ‘Boston Organized Crime’ and ‘Gangland Boston,’ notes that a speakeasy known as the “Lighted Lamp” was located in the basement…

Reimagined West End Museum Reopens to PublicBeacon Hill Times A thoroughly reimagined West End Museum welcomed the public back for the first time in more than two years on Thursday, May 24. “We’re so proud to have it open, and to be able to show this space, and to be able to bring these pieces…

The museum, which celebrates and honors the history of the West End, returns with a newly renovated space and a new exhibition.

Newly Renovated West End Museum To Reopen May 23Beacon Hill Times After being closed to the public for more than two years following a substantial flood, a newly renovated  and reimagined West End Museum will formally reopen on Thursday, May 23. “It’s totally different from the old museum,” said Simon Belfanti, executive director of the…

Join us for the West End Museum’s inaugural Summer Art Competition. The deadline is September 7.

On May 23rd, 2024, The West End Museum will formally reopen to the public.

West End Museum’s Trivia Nights Offer Neighbors Fun – and Educational – Night OutBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum’s ongoing Trivia Nights have become a popular destination for neighbors looking for a fun night out that also offers them an informal education in the history of Boston and the West End. The Trivia Nights,…

Join the West End Museum for an artistically moving experience as they project photographic images from the Museum’s Edgell and Frani Collections alongside a live performance of two of classical music’s most emotive string quartets.

Sebastian Belfanti, executive director of the West End Museum, takes us through his perfect day in Boston’s West End neighborhood.

Long before the city’s West End became synonymous with destruction and displacement because of urban renewal efforts in the 1950s, the neighborhood was an epicenter of Black life in Boston and home to the country’s oldest standing Black church and the oldest public school for Black children.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boston, MA – The West End Museum, in collaboration with Crescendo Productions, presents an unforgettable musical experience.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boston, MA – Intellectuals, abolitionists, suffragists, artists, authors, and athletes – the women of Boston’s West End played an important role in shaping the history of their neighborhood, Boston, and the world.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Over the course of four centuries, a chain of development efforts in Boston’s West End dramatically altered its physical environment and the lives of the people within its borders.

Join the West End Museum for an author talk with Dan Dain as he walks us through his new book, “A History of Boston” on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. at The Hub on Causeway Community Room at 52 Causeway St.

A Message from the Executive Director Hello Friends of the WEM – Thank you so much for continuing to be engaged with the Museum this year. Despite being closed, this has been a very good year for the Museum, very much because of the support of people like you, who read Weeklies, attended events, and donated to ensure that the West End’s story can continue to be told.

Upcoming Events Sponsored by West End Museum.

The West End Museum (WEM) celebrated Richie Harnett, Cathleen Griffin, and the late Claudia and Stephen Edgell for their significant impact in the community during West End Heritage Honoree Night on December 8.

What do Claude Debussy, Abraham Lincoln, and Oscar Wilde have in common? They are engaging visitors at museums and cultural sites across New England—and you might be surprised to know that these iconic historic figures are doing it right on mission.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2023 Boston, MA – Join the West End Museum and the Afrimerican Academy on February 17th for a walking tour and lecture on African American history in the West End neighborhood.

But our region’s important history doesn’t end with the Revolutionary War. Here are several stories that deserve your attention, and 11 cool spots to catch this rich history in real life.

For his sold-out lecture on Friday, Dec. 1, at the Boston Athenaeum, Bob Potenza, the curatorial manager for the West End Museum, will discuss how that neighborhood has changed and evolved over the course of the last nearly 400 years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2023 Boston, MA – Join us on February 7th for a look into the MGH archives with Lucy Ross, Archivist of the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The West End Museum’s Honoree Night Set for Dec. 8

The West End Museum will be holding its 2023 Honoree Night on Friday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m.at The Hub on Causeway Community Room at 52 Causeway Street (located along the alleyway next to Hub50House, across from the Tip O’Neill Building).

Upcoming Events Sponsored by the West End Museum

The West End Museum joins the Jewish Book Council, and the Boston Public Library for a children’s book reading of “The Boston Choco­late Party.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2023 Boston, MA – Join us on January 31st for a night of brain-teasing questions and friendly competition! Put your Boston history knowledge to the test at our second trivia night, held at Causeway Restaurant and Bar.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2023 Boston, MA – Join The West End Museum for an author talk with Dan Dain as he walks us through his new book, A History of Boston.

7 Off-the-Beaten-Path Group Activities in BostonThrillist Fenway Park. Clam Chowder. The Museum of Fine Arts. We’re going to guess you and your travel buddies have already penciled those three items into just about any kind of Boston itinerary. But there’s a lot more to explore in Bean Town beyond the standard tourist lineup. Instead of…

Upcoming Events Sponsored by the West End Museum

The West End Museum will sponsor Boston Trivia Night on Monday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Causeway Boston restaurant at 65 Causeway St.

Every year, The West End Museum honors a few people who have made meaningful and lasting contributions to the neighborhood and the city of Boston. At this year’s West End Heritage Honoree Night, to be held on December 8th, we celebrate four individuals who have had a significant impact on the West End community: Richie Hartnett, Claudia and Stephen Edgell, and Cathleen Griffin.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2023 Boston, MA – Join the Jewish Book Council, the West End Museum, and the Boston Public Library for a children’s book reading of The Boston Choco­late Party.

After the first event on Oct. 26 sold out, the West End Museum has added another “Murders & Mysteries: The West End’s Haunted History” – a Halloween-themed tour of the neighborhood that unearths its hidden mysteries and haunted tales – on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

The West End Museum Presents: Boston Trivia Night FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 10, 2023 Boston, MA – Join us on November 6th for a night of brain-teasing questions and friendly competition! Put your Boston history knowledge to the test at our first trivia night, held at Causeway Restaurant and Bar.

After succumbing to a flood in early 2022, the West End Museum is now undergoing renovations, with its main gallery expected to reopen next March 15.

The New West End MuseumBy Sebastian Belfanti We are finally ready to share our plans for the brand new WEM! The rebuilt Museum is built to accommodate all our activities, and to guide the next generation of visitors, along with returning guests, through the West End Story. Despite this, please understand that images and details…

The West End Civic Association (WECA) will hold its next meeting in person on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Amy Lowell Apartments at 65 Martha Road.

The West End Museum Presents: Murders & Mysteries: The West End’s Haunted History FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2023 Boston, MA – Get ready to embark on a spine-tingling adventure through the spooky past of Boston’s West End. Join us on October 25th and 26th for a chilling tour, led by museum staff, as we unveil the hidden mysteries and haunted tales of this historic neighborhood.

The West End Museum presents “Treasures from the West End Museum Archives” on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. at The Hub on Causeway Community Room at 52 Causeway St.

The West End Civic Association (WECA) will hold its next meeting in person on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Amy Lowell Apartments at 65 Martha Road.

The West End Museum Presents: Treasures from the West End Museum Archives FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2023 Boston, MA – Step into the past and experience history interactively at the West End Museum’s exclusive event: Treasures from the West End Museum Archives. Join us for an unforgettable evening as we delve into the captivating…

The West End Museum presents an unforgettable theatrical experience when members of the New England Film Orchestra combine the magic of film with the power of music as they perform live music in-sync to two films highlighting the lives of Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth.

From the banning of plays by the Massachusetts General Court in 1750 to the opening of the city’s first theater in 1792 to the rise and fall of Scollay Square as a hub of refined and then not-so-refined center of entertainment, Boston has had a long and tumultuous relationship with theater.

The public got its first look at a project that envisions the creation of a “West End Green Corridor,” which would connect the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway with the Charles River Esplanade, during a presentation on Friday, May 12, in the Hub House community room adjoining North Station.

Another Renewal Project Moves Forward in West EndBanker and Tradesman A 2022 water leak that forced the shutdown of the West End Museum provided the impetus for a redesign adding interactive exhibits and more space for community events. “We really wanted to make the museum more dynamic and broadly accessible,” said Sebastian Belfanti, who was…

West End Museum Welcomes Author Frances McNamara Tonight, April 20. In 1919, a giant molasses tank erupted and spilled two million gallons of the sticky, gooey substance throughout the North End and parts of the West End, killing 21 people.

Michael Maler Begins New Chapter With Launch of His Crescendo ProductionsBeacon Hill Times For Michael Maler, the latest chapter started during the pandemic, specifically with the shuttering of Boston’s theaters, concert halls, and other performing arts venues. But as so often is the case when tragedy closes a door, he said a new window of…

The West End Museum Presents: Murder, Mystery and the Molasses FloodAn Evening with Boston Author Frances McNamara FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2023 Boston, MA – In 1919, a giant molasses tank erupted and spilled two million gallons of the sticky, gooey substance throughout the North End and parts of the West End, killing 21 people.…

West End Museum Gets Sustaining Grant from Mass General HospitalDigital Journal The West End Museum is Boston’s only neighborhood museum, dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End of Boston, a largely immigrant neighborhood displaced or destroyed by Urban Renewal that saw a third of Boston’s downtown…

Emily Sweeney Discusses Her Book ‘Gangland Boston’ at West End MuseumBeacon Hill Times Boston Globe reporter, Emily Sweeney, discussed her book, “Gangland Boston: A Tour Through the Deadly Streets of Organized Crime,” on March 23, at The HUB50 Community Room, Boston. The Dorchester resident shared fraudulent and violent stories of local mobsters that prevailed in…

Sebastian Belfanti went to school to study rocks, but ended up digging into something quite different: the urban renewal that destroyed the West End.

In This Issue: Message from Director Sebastian Belfanti, West End Heritage Nominees, Archives Spotlight: Old West End House Jackets’ The WEM/WECA Connection

This set of varsity jackets, worn by members of the recently demolished West End House, dates back to the 1950s, according to WEM Archivist and Curator Bob Potenza.

West End Museum Executive Director Sebastian Belfanti is now also the president of WECA, the West End Civic Association. We spoke to Belfanti about his newest role and how WECA and the Museum can work together.

Every year The West End Museum honors a few people who have made meaningful and lasting contributions to the neighborhood and the city of Boston. At this year’s annual Heritage Celebration, being held on Friday March 15, we posthumously celebrate three people, each of whom had an enormous impact. They are Dr. Ronald Tompkins, Thomas Maguire and Charles Bulfinch.

Bullets Over Boston: A Journey Through the City’s UnderworldBeacon Hill Times Gangsters have played a shady role in shaping Boston’s history as Boston Globe reporter Emily Sweeney will explore during an event sponsored by West End Museum on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at The HUB50 Community Room, 52 Causeway St., Boston. In her…

Dress to impress and join us for an elegant evening of celebrating, dancing, and drinks at The Newbury Boston on February 11th. All proceeds from the 50th Annual Winter Soirée will help fund the BHCA and support our efforts in community building, civic engagement, and historic preservation – the results of which are showcased every day throughout the neighborhood.

BPDA delivers more than $11 million in mitigation funding to local organizations resulting from new MGH Clinical Building projectNews Organization The Boston Planning & Development Agency announced today the delivery of approximately $11 million in funding to the West End Museum, Museum of African American History, Boston Preservation Alliance, Old West Church, the Boston Transportation…

BPDA delivers more than $11 million in mitigation funding to local organizationsBeacon Hill Times The Boston Planning & Development Agency announced earlier this month the delivery of approximately $11 million in funding to the West End Museum, Museum of African American History, Boston Preservation Alliance, Old West Church, the Boston Transportation Department, and the Boston…

A look back at life on the Hill in ’22Beacon Hill Times 2022 was a year filled with milestones on Beacon Hill. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the Beacon Hill Civic Association while another neighborhood institution, the Boston Athenaeum, began a new chapter with the opening this fall of its expanded and renovated…

What I’m Thankful For… West End MemoriesBy Leigh Blander This Thanksgiving weekend, many of us are reflecting on what we’re grateful for. We were curious about the memories for which West Enders give thanks, so we reached out on social media to ask. Below is a sample of what people said (respondents are identified only…

The Nazis of Copley Square: A Talk by Charles GallagherCharlestown Patriot-Bridge The West End Museum (WEM) welcomed Boston College professor, Charles Gallagher, for a discussion about his book, “Nazis of Copley Square: The Forgotten Story of the Christian Front,” on  November 9. In his book, Gallagher explains the lived-experiences of Catholic Boston in the 1930s-1940s,…

The Nazis of Copley Square: A Talk by Charles GallagherThe Boston Sun The West End Museum (WEM) welcomed Boston College professor, Charles Gallagher, for a discussion about his book, “Nazis of Copley Square: The Forgotten Story of the Christian Front,” on  November 9. In his book, Gallagher explains the lived-experiences of Catholic Boston in the…

West End Museum Gets Developers’ Payments for RepairsBanker & Tradesman Portions of The Hub on Causeway and Bulfinch Crossing developments’ community benefits packages will be put toward ongoing repairs and redesign of the West End Museum. The neighborhood historical museum has been closed since burst pipes flooded its ground-floor exhibit space at 150 Staniford St.…

WE Museum Receives BPDA Funding To Support Rehabilitation EffortsBeacon Hill Times The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) announced on Monday, Nov. 7, the delivery of $569,118 in funding to The West End Museum, provided by The HYM Investment Group (“HYM”), BXP, and Delaware North. The museum shut down almost a year ago when a…

“The West End Museum is a historical treasure that reflects Boston’s cultural legacy,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited that this funding will support the reopening of this important cultural institution. I’m grateful to the BPDA and our community partners for ensuring that this neighborhood’s history can be connected to our communities for generations to come.”

Massachusetts General Hospital Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Clinical Care BuildingMassachusetts General Hospital BOSTON – Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham, on Thursday, October 27, broke ground on a multi-year construction project for a new, state-of-the-art clinical care facility along Cambridge Street, enabling MGH to address ongoing growth of services and the need for increased…

MGH launches work of huge expansion along Cambridge StreetBoston Globe Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday broke ground on a 1.5 million-square-foot expansion of its campus on the edge of Beacon Hill. The nearly $2 billion project will be home to the Mass General Cancer Center and the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, with 482 private inpatient…

Feeling Thankful for the West EndBy Leigh Blander As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to hear from former and current West Enders: What are you most thankful for about your time in the neighborhood? Maybe it’s basketball games at the old West End House or favorite teachers at the Winchell School. Perhaps it’s holiday celebrations…

October 2022 NewsletterA Message from the Director Hello Friends of The WEM, As always seems to be the case, it’s been a hectic few months at The WEM. The difference this time, thankfully, is that most things have been positive. First, and most importantly, Bob Potenza (see the article below) and I are both now full-time employees.…

The West End House, a Neighborhood Hub for Generations, is DemolishedBy Leigh Blander Boston’s former West End House, one of the last remaining treasures of the old West End and a gathering spot for thousands of immigrant families, was demolished on Oct. 1, to make room for a new building for the Massachusetts General Hospital.…

Navigating Complications, Museum Moves Closer to Re-openingBy Matt Ellis Flooding and water damage are never a good thing, but in the case of the West End Museum, the flood that occurred inside the building at 150 Staniford Street last February has created great opportunity to look carefully at how it utilizes its floorplan. “One of…

New Collections Manager Bob Potenza Digs WEM’s ArtifactsBy Leigh Blander On most days, you can find Bob Potenza digging through boxes of artifacts—relics of the old West End neighborhood nearly erased by Boston’s infamous urban renewal project of the 1950s and 60s. “We have trophies from the West End House, shoe shine boxes, even masonry…

West End House demolished as part of MGH expansion projectBeacon Hill Times Demolition of the West End House on Blossom Street – one of now less than a dozen structures in the old West End to survive urban renewal – got underway at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, as part of Mass General…

Off Track: An NBC10 Boston SpecialNBC 10 Boston News 10 Orange Line shutdown coverage including images from the WEM archives.

Stop by Boston’s West End Museum to see the complete transformation of what was once a strong immigrant communityWCVB 5 Chronicle A history quiz and recut footage of the WEM.

The West End Museum and Vilna Shul partner for special walking tourThe Jewish Journal BOSTON – The West End Museum and The Vilna Shul are teaming up for a special tour of the historic synagogue and the West End neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 10:30 a.m. The event begins with refreshments on the patio…

WEM, The Vilna partner for special walking tour, immigrant storiesBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum and The Vilna are teaming up for a special tour of the historic synagogue and the West End neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 10:30 a.m. The event begins with refreshments on the patio at Vilna Shul, 18 Phillips…

The WEM & The Vilna Partner for Special Walking Tour, Immigrant Stories Boston, MA – The West End Museum and The Vilna are teaming up for a special tour of the historic synagogue and the West End neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 10:30am. The event begins with refreshments on the patio at Vilna Shul,…

Months after flood, West End Museum’s reopening is within sightBoston Globe The West End Museum, which pays tribute to a vanished Boston neighborhood, has been closed since January, when a burst pipe flooded the space. But the phone still rings. Sebastian Belfanti, the museum’s director, said he gets a call about once every two weeks from…

Boston Becomes Experiential Learning Lab In Northeastern Humanities InstituteNortheastern What was Boston’s role in the slave trade? If you took a tour of the city, how would you know? The answer might surprise you: A single plaque at the end of the Long Wharf memorializes Boston’s place in the Middle Passage. The understated memorial is a testament…

All You Need To Know About MGH DevelopmentsBoston Preservation Alliance Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is beginning the process of demolishing three historic buildings in Boston’s West End neighborhood to accommodate an expansion of their hospital campus. This project was approved by the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) on October 14, 2021. The Alliance first engaged with…

The Top Jewish Sites in Greater BostonJewish Boston Did you know that Boston is home to the fourth-largest Jewish community in the United States? However, according to the authors of “111 Places in Boston That You Must Not Miss,” Boston’s Jewish history started relatively late. Heather Kapplow and Kim Windyka said it wasn’t until the…

MGH Holds Virtual Community Forum Ahead of Cambridge Street Campus ExpansionBeacon Hill Times Mass General held a Community Forum meeting virtually on Tuesday, June 21, for the various stakeholders involved in the hospital’s planned expansion of its Cambridge Street campus. Nick Haney, public coordination and initiatives director for MGH, said the idea behind the ongoing…

Summer 2022 NewsletterA Message from the Director Hello Friends of The WEM, As many of you are already aware, the past few months have been quite challenging for the WEM. I want to thank you all for the support that you have given since the flooding in January. We’ll continue to let you know as…

Rebuilt WEM to Feature Immersive Spaces: ‘Plan to rebuild is coming together’By Yasmeen Freightman The team at The West End Museum is laying the groundwork for a major rebuild following January’s flood that devastated Boston’s only neighborhood museum. It’s been a productive year so far, especially for fundraising, but construction delays mean that the Museum…

More Change is Coming to The West End: An Update on the MGH ExpansionBy Leigh Blander After years of planning and community hearings, three historic West End buildings are scheduled to come down this summer as part of the Massachusetts General Hospital expansion. Several artifacts from those buildings will be moving to The West End…

New Board Officers Look to Future with The WEM Museum’s RestorationBy Yasmeen Freightman Newly-elected officers to The West End Museum Board of Directors say restoration of Boston’s only neighborhood museum is top of mind for everyone. A flood, caused by burst pipes in the building at 150 Staniford St. this winter, badly damaged the space…

New Life, New Vision for The West End’s Historic Vilna ShulBy Leigh Blander Stepping into the old Vilna Shul on Beacon Hill is like stepping back in time. You’re transported to the turn of the 20th century when new immigrants, especially Jews from Eastern Europe, flooded Boston’s West End looking for a new life. In…

City Limits: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s bold plans for affordable housing run into old-school politics, perverse regulations, and limited home rule.The American Prospect The downtown skyline view from LoPresti Park on the East Boston waterfront is worth lingering over despite a chilly, brisk wind. On a Tuesday midafternoon, a bundled-up person and a dog stroll…

Community Reception To Honor West End Museum’s New PresidentBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum (WEM) celebrated its newly elected president, Lois Ascher, with a reception on May 25 in the courtyard of the First Harrison Gray Otis House. Ascher, Wentworth Institute of Technology’s first female faculty member, has been involved with WEM for more…

Community Reception To Honor West End Museum’s New PresidentBeacon Hill Times The West End community is welcome to attend a special reception honoring the election of Lois Ascher as the new president of The West End Museum. The event will be at the historic Otis House, 141 Cambridge St., on Wednesday, May 25, from 6…

10 events to visit in Boston this MayNew England Magazine After a long winter, and with longer, hotter days and nights and temperatures heading higher as the month goes on, it’s easy to see the appeal for those who chose May for a Boston adventure. It’s a month when the city’s outdoor music and cultural…

Community Reception to Honor The WEM’s New President Boston, MA – The West End community is welcome to attend a special reception honoring the election of Lois Ascher as the new president of The West End Museum. The event will be at the historic Otis House, 141 Cambridge St., on Wednesday, May 25 from 6:00 p.m.…

News BriefsBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum will join groups in hundreds of cities around the world to lead Jane’s Walks on Friday and Saturday, May 6-7. The museum is adding two additional walks after the first filled quickly. The free walking tours will explore the character of Boston’s North and West Ends before…

Honoring Jane Jacobs, Museum Tours Explore Changing Boston Neighborhoods Boston, MA – The West End Museum will join groups in hundreds of cities around the world to lead Jane’s Walks on Friday and Saturday, May 6-7. The Museum is adding two additional walks after the first filled quickly. The free walking tours will explore the character of Boston’s…

The Last TenementAtlas Obscura IN THIS EPISODE OF THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST, we visit the Last Tenement in Boston’s old West End, which has come to represent everything that can go wrong with urban planning. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an…

Wu begins sunsetting urban renewal, advocates say abolishing BPDA should be nextThe Scope

With March Madness upon us again, we thought this would be a good time to highlight the history of Boston Garden as a gathering place for fans from across New England to witness the greatest professional and student athletes.

February 2022 NewsletterA Message from the Director Hello Friends of The WEM, In every newsletter since I started as Museum Director, I’ve written some version of, “This has not been anything like I was expecting.” Until now, that comment has always been followed by a note on the effects of COVID, but as many of…

Warrior for Women’s Justice in the West End: Arianna SparrowBy Yasmeen Freightman Throughout America’s history, our search for a more just society has often progressed through activism and reform. People challenge the status quo for the sake of social justice to improve the republic. Those improvements often take the forms of new and amended laws…

A West End Romance That’s Lasted Decades This Valentine’s season, we’re sharing the love story of Martha and Joseph Morello, who met in the old West End. On February 14, 2022, they celebrated the 60th anniversary of their engagement. Here is Joseph’s story in his own words. He submitted it to The WEM after reading…

New Members Join West End Museum BoardBy Leigh Blander This February, The West End Museum’s Board of Directors elected two new members during its Annual Meeting. Katie Burke is an archivist at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, where she preserves, processes and digitizes museum collections.  She also participates in interpretive programs…

West End Museum Fast-Tracking RenovationsBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum was already planning to close for a couple of months next year to allow for an extensive renovation, but that timetable and fundraising goals for the project are now being fast-tracked as the museum reels to recover from last month’s flooding. “It would’ve been…

Historic New England to Explore ‘Reimagining’ Otis HouseBeacon Hill Times Historic New England is taking a fresh look at the Otis House to explore options for the next chapter in the history of this Charles Bulfinch-designed National Historic Landmark at 141 Cambridge St. “We definitely want to create an engaging visitor experience and also enhance…

Upcoming Walking Tour Focuses on Colonial New Englanders’ Drinking HabitsBeacon Hill Times Colonial New Englanders drank roughly three times as much alcohol as Modern Americans, and an upcoming walking tour will explore this phenomenon before making its way to the Green Dragon, one of the city’s most historic watering holes. The program, called “Fox’d and…

The West End Museum FloodBeacon Hill Times On January 15, a burst pipe on the fourth floor of West End Place — a mixed income complex at 150 Staniford Street — inundated the West End Museum (WEM) with over two-inches of water, and displaced around 25 families, who were temporarily relocated to the nearby Boxer…

Support the WEM as We Rebuild Please consider supporting The West end Museum as we work to rebuild after flooding destroyed the Museum on January 15th. The Museum has worked for more than a decade to preserve the story of the West End, foster community for the displaced and current residents of the neighborhood, and…

Burst pipe shuts down West End museum, destroys some artifactsWCVB A museum in Boston is closed for the foreseeable future after a broken pipe made a mess out of the facility and destroyed some artifacts. “So, I was actually here. There was a big bang, it started raining,” said West End Museum Director Sebastian Belfanti. Belfanti said…

West End Museum closed ‘indefinitely’ after pipe burstsBoston Globe The West End Museum in Boston had to close after a pipe burst Saturday morning and flooded the facility with water, museum officials said. Sebastian A. Belfanti, the director of the West End Museum, said he was there when it happened. “I was in the museum…

Boston’s Lost Neighborhood. A visit to the West End Museum.unPlanned

The state wants to redo the Hurley Building. But how?Boston Globe To some, the Charles F. Hurley Building is a giant concrete tombstone, memorializing a once-vibrant city block buried by urban renewal. For others, it’s a historic treasure, a throwback to a grandiose, monolithic style of architecture. To the Baker administration, the three-plus-acre Hurley property…

West End Holiday Celebrations With the holiday season in full swing, it’s a special time to look at the history of the West End’s rich holiday and religious culture. During and after the Immigrant Era, the West End was home to people of many different ethnicities, nationalities and religions who honored a variety of religious…

Jerry Rappaport was a great philanthropist — and a developer who helped destroy a neighborhoodBoston Globe When he died earlier this month, at 94, Jerry Rappaport was hailed as a great philanthropist who also played a key role in developing a gleaming new Boston. A more complete picture of his legacy can be found at the West End…

Remembering the man who destroyed the West EndUniversal HUB Jerome Rappaport died the other day, and the Globe had a glowing obituary, complete with a quote from the mayor, about his decades of philanthropy and as a builder who helped shape the Boston of today. But as CommonWealth Magazine alerts us, they really glossed over the thing…

An obituary, and a renewed sense of loss over the West EndBoston Globe The headline to Bryan Marquard’s obituary of Jerome Rappaport could not have been more painful (“Civic leader who helped shape Boston: Builder and philanthropist sought to ‘rebuild the city,’ ” Page A1, Dec. 7). With the West End project, Rappaport certainly rebuilt the…

Ghosts in the Museum: The Leverett Street JailBeacon Hill Times The eclectic West End was uniquely known for its Urban Renewal, influential residents, and abolitionists. The culturally diverse neighborhood was home to African, Irish, Eastern European, Italian, Greek, Asian, and Albanian immigrants. It was also infamous for its executions (predominantly of pirates of African or…

West End Museum to Recognize Three 2021 Honorees for Service to the NeighborhoodBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum will host its third annual Heritage Night on Friday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m., honoring three people who have made a deep and meaningful impact on the neighborhood over the decades. This year’s honorees are State…

October 2021 NewsletterA Message from the Director Hello, Since my last message to all of you, a lot has happened at The WEM (including this new branding). Programs have returned, as promised, and it has been wonderful to start seeing many of you around the neighborhood again! I’ve been deeply moved by the continued generosity…

Renovations are Just Part of the Changes at The West End MuseumSusan Gilbert An Effort to Create a Better Experience for Visitors and an Enhanced Examination of this Vital Neighborhood As the West End community continues to grow and evolve over the coming decades, the museum dedicated to telling its story is also undergoing an…

Programming Picks Up at The WEMBy Leigh Blander Like other Boston museums that delayed new programming until after lockdowns had lifted, The WEM has been busy these past few months organizing and launching an eclectic mix of programming—from bicycle roller racing to a spooky reminiscence of one of the West End’s notorious neighborhood jails. As…

Stop by Boston’s West End Museum to see the complete transformation of what was once a strong immigrant communityWCVB The original West End started as farm country in the 18th century and soon became an upscale neighborhood along with Beacon Hil. …

Five things to do around Boston, Oct. 25-31Boston Globe Monday Politics of Change Head to the Chevalier Theatre in Medford for A Conversation With Stacey Abrams, the politician, author, and voting rights activist. On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti will moderate the discussion about the state of politics, leadership, entrepreneurship, and social justice. Tickets start at…

Crime Scene: The West End’s Three JailsBy Leigh Blander Boston’s West End is known for many things: its rich immigrant history, connections to the abolitionist movement, urban renewal, and many famous actors, athletes, and artists. But the neighborhood has another distinction—it has been home to three major jails, including the notorious Leverett Street lockup. Leverett…

$20 Million Commitment from Esplanade Association Would Fund Major Improvements to ParkBeacon Hill Times The Esplanade Association (‘EA’), nonprofit partners of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (‘DCR’) as stewards of the 64-acre Charles River Esplanade in Boston, this week announced a gift to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that would fund the establishment of…

Landmarks Commission Gives Green Light for Demolition of Three Historic West End BuildingsBeacon Hill Times The Boston Landmarks Commission voted during a virtual meeting held Aug. 10 to waive a 90-day demolition delay for three historic West End buildings that will be razed as part of Mass General Hospital’s planned expansion. MGH intends to demolish…

Summer in the City – Remembering Charlesbank BeachBy Leigh Blander For some, summer in the city is a reminder of Charlesbank Beach, where thousands of Bostonians flocked to the banks of the Charles River in the West End to go swimming. Charlesbank – which ran from the Longfellow Bridge to the Museum of Science –…

How Bicycling Empowered FeminismSanta Barbara Independent When Massachusetts-based author Peter Zheutlin discovered that a long-lost aunt played an integral role in elevating the popularity of bicycling around the end of the 19th century, he decided to tell her story. In so doing, Zheutlin is educating the world about his great-great aunt Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, a…

MGH Project Team Discusses Community Benefits for Proposed ProjectBeacon Hill Times The project team for Mass General Hospital’s planned $1.9 billion expansion of its Cambridge Street campus were on hand June 24 for a virtual forum sponsored by the Beacon Hill Civic Association to discuss community benefits for the project. MGH has proposed a new…

Summer 2021 NewsletterA Message from Museum Director Sebastian Belfanti I began as Director of The WEM back in February 2020; needless to say, the year and a half since has been different than expected. But different hasn’t been all bad, and while I’m certainly happy to see many of you in person as we begin…

Long-Awaited Renovations Underway at West End MuseumBy Susan Gilbert For the first time since its incorporation, The West End Museum is undergoing renovations and a modernization designed to create an even better visitor experience. The first stage of renovations – installing a replacement floor in the main gallery – is expected to begin this August.…

The West End Museum Welcomes New Members to its Board of DirectorsBy Leigh Blander The West End Museum is pleased to announce four new members to its Board of Directors this year. Each brings lived experience in the West End, along with new areas of expertise. Let’s meet them. Leland Alexander Supt., Kaplan Construction Alexander…

Exciting Summer Programming at The WEM This summer, The West End Museum is hitting the streets offering several exciting walking tours. First, Museum Dir. Sebastian Belfanti will lead Exploring the West End on Saturday, June 19, 11:00 a.m.  The 90-minute tour will feature dozens of historic places and people dating from 1640-2000, and discuss this area affectionately…

Museum Shares Lore and Lessons from the West EndBNN

West End Museum Adds HoursBeacon Hill Times To accommodate increasing attendance, The West End Museum is now opening Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in addition to Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. “We’re seeing more people coming to the museum, especially interested in our new exhibit on settlement life in the West End,”…

West End’s Underground Railroad Stop Played Key Role in Anti-Slavery MovementBy Susan Gilbert Underground Railroad Brought Thousands to Freedom The Underground Railroad ushered tens of thousands of slaves―men, women, and children―to freedom. It was a semi-informal network of safe houses and “conductors” ―both white and African American―many of whom secretly traveled into Southern slave states to rescue those seeking freedom. Assisted…

Paul Senecal and Michael Gropman help preserve West End legacyWicked Local Around the corner from the TD Garden, the West End Museum continues to maintain the memory of a beloved neighborhood that, 60 years ago, fell prey to the urban renewal wrecking ball. The Lomasney Way (named for Martin Michael Lomasney, a former state senator, state representative and alderman…

MGH pushes ahead with nearly $2 billion expansionBoston Globe Massachusetts General Hospital is pushing forward with a massive $1.9 billion project to build two new towers as part of its effort to focus on treating the sickest patients at its downtown campus, remaking a critical corner of Boston and potentially boosting public transit. The two…

West End Museum Launches Spring & Summer Programs Celebrating Public Space ‘Democracy’s Front Porch’ Boston, MA— The newly reopened West End Museum is launching an exciting schedule of spring and summer programs, which will be offered both in-person and online. Beginning April 29, Wentworth University Professor Emeritus Lois Ascher will lead a free, three-part webinar…

West End Museum to Reopen with New Exhibit Highlighting Stories from Settlement HouseSimmons University Exhibit Examines Life at the Elizabeth Peabody House Boston, MA— The West End Museum is today announcing it will reopen to the public on Friday, April 16, after being closed for months due to the pandemic. WEM will premiere a collaborative…

Preserving the History of The West End in Boston. The West End Museum and its role in Massachusetts.Mass Realty

Boston’s West End Museum Marks ‘Leonard Nimoy Day’ In The CityWBZ News Radio BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Today is a special day for Boston residents and Star Trek fans alike. Before heading to Washington D.C. to become U.S. Secretary of Labor, Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh declared that March 26 would be Leonard Nimoy Day in the…

Reopening scheduled for April 16th – Opening Tuesdays and Fridays The West End Museum will be reopening on Friday, April 16th! We will be open two days a week, Tuesday and Friday, from 12 – 5pm, and are looking forward to welcoming all of our members, friends, and first-time visitors once again!

The Last School StandingBy Marshall Hook While about a dozen original West End buildings remain in the West End Project Area, the one at 26 Blossom Street stands as the only surviving school building to have served the children of the neighborhood. The Winchell School’s construction began in 1884 and was completed the next year.…

Behind the Scenes at the MuseumBy Sue Minichiello At the Museum, we refuse to let the pandemic keep us down! We’ve been focusing on projects with long-term impact. From renovations to demographic research to a website overhaul — we’ve got some big news to share and opportunities for you to be part of the action.…

2020 End-of-Year NewsletterBehind the Scenes at the Museum By Sue Minichiello At the Museum, we refuse to let the pandemic keep us down! We’ve been focusing on projects with long-term impact. From renovations to demographic research to a website overhaul — we’ve got some big news to share and opportunities for you to be part…

West End Museum Announces Reopening to the Public Boston, MA—The West End Museum is pleased to announce its doors will reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 29 after four-and-a-half months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Museum will be open for its regular pre-pandemic hours, although at reduced capacity per city and…

The Museum is Reopening July 29th I am so pleased to announce that The West End Museum is once again welcoming visitors as of July 29th. We will be open for our regular pre-pandemic hours, although at reduced capacity per city and state directives: Tuesday-Friday, 12-5PM; Saturday, 11AM-4PM; Closed Sunday and Monday. As always, admission…

Summer 2020 NewsletterAn Important Message from Museum Director Sebastian Belfanti After months of social distance and loss, the past several weeks have been particularly difficult. We have been forced to reflect on the painful history of racism and segregation that led to George Floyd’s death, among many others. We at the Museum mourn the senseless…

State of Affairs: Reopening & FundingBy Sue Minichiello With an eye on the future, Museum Director Sebastian Belfanti began working on a detailed reopening plan in April and received board approval of the plan in early May. Also in April, to help offset revenue losses under the mandated closure, Belfanti proactively launched the West End Museum…

Museum Perseveres Despite Mandated ClosurePrepared by Sue Minichiello Being closed under COVID-19 restrictions has been challenging for The West End Museum, as it has for many nonprofit institutions, particularly smaller ones that depend on foot traffic and visitor donations. Even so, the future looks bright for “Boston’s Neighborhood Museum.” It has a number of vital…

Meet the New Board Members: Andy Matteis & Amanda ValentaBy Hayley Domin Even under mandatory closure, the work of the Museum never stopped, including assembling its current Board of Directors. This year, two new members joined the ranks: Andy Matteis and Amanda Valenta. Each of them brings a passion for nonprofits and professional backgrounds that…

West End Museum Perseveres Despite Mandated Closure; Readies for ReopeningBeacon Hill Times This period of closure under COVID-19 restrictions has been challenging for The West End Museum, as it has for many nonprofit institutions, particularly smaller ones that depend on visitor donations. Even so, the future looks bright for “Boston’s Neighborhood Museum.” It has a number…

New Exhibit Explores Eva Whiting White, the EPH, and Life in a West End Settlement House in Partnership with Simmons University This week the West End Museum is excited to announce a new exhibit designed by students at Simmons University in partnership with the Boston City Archives. The exhibit, Learned from Our Neighbors: Stories from The…

Black Lives Matter – An Important Message from Museum Director Sebastian BelfantiBy Sebastian Belfanti After months of social distance and loss, the past month has been particularly difficult. We have been forced to reflect on the painful history of racism and segregation that led to George Floyd’s death, among many others. We at the Museum…

West End Museum Honors Two Former Neighborhood Residents for Jewish American Heritage MonthBeacon Hill Times In acknowledgment of May as Jewish American Heritage Month, the West End Museum honored two exceptional former residents of the neigborhood. Born on May 30, 1920, in Boston, Manuel “Manny” Brown, now 100 years old, was a World War II…

Jewish Heritage Month Honorees The West End Museum is honoring two exceptional West Enders this month: Manny Brown and Annie Londonderry. Manny, who celebrates his 100th birthday quite soon, is a neighborhood treasure, who didn’t just live through urban renewal, but also landed on the Utah beachhead in Normandy 76 years ago on D-Day. He…

Hyman Siegal, 90, taught young Leonard Nimoy to develop filmJewish Telegraphic Agency BOSTON (JTA) – As a teenager growing up in the West End of Boston in the early 1940s, Hyman Siegal was a regular at the West End House, a philanthropic club that offered programming for the sons of immigrants and a place to…

Keating Wheel Company – Our StoryBy Nick Keating, www.keatingwheelcompany.com I was incredibly excited to receive an invitation to contribute towards The West End Museum’s bicycling exhibit, both in providing a historic Keating bicycle, and in discussing my role in modern-day Boston cycling. Looking back on our two-wheeled past – particularly in urban areas like Boston…

The West End Museum Launches a gofundme Campaign Boston, MA – On April 1 The West End Museum launched a gofundme campaign to assist in raising funds while we are closed for the COVID-19 epidemic. This closure has presented new challenges for our community, but it has also provided exciting opportunities. During the shutdown we…

Local Businesses & Centers Temporarily Closed Due To COVID-19North End Waterfront In attempts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and keep North End/Waterfront community members safe, many local businesses and centers have announced temporarily closures. The following list, sorted alphabetically, was last updated Tuesday morning (March 17). Visit boston.gov for the latest information. If you…

How two Boston women became legends in the sport of cyclingBoston Globe At the height of the bicycling craze in the 1890s, Boston was home to two trailblazing female cyclists: Kittie Knox, who broke racial barriers to compete, and Annie Londonderry, who gained international fame for embarking on an epic bike ride around the world.…

Lecture Series—Reflections On Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons Of Urban RenewalNorth End Waterfront During the West End Museum’s closure due to COVID-19, no scheduled events will take place, regardless of their previous announcement. The Museum will do their best to reschedule all canceled events once they reopen. The West End Museum presents “Reflections on…

BPDA approves 625 residential unitsBoston Real Estate Times The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors this month approved development projects in neighborhoods across the City of Boston, which will result in new residential units, economic development and jobs. The projects approved this month will create an additional 625 residential units, 433 of…

Looking back at Boston’s West End, and the forces that led to its destructionBoston Globe A new lecture series at the West End Museum will take a closer look at the urban renewal efforts that led to the demolition of one of Boston’s most densely populated and diverse neighborhoods. Titled “Reflections on Boston’s West End:…

New Exhibit Recounts “Cycling Legends of the West End“: Concurrent Programs Celebrate Pioneer Kittie Knox, Feature Author Lorenz J. Finison & More Boston, MA— On Tuesday, February 18, The West End Museum premieres a new exhibit, “Cycling Legends of the West End,” which highlights three key characters in bicycling history. Two of them were West End residents; one was a…

Lessons learned? What the destruction of Boston’s West End should teach us todayThe Somerville Times Yesterday’s urban renewal is today’s gentrification. A bold statement? Perhaps, but there is no doubt that when neighborhoods are redeveloped in ways that exile their longtime residents and businesses, just as much — if not more — can be lost…

Book Talk: A History Of African-American Cycling In Boston Feb. 22North End Waterfront The West End Museum is hosting author Lorenz Finison who will give a talk combining material from his first two books, Boston’s Cycling Craze and Boston’s 20th Century Bicycling Renaissance, on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Finison will discuss African-American…

Author Lizabeth Cohen And The Old Howard Troupe At The West End MuseumNorth End Waterfront The West End Museum is proud to host the following educational and entertaining events. Pre-registration is required for all three events at thewestendmuseum.org.

The West End Museum Announces New Events: Talk by Author Lizabeth Cohen & Musical Performance by the Old Howard Troupe Boston, MA–The West End Museum is proud to host the following educational and entertaining events. Pre-registration is required for all three events at thewestendmuseum.org. Lizabeth Cohen: Saving America’s Cities February 4 @7PM; $10 / Free to Museum…

Reflections on Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons of Urban Renewal: Lecture Series Explores Reasons doe & Results of Community Destruction Boston, MA–The West End Museum presents “Reflections on Boston’s West End: The Origins & Lessons of Urban Renewal,” a dynamic lecture series that provides a comprehensive examination of the forces that led to the urban renewal…

Scanning & Photography Parties Aim to Capture West End Stories Past & Present Boston, MA—Have you ever lived, worked, or spent time in Boston’s West End? Do you have photos, letters, records, or objects that tell the story of the neighborhood before urban renewal, just after, or up through the present day? The West End Museum is…

Exhibition: Cycling Legends of the West End Runs February 18, 2020 through May 30, 2020. Reception on February 29 from 2-4pm. Exhibition and reception are free. Boston, MA— On Tuesday, February 18, The West End Museum premieres a new exhibit, “Cycling Legends of the West End,” which highlights three key characters in bicycling history. Two…

Burlesque 101 At The West End MuseumNorth End Waterfront As early as 1858, Adah Isaacs Menken — the highest paid actress of her day — would set the stage for what would become modern burlesque. Lydia Thompson and her import of British Blondes would soon follow, along with Michael Leavitt’s female minstrels. And all would…

Film Nights Celebrate Scollay Square And Silent Movie EraNews Organization Scollay Square served as Boston’s premier entertainment center for nearly 120 years until its demolition under urban renewal in 1962, later to be reborn as Government Center. Opera and theater gave way to vaudeville and minstrel shows, then burlesque and, ultimately, striptease. Boston the Way it…

Silent Movie Era: New Events Augment “Old Howard“ Exhibit Boston, MA–The West End Museum presents two film nights to complement its current exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre.” The exhibit of photographs, artifacts, and graphic panels runs through February 15, 2020. Scollay Square: Boston’s Bygone Playground January 9, 2020 @ 7PM; $10 / Free to Museum Members;…

citizenM Boston North StationThe Telegraph Learn about this historic Boston neighborhood at the West End Museum on Staniford Street; catch the Boston Celtics (basketball) or the Boston Bruins (ice hockey) at the TD Garden; listen to music or dance at Big Night Entertainment Live, a large music venue with banquette seating and table service; and explore the…

12 Unsung Boston-Area Museums Worth a VisitCurbed Boston The Boston region is home to some of the world’s most notable museums. But it also hosts some lesser-known institutions of collective preservation. These include one of the oldest military museums on the continent and one of the nation’s most prominent repositories of African-American history. This updated…

Vaudeville & Burlesque Revisited at The West End Museum: New Events Enhance “Old Howard“ Exhibit Boston, MA–The West End Museum continues to create programs that expand on aspects of its current exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre.” A documentary on vaudeville and a talk on burlesque convey important moments in the history of these popular entertainment…

Community Engagement: Partnerships & Donations; Vilna Shul; Opposing MGHBy Sue Minichiello By keeping a focus on instances of “common history” — West End stories and experiences that residents of different eras share — the Museum has helped to bridge the gap that once existed between old and new West Enders. For example, Matt Ellis is…

Live Band Performs Burlesque Classics; Videos & Discussion Explore Bigotry in the Arts: New Events Augment “Old Howard“ Exhibit Boston, MA–The West End Museum will host a night of live music and a night of short films exploring themes from its current exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre.” Boston’s oldest and best-loved playhouse, The Howard stood in…

November 2019 NewsletterCommunity Engagement: Partnerships & Donations; Vilna Shul; Opposing MGH By keeping a focus on instances of “common history” — West End stories and experiences that residents of different eras share — the Museum has helped to bridge the gap that once existed between old and new West Enders. For example, Matt Ellis is considered a new West…

From the Archives: West Ender Video Newsletter; Digitization & CatalogingBy Sue Minichiello The West End Museum’s Archives are not just a source of material for use in our exhibits and social media. Authors and reporters, researchers and students, and old and new West Enders alike use this incredibly deep resource. Providing access to photographs, letters,…

Viewpoint: Don’t destroy what remains of Boston’s West EndBoston Business Journal Massachusetts General Hospital currently has plans to develop a Clinical and Campus Service Building. But the current plan would come at serious cost to the heritage of Boston, especially to the West End, a historic neighborhood that was demolished in the 1950s and 1960s…

Author David Kruh Reviver Old Days of Scollay Square Boston, MA—NEW DATE: On Monday, October 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The West End Museum, sneak backstage and settle into the cushioned seats of Scollay Square’s famous—and infamous—theater, The Old Howard. Author and historian David Kruh will regale attendees with tales of Boston’s legendary…

Author David Kruh Revives Old Days of Scollay Square Boston, MA—NEW DATE: On Monday, October 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The West End Museum, sneak backstage and settle into the cushioned seats of Scollay Square’s famous—and infamous—theater, The Old Howard. Author and historian David Kruh will regale attendees with tales of Boston’s legendary…

Exhibit: “The Old Howard Theatre” Runs Sept. 24, 2019 through Feb. 15, 2020. Reception on Oct. 17 from 6-8:30pm. Exhibition and reception are free. The West End Museum premieres a new exhibit, which runs through February 15, 2020, “The Old Howard Theatre,” in celebration of Boston’s oldest and best-loved playhouse, which stood in the heart of Boston’s…

West End Museum Exhibit “The Old Howard Theatre”North End Waterfront A show reception will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Concurrent programs—a film screening, an author talk, and an evening of burlesque music—complement the show, which runs through February 15, 2020. The Old Howard (officially, the Howard Athenaeum) enjoyed a heyday of opera,…

New Exhibit Revives Spirit of Legendary Old Howard Theatre Boston, MA—On Tuesday, September 24, The West End Museum premieres a new exhibit, “The Old Howard Theatre,” in celebration of Boston’s oldest and best-loved playhouse, which stood in the heart of Boston’s Scollay Square just steps from the old West End. The Howard’s origin, glory days,…

West End Museum Recognizes Individuals of Italian Descent for Italian Heritage Month: Honors Burlesque Queen Ann Corio & Bowdoin Print Founder Anthony Mondello Boston, MA—Prior to the demolition of the West End under urban renewal, many Italian-American families called the neighborhood home. On Thursday, October 10 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.,The West End Museum will…

July 2019 NewsletterFormer West Ender & 15-year Museum Volunteer Recalls Toll of Urban Renewal Sure, you can grip the heavy iron ice tongs or study the beauty of gelatin-silver-backed photos of neighborhood street life. But if you really want to know about Boston’s old West End – vanquished and vanished at the hands of urban…

First in War & His Countrymen’s Hearts: Dr. Joseph Warren: Author Christian Dispigna’s First Boston Area Appearance on New Book About Revolutionary Leader Killed in Battle of Bunker Hill A prominent Boston physician, Dr. Joseph Warren was a key force in America’s revolutionary movement. He is responsible for setting Paul Revere on his famous ride,…

West End Museum to Honor Legacy of Social Justice Advocate and Urban Renewal Opponent Jane JacobsBeacon Hill Times Author, urbanist, and activist, Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) caused quite a stir in the field of city planning with her 1961 book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” In it, Jacobs asserts that the urban renewal…

West End Museum Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month: Henry Barr & Colonel Alan L. Gropman to be Honored for Decades of Service Boston, MA—Residents of Jewish descent comprised one of the largest ethnic populations in the melting pot of Boston’s old West End. To celebrate that fact, and recognize two individuals for their important contributions, The…

West End Museum to Honor Legacy of Jane Jacobs, Social Justice Advocate & Urban Renewal Opponent Boston, MA—Author, urbanist, and activist, Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) caused quite a stir in the field of city planning with her 1961 book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” In it, Jacobs asserts that the urban renewal projects…

Book Talk: “When Last the Glorious Light: Lay of the Massachuset“ Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. Ed Quill, an author and former journalist at The Boston Globe, will read from and discuss his new book, “When Last the Glorious Light: Lay of the Massachuset.” Relating the story of the Native American tribe for which…

Irish Heritage Night Brings Boston’s Immigrant Past to LifeBy Kevin Ferguson & Sue Minichiello The hope of Boston’s immigrants – and the heartache of those left behind – came through loud and clear at The West End Museum through the dramatic reading of a series of letters written in the 1890s. Specifically, the reading featured…

Former West Ender & 15-Year Museum Volunteer Recalls Toll of Urban RenewalBy Kevin Ferguson & Sue Minichiello Sure, you can grip the heavy iron ice tongs or study the beauty of gelatin-silver-backed photos of neighborhood street life. But if you really want to know about Boston’s old West End – vanquished and vanished at the…

West End Museum Revs up Irish Heritage CelebrationBeacon Hill Times Of the 23 ethnic groups that lived harmoniously in the old West End of Boston, Irish immigrants and their descendants represented one of the three largest (the others being Jewish and Italian). As it has since 2016, The West End Museum is hosting a special event to commemorate Irish Heritage…

West End Museum Revs Up Irish Heritage CelebrationNorth End Waterfront Of the 23 ethnic groups that lived harmoniously in the old West End of Boston, Irish immigrants and their descendants represented one of the three largest (the others being Jewish and Italian). As it has since 2016, The West End Museum is hosting a special event to…

West End Museum Revs Up Irish Heritage Celebration: Patricia Trainor O’Malley of Haverhill to be Honored; Event to Feature Dramatic Reading, Exhibit, Music & More Boston, MA—Of the 23 ethnic groups that lived harmoniously in the old West End of Boston, Irish immigrants and their descendants represented one of the three largest (the others being…

Weekly Top Reads: Hanover St. Building Condemned, Dock Square Garage Proposal, West End Museum Exhibit, Climate Planning Kick-Off, Snelling Pl. Addition Opposed, Eliot Debate ChampionsNorth End Waterfront This week’s top posts on NorthEndWaterfront.com featured real estate, developments, history, climate change, schools and more! Read on below to see the most popular articles from this past…

West End Museum Exhibit Traces Political Moves That Led To Neighborhood’s DestructionNorth End Waterfront The West End Museum is hosting The Housing Act of 1949, a re-configured and updated exhibit that examines the path to the destruction of the Boston’s West End. It explores Democrat Harry S. Truman’s re-election in the face of a mounting housing demand,…

The Beginning of the End: Exhibit Traces Political Path That Led to West End’s Destruction Boston, MA—Now through July 15, The West End Museum is hosting The Housing Act of 1949, a re-configured and updated exhibit that examines the path to the destruction of the Boston’s West End. It explores Democrat Harry S. Truman’s re-election…

Boston on the cheapBoston Globe Boston can be an expensive place to visit. There’s no denying it. But it’s still possible to not spend big to sleep, see, and do a lot here. There are reasonably priced and free attractions throughout the city, if you know where to look. HOTELS The Beacon Hill Friends House has two…

Weekly Top Reads: Real Estate Sales, NEWRA Letter To Mayor Walsh, Life On The Corner, Lucia Returns To West End Museum, NEWNC Reports, And Love Your Block Mini-GrantsNorth End Waterfront Duane Lucia, a local historian, community activist and arts enthusiast, has returned to his role as the Executive Director for the West End Museum. Lucia,…

Duane Lucia Returns as West End Museum Executive Director Local historian, community activist, and arts enthusiast Duane Lucia has been reinstated as executive director of The West End Museum. Lucia served in this role from 2012 into 2015, and briefly as President of the Museum Board of Directors. He later moved to New Jersey part-time…

You Can’t Fight City Hall: The building that Boston loves to hate turns 50The Improper Bostonian City Hall turned 50 this month. That should be unremarkable. Boston, after all, is famous for row houses so old that their original owners rode horse-drawn carriages and cast votes in the election of Abraham Lincoln. But this is City Hall we’re talking about. Since the building’s…

Duane Lucia Returns as West End Museum Executive Director Boston, MA—Local historian, community activist, and arts enthusiast Duane Lucia has been reinstated as executive director of The West End Museum. Lucia served in this role from 2012 into 2015, and briefly as President of the Museum Board of Directors. He later moved to New Jersey…

Historic Neighborhood Photo: The Last TenementNorth End Waterfront This tenement building, referred to as 42 Lowell, is a fascinating part of Boston’s history. It once stood in a row among 30 other brick walk-ups; now, this building is the lone survivor. As our city continues to change, this building has remained, holding strong to its…

Man who worked on demolition crew recalls the razing of Boston’s West EndBoston Globe For the first time ever, the West End Museum is hosting a guest speaker who worked on one of the demolition crews that razed much of the neighborhood in the late 1950s. Tom Hynes, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Colliers…

When Flattening the West End Was Just a Dirty, Dangerous Summer JobBoston Magazine “When Tom Hynes walks around Boston, he can point to buildings he’s brokered deals in. At the Prudential Center, he secured space for the headquarters of high-powered law firm Ropes & Gray. In the Fenway, he sealed the deal on 550,000 square…

Event Revisits West End’s Demolition Through Eyes of Young Construction Worker: Memories & Photographs Deliver Unique, Personal Perspective BOSTON, MA—The destruction of Boston’s West End is perhaps the most notable example of urban renewal gone wrong in American history. It is a mournful tale often studied by academics and relived by surviving residents. Now, for…

Museum Event to Evoke Boston’s Combat Zone: Author Stephanie Schorow Will Share Lively Stories of Infamous District Boston, MA—For many today, Boston’s Combat Zone is the stuff of legends. Barely a trace of the former red-light district remains, which may account for the endless fascination with the topic. The West End Museum aims to help…

October 2018 NewsletterJohn Woolf: Portrait of a Photographic Artist John Woolf has built up years of experience in photography, but every great artist is inspired by someone. In John’s case, it was his older cousin in New York – a photographer and member of a photo club – who sparked his interest in the field.…

New Museum Board Member: Michael GropmanBy Marshall Hook The old West End neighborhood was already gone by the time Michael Gropman was born, but it was a huge part of his father’s and his grandfather’s life. As such, like many things passed through the generations, Michael inherited an appreciation for the neighborhood and its rich…

John Woolf: Profile of a Photographic ArtistBy Jazmyn Nam-Krane John Woolf has built up years of experience in photography, but every great artist is inspired by someone. In John’s case, it was his older cousin in New York – a photographer and member of a photo club – who sparked his interest in the field.…

Where are They Now? Peter Lucas: A Former West Ender – In His Own WordsBy Peter Lucas My father, Andon Lucas, emigrated from Korca, Albania to Boston as a young boy in the early 1900s. He later went back to marry my mother, Andromarche, and returned to Boston with her. ​ My brothers Dan and…

West End Museum Premiers Rare Interview with Post-Urban Renewal Developer Jerry Rappaport: Presents Controversial, but Historically Significant Perspective Boston, MA—For years, The West End Museum has hosted exhibitions and programs – in addition to documenting oral histories – reflecting former residents’ perspectives on urban renewal and its legacy. One important, but rarely heard, viewpoint is…

New Work of Historical Fiction Sets Coming of Age Story in Old West End; Author to Speak at West End Museum: Story Centers on First Generation, Female, Russian Jewish Protagonist Boston, MA—“Beguiled” is the story of a feisty, starry-eyed daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants in Boston’s West End in the early 1900s. Influenced by her…

Elevated Green Line Photo Exhibit At West End MuseumNorth End Waterfront Opened on June 1, 1912, the Causeway Street Elevated Railway was one of the last sections of raised tracks constructed in Boston as part of the nation’s first subway system. By the time it was destroyed in 2004, only a short section of elevated…

Remembering the El: New Photo Exhibit Recalls Final Days of West End’s Elevated Green Line Tracks Boston, MA—In 2004, 92 years after opening, the Causeway Street Elevated Railway and North Station platform were demolished. With the last piece of the giant structure gone, light shone again on the West End’s main thoroughfare. The West End…

Sumner Redstone — West End Native & Media Magnate — is Subject of New Book; Author to Speak at West End Museum: Story Exposes Redstone’s Origin, Rise, Relationships & Battles Boston, MA—An indisputable media giant, Sumner Redstone is one of the West End’s most famous sons, alongside Leonard Nimoy and Buddy Clark, yet he has…

West End Museum Announces 2018-2019 Board; Recommits To Mission, Relevance In Today’s West EndNorth End Waterfront The West End Museum is proud to announce its 2018-2019 Board of Directors. Two new members, Paul R. Senecal and Michael J. Gropman, join those re-elected to serve, including Board President Joe McDonald. In today’s ever-changing West End, the Board remains as committed…

Museum Announces 2018-2019 Board: Recommits to Mission, Relevance in Today’s West End Boston, MA—The West End Museum is proud to announce its 2018-2019 Board of Directors. Two new members, Paul R. Senecal and Michael J. Gropman, join those re-elected to serve, including Board President Joe McDonald. ​In today’s ever-changing West End, the Board remains as…

Top 1940s Crooner & Sinatra Friend is Museum’s Jewish Heritage Month Honoree: Buddy Clark to be Honored on May 17 Boston, MA—On October 1, 1949, Buddy Clark hopped a chartered plane headed to Los Angeles after a Stanford/Michigan football game. Approaching its destination, the plane ran out of gas and crash-landed on Beverly Hills Boulevard.…

West End Museum Walking Tours Mark Global Jane’s Walk Weekend, Involve New York Streets Exhibit: Highlight Urban Renewal in Boston’s West End and South End Boston, MA—The West End Museum will host two walking tours in May. The first will focus on what happened to the West End under urban renewal and coincides with the…

West End’s “Last Resident“ is Irish Heritage Month Honoree: Museum Shares Legend of Elizabeth Kearney Blood, Urban Renewal Heroine Boston, MA—In the spring of 1960, after thousands of residents had been forced out of Boston’s West End, one woman remained in her apartment, surrounded by her two daughters and seven grandchildren. Elizabeth Kearney Blood’s refusal…

Historical Neighborhood Photo: Boston Elevated RailwayNorth End Waterfront This week’s photo shows a 1920 Lechmere Branch car on the Boston Elevated Railway – a streetcar and rapid transit railroad constructed during a time of major growth in Boston. With more and more people coming to live in the city, the need for efficient public transportation options…

Heritage NightBeacon Hill Times The West End Museum held its First Annual Heritage Night on December 5 to recognize the more than 20 ethnic groups that lived in the old West End. Pictures is original West Ender, Joe McDonald, member of the West End Museum Board of Directors. …

The West End Museum Honors Theofan “Fan” Stylian Noli, Helen Osborne Storrow And Theodore Richard “Richie” NeddNorth End Waterfront On Tuesday, December 5th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, The West End Museum will host it’s 1st Annual West End Heritage Night. This first event will honor Theofan “Fan” Stylian Noli, Helen Osborne Storrow and Theodore Richard “Richie” Nedd. Honoree presentations will…

Museum to Host 1st Annual West End Heritage Night Boston, MA—Boston’s old West End was home to residents from more than 20 different ethnic and racial backgrounds. While the The West End Museum has previously honored West Enders of Irish, Jewish and Italian descent, it is now establishing a new event to recognize individuals from…

A Changing Canal StreetBy Kathleen Bondi As the weather in Boston begins to cool, the sports scene heats up. There’s the onset of Soxtober playoffs plus more Patriots’ action and — in the West End — the Bruins home season opener and the Celtics last preseason home game at the TD Garden. If you haven’t…

Share Your Story Project Preserves West End MemoriesBy Matt Ellis It’s been more than half a century since the buildings and streets of the old West End disappeared under urban renewal. Many families forced to move from “the greatest neighborhood this side of heaven” have scattered further, to their retirement in a southern state or…

Joe Greenberg: A Museum Volunteer’s West End MemoriesBy Nicholas DeBlasio The atmosphere inside The West End Museum is always brightened by the arrival of volunteer and former West Ender, Joe Greenberg. Often, when joined by other old residents and volunteers, the mood becomes more like that of a neighborhood clubhouse than a museum. That communal,…

October 2017 Newsletter Dear Friend of The West End Museum, We hope your summer brought fun in the sun with family and friends and — for those of you in New England — that you’re looking forward to the changing leaves, crisp air and farm stands teeming with apples and pumpkins. As we settle into…

West End Museum Hosts 8th Annual Italian Heritage Month Honoree NightPost-Gazette For the eighth consecutive year, The West End Museum marks Italian Heritage Month by recognizing individuals of Italian descent for their contributions to preserving the culture of the West End and its rich immigrant history. Italian Heritage Month Honoree Night takes place on Tuesday,…

West End Museum Hosts 8th Annual Italian Heritage Month Honoree NightWe the Italians For the eighth consecutive year, The West End Museum marks Italian Heritage Month by recognizing individuals of Italian descent for their contributions to preserving the culture of the West End and its rich immigrant history. Italian Heritage Month Honoree Night takes place on Tuesday,…

West End Museum Hosts 8th Annual Italian Heritage Month Honoree NightNorth End Waterfront For the eighth consecutive year, The West End Museum marks Italian Heritage Month by recognizing individuals of Italian descent for their contributions to preserving the culture of the West End and its rich immigrant history. Italian Heritage Month Honoree Night takes place on Tuesday,…

West End Museum Hosts 8th Annual Italian Heritage Month Honoree Night Boston, MA—For the eighth consecutive year, The West End Museum marks Italian Heritage Month by recognizing individuals of Italian descent for their contributions to preserving the culture of the West End and its rich immigrant history. Italian Heritage Month Honoree Night takes place on…

Caroline White-Nockleby, Share Your Story Volunteer Project CoordinatorBy Nicholas DeBlasio A Boston native, Caroline White-Nockleby White-Nockleby first discovered The West End Museum during her commute to the Museum of Science, where she was working to get high school students involved in science programs. As a former American Studies major with a strong interest in family…

Charles St Jail HistoryBeacon Hill Times For Tuesday’s third and final Twilight Talk presented by Historic New England and the Victorian Society in America/New England Chapter at the Harrison Gray Otis House, award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Joseph McMaster recounted the history of the Charles Street Jail, from its origins as a state-of-the-art facility through…

West End Museum to Be Featured on Museum Open House Museum Open House is a series featuring outstanding museums throughout Massachusetts. It is is produced by NewTV and hosted by Jay Sugarman. Each program highlights a particular museum’s current or upcoming exhibits, programs and/or resources available to the public. At 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 10,…

Open Canal Street Sees Low Afternoon TurnoutNorth End Waterfront On Saturday, July 8th, 2017, The City of Boston closed vehicular traffic off to Canal Street from 10 AM to 8 PM. The whole length of the street was opened up for people to walk on. Thunderstorms and rain was forecasted, but the good weather held…

Museum pays tribute to the West End that wasBoston Globe THE WEST END MUSEUM on Staniford Street in Boston holds the history of a close-knit neighborhood that was destroyed in what would become known as the worst urban renewal project of the 20th century. On April 25, 1958, seven thousand residents of the West End received…

Photography Exhibit Reveals Property Owner’s Perspective On West End Urban RenewalNorth End Waterfront On display at The West End Museum from now until Fall 2017, are 60 year old photographs depicting the West End before the urban renewal that took place in the neighborhood. These photographs show the perspective of Eli Tarlin, a property owner in the…

June 2017 Newsletter Dear Friend of The West End Museum, We hope you had a wonderful albeit chilly Memorial Day full of fun and relaxation with family and friends, as well as the chance to reflect on and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. military. Here…

Ira Tarlin: Recollections from the Son of a West End Landlord By Tim Larson For many years prior to the demolition of the West End, Ira Tarlin ran an extensive real estate business in the neighborhood. His story, and that of others who owned and managed properties in the community, is rarely told as part…

City Makes Available Original Property Records from Old West EndBy Matt Ellis According to City property records, the building at 13 Leverett St. in the old West End was owned by the Fisher family when the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) acquired it by eminent domain in 1959. Records now available for public review detail the…

Joe McDonald Named Museum PresidentBy Sue Minichiello Joe McDonald, a third-generation West End native and longtime community activist, has been named President of The West End Museum Board of Directors. McDonald served as a Board member for two years and as President of the West End Civic Association (WECA) in 2012. Now, as Museum President,…

Observations from the West End Jane’s WalkBy Nicholas DeBlasio On the afternoon of Saturday, May 6, a crowd of about 20 tourists, students and West End residents old and new filtered from the rain outside into The West End Museum. There, Duane Lucia greeted them. A seasoned neighborhood historian and current resident, Lucia served as…

Photography Exhibit Reveals Property Owners’s Perspecitve on West End Urban Renewal: Relates Unique & Rarely-Told Story Boston, MA—The West End Museum photography exhibit, Under the Wrecking Ball: A West End Landlord, depicts the buildings and architecture of the West End around just prior to demolition under urban renewal and conveys the perspective of a property…

For Brookline police officers, the past is present tenseBoston Globe “Look at this,” Brookline Police Chief Daniel O’Leary said, gesturing toward the gift shop at Boston’s Museum of African American History. A replica of a vintage sign dated April 24, 1851, advised “Colored people of Boston, one & all” to not converse with “watchmen,” as…

Museum To Celebrate Distinguished West Enders Of Jewish DescentNorth End Waterfront The West End Museum is proud to mark Jewish Heritage Month by honoring three outstanding West Enders of Jewish descent. The Museum will host its annual Jewish Heritage Honoree Night on Tuesday, May 16, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The…

West End Museum to Celebrate Distinguished West Enders of Jewish Descent for Jewish Heritage MonthPost-Gazette The West End Museum is proud to mark Jewish Heritage Month by honoring three outstanding West Enders of Jewish descent. The Museum will host its annual Jewish Heritage Honoree Night on Tuesday, May 16th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Refreshments…

North Station: Stories from the PastWCVB The original West End started as farm country in the 18th century and soon became an upscale neighborhood along with Beacon Hill.

Museum to Celebrate Distinguished West Enders of Jewish Descent for Jewish Heritage Month: Boston Celtics Join Museum Honoring NBA Ref with West End Roots Boston, MA—The West End Museum is proud to mark Jewish Heritage Month by honoring three outstanding West Enders of Jewish descent. The Museum will host its annual Jewish Heritage Honoree Night…

Thursday’s Guide: May The 4th Be With You, Spring Proof, Public Safety Meeting TonightNorth End Waterfront 2:00pm Jane’s Walk West End Tour – Starts at West End Museum. Jane’s Walk West End Tour, the cost is free. The event will begin with a Museum tour of the exhibit titled, Boston’s First Urban Renewal: The New York Streets. West…

News BriefsThe Boston Sun The West End Museum will host a walking tour of the New York Streets in May. The walk will concentrate on Boston’s first urban renewal project, which took place in the area of the South End known as the New York Streets. Historian and West End resident Duane Lucia will lead…

News BriefsThe Boston Sun NEW YORK STREETS WALKING TOUR The West End Museum will host a walking tour of the New York Streets in May. The walk will concentrate on Boston’s first urban renewal project, which took place in the area of the South End known as the New York Streets. Historian and West End…

Joe McDonald Named New West End Museum PresidentBeacon Hill Times Joe McDonald, a third-generation West End native and longtime community activist, has been named President of The West End Museum Board of Directors. McDonald served as a Board member for two years and as President of the West End Civic Association (WECA) in 2012. Now,…

Joe McDonald Named West End Museum President: Native West Ender Brings Years of Community Experience, Dedication to Position Boston, MA—Joe McDonald, a third-generation West End native and longtime community activist, has been named President of The West End Museum Board of Directors. McDonald served as a Board member for two years and as President of…

Monday’s Briefing: St. Patty’s Pride, Anticipated Restaurant Openings, Potential Historic LandmarksNorth End Waterfront North Square Oyster will be opened in April by Nicholas Frattaroli, the owner of North End’s gastropub Ward 8. The new place will be in the space that formerly housed Gennaro’s 5 North Square and will be a seafood-focused affair with plates…

Museum Marks ‘Irish Heritage Month’ by Honoring Notable West Enders of Irish DescentBeacon Hill Times As part of Irish Heritage Month, The West End Museum is once again celebrating notable West Enders of Irish descent. On Tuesday, March 14, the Museum will host its Irish Heritage Honoree Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will…

Museum Marks Irish Heritage Month by Honoring Notable West Enders of Irish Descent Boston, MA—As part of Irish Heritage Month, The West End Museum is once again celebrating notable West Enders of Irish descent. On Tuesday, March 14, the Museum will host its Irish Heritage Honoree Night from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be…

Five things you need to know today, and Boston’s New York StreetsBoston Business Journal The New York Streets: Boston’s first urban renewal You’re probably familiar with the Albany Street exit of I-93, but you might not know that it was part of the New York Streets neighborhood, which got its street names from cities along…

Monday Briefing: President’s Day, School Vacation Week, Massive Sea Barrier?North End Waterfront Monday, February 20 6:30pm Finding Dory Movie at Faneuil Hall Marketplace Quincy Market Lower Rotunda. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a historic landmark, will be transformed into a movie theatre where families can come and enjoy a free movie and special discounted snacks and dinner options in…

The Weekender: Urban Renewal Exhibit, North Station Traffic Plan, 5-Story Residential Proposal?North End Waterfront The West End museum held an exhibit to portray how the West End was demolished as a victim of ‘urban renewal.’  This new exhibit tells the story of this lost ‘sister’ community, read the post for more information on the story and exhibit. …

Boston’s First Casualty of Urban RenewalBNN

Paula Andreottola: A Museum Volunteer’s West End MemoriesBy Tim Larson The warmth of Paula Andreottola’s brownstone apartment stands in stark contrast to the frigid winter air along the Back Bay sidewalk. Paula is a thin, friendly woman with light grey hair. She’s funny and easy to talk to. Inside her neat apartment, a bright hallway…

Beneath the Wrecking Ball: A West End Landlord Depicting the buildings and architecture of the West End just prior to demolition under urban renewal and conveying the perspective of a property owner, Beneath the Wrecking Ball: A West End Landlord features photographs from a collection donated to the Museum by Ira Tarlin. Ira’s father, Eli, owned and…

Boston’s 1st Urban Renewal – New York Streets At West End MuseumNorth End Waterfront From February 21 through Fall 2017, The West End Museum hosts The New York Streets: Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project, a new exhibit that tells the story of this lost ‘sister’ community. At the opening reception—February 21, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.—attendees can tour…

Exhibit Explores a Demolished South End NeighborhoodBoston Guardian The demolition and partial rebirth of the New York Streets neighborhood comes alive at the West End Museum in an exhibit that challenges how city government shaped Boston’s growth. Organized by curator Duane Lucia, “The New York Streets: Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project” uses photographs…

Before the West End Came the New York StreetsPost-Gazette Prior to the demolition of Boston’s old West End, another vibrant, multi-ethnic neighborhood of tenement houses and mom-and-pop shops fell victim to so-called “urban renewal.” From February 21st through fall 2017, the West End Museum hosts The New York Streets: Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project, a…

February 2017 Newsletter Dear Friend of The West End Museum, We hope this edition of our newsletter finds you well and that you’re all staying warm. Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but things are definitely warming up at The West End Museum! In this newsletter, we … Share two articles…

The West End I Remember: And What I Later Learned Happened to ItBy James Armstrong I write this as a mature—even old, by most measures—man recalling vivid memories of walking through Boston’s West End in my youth. I am relying only on my recall as I write. I’m afraid that if I refresh my memory…

Before the West End Came the New York Streets: New Exhibit Reveals Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project Boston, MA—Prior to the demolition of Boston’s old West End, another vibrant, multi-ethnic neighborhood of tenement houses and mom-and-pop shops fell victim to so-called ‘urban renewal.’ From February 21 through Fall 2017, The West End Museum hosts The…

Celebrating the HolidaysBeacon Hill Times The West End Civic Association (WECA) held its annual holiday gathering on Thursday, Dec. 8. Members and their guests met in the West End Museum to enjoy good company, food and beverages. They heard from 2016 President Sean Michael Connolly, who presented an overview the organization’s mission and accomplishments and…

Saturday Evening GirlsBy Susan Minichiello The story of the Saturday Evening Girls (SEG) is a compelling tale of female empowerment that dates back to an age when life offered women limited opportunities. The women who founded and became members of the SEG—many of them immigrants of Jewish and Italian heritage—strengthened one another’s lives through socialization,…

West End Museum Keeps Beloved Boston Neighborhood AliveHuffPost Actor Leonard Nimoy, media magnate Sumner Redstone, singer Buddy Clark, and film icon Joseph E. Levine, whose involvements as a producer, distributor or financier included The Lion in Winter, The Night Porter, The Producers, The Graduate and Carnal Knowledge, hailed from the same, near mythological, once-upon-a-time Boston neighborhood. “We weren’t Jews,…

3 Thing’s For Wednesday: Fall Haze, Bridge Design Meeting, DiMasi CaseNorth End Waterfront Italian Heritage Month Film: Todo Modo. Party leader and power broker Aldo Moro, holed up with his cronies and rivals at a monastic retreat where they plot their political fortunes while being led by a Jesuit cleric in spiritual…

3 Things For Tuesday: Aerial Shot, FOCCP Meeting, High End Eastie & Bruce!North End Waterfront 6:30pm Italian Heritage Month Honors at West End Museum.  Honoring current and former West Enders of Italian heritage who have contributed to preserving the culture of the West End and its rich immigrant history. This year’s honorees: Michael W. Cataldo (posthumously)…

West End Museum Hosts 7th Annual Italian Heritage Month CelebrationPost-Gazette The West End Museum is hosting events celebrating Italian Heritage Month for the seventh consecutive year. Prior to the demolition of Boston’s West End during urban renewal, many Italian-American families called the neighborhood home. The Museum honors this former little piece of Italy along with…

Museum Hosts 7th Annual Italian Heritage Month Celebration: Features Honoree Night & Film Series Boston, MA—The West End Museum is hosting events celebrating Italian Heritage Month for the seventh consecutive year. Prior to the demolition of Boston’s West End during urban renewal, many Italian-American families called the neighborhood home. The Museum honors this former little…

West End Social Planned at Museum on Sept 15Beacon Hill Times Original and current West Enders, your family and friends are invited to the next West End Social at the West End Museum on Thursday, September 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Admission is FREE and light refreshments will be served. Come mix and mingle,…

Boston museums: 8 underappreciated ones to visitCurbed Boston Boston is home to some of the world’s most notable museums. But the city also hosts some lesser-known institutions of collective preservation, including one of the oldest military museums on the continent and one of the nation’s most prominent repositories of African-American history. This map pinpoints these…

Underground History: Author Talk Examines Boston’s Race Against New York to Build America’s First Subway and its Ties to the West End Boston, MA—Long before the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, Boston and New York were competing to be the first American city to build a rapid transit system underground. Boston won, establishing the nation’s first subway…

Precious Preservation: A look at the Museum’s archivesBy Henry White The collection of historical artifacts and documents in The West End Museum’s archives is one of the key sources for creating new exhibits and finding ways to teach Boston residents and visitors alike about the old neighborhood. The archives are a major part of the…

Will Urban Renewal Ever End?Next City Jim Campano was 18 when Boston tore his neighborhood down. The Jewish and Italian bakeries, the Polish church and the synagogues, the tenements and rowhouses — gone. Street corners bustling with teenagers, the Campano family’s sunny sixth-floor apartment on Poplar Street — erased by a government that called the…

August 2016 Newsletter Dear Friend of The West End Museum, We hope your summer has been filled with sunshine and fun with family and friends, and at least one visit to The West End Museum. If you haven’t been in recently, please come on by! In this newsletter … We discuss the Museum’s archives. Written…

“From Stagecoach To Subway” Exhibit At The West End MuseumNorth End Waterfront Public transportation has shaped life in Boston and its neighborhoods since the first English settlers arrived in the early 17th century. Its evolution over the course of more than 200 years is a fascinating tale of continuously rising demand, financial and logistical challenges,…

Tuesday’s 3 Things & Photo: Transportation Study, Prince The Cat Online, 1915 Endicott Street, Harborwalk Closed?North End Waterfront 6:00pm North Station Transportation Study – Visioning Session at West End Museum.  A public meeting has been scheduled to kick off the community engagement process for the North Station Area Mobility Action Plan. The study will cover the…

West End Museum Transportation ExhibitNorth End Regional Review Located near North Station, the West End Museum, 50 Staniford Street, newest exhibit depicts the West End’s role in early Boston Transportation. The exhibit recounts the phases of development since the 18th century through graphic panels and artifacts like trolley tickets, stock certificates, conductor buttons, tokens, photos…

For the Love of Spock Honors Original West Ender Leonard NimoyBy Sue Minichiello One of the West End’s favorite sons, Leonard Nimoy, is being celebrated once again in a new film. For the Love of Spock premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April to critical and fan acclaim. According to the film’s…

GentriWatch: West End Resident Blasts Mayor Walsh, BRA in Open LetterBoston Magazine “The West End’s Garden Garage project is humming right along with a green light from the city’s Zoning Board of Appeal, after the Boston Redevelopment Authority gave the 44-story, 470-unit residential tower its stamp of approval in February.”

Exhibit Explores History of Public Transportation in BostonPost-Gazette Public transportation has shaped life in Boston and its neighborhoods since the first English settlers arrived in the early 17th century. Its evolution over the course of more than 200 years is a fascinating tale of continuously rising demand, fi nancial and logistical challenges, and technological advancements.…

June 2016 Newsletter Dear Friend of The West End Museum, We hope you are enjoying the spring and looking forward to some hot fun in the summertime. We also hope your summer plans will include visits to the West End Museum. In this newsletter, we feature two interesting and exciting article s. The Saturday Evening…

Leonard Nimoy Honored by Zachary Quinto at ‘Star Trek’ EventInquisitr Zachary Quinto, who’s played Mr. Spock in the newest Star Trek films, paid tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy, during a fan event on Friday night. According to Entertainment Tonight, Quinto appeared at the event titled Star Trek Beyond at Paramount Studios in California to celebrate the Star Trek franchise’s…

New Exhibit Explores History of Public Transportation in Boston; Reveals West End’s Role as Early Transit Hub Boston, MA—Public transportation has shaped life in Boston and its neighborhoods since the first English settlers arrived in the early 17th century. Its evolution over the course of more than 200 years is a fascinating tale of continuously…

Laurie Kirby Previews tonight’s Jewish Heritage Month Honoree NightWBZ At 4:55: Laurie previews tonight’s Jewish Heritage Month Honoree Night at the @westendmuseum, 150 Staniford St.

3 Things & Photo Tuesday: North End Sunrise, Graduation Weekend, No Coffee?North End Waterfront 1. Looking to entertain the kids? The North End branch Boston Public Library will be hosting toddler storytime (at 10:30am) and baby storytime (at 11:15am). Complete with rhymes, stories, and movement for those ages, no sign up necessary.  Located at 25 Parmenter Street, Boston, MA, more information.…

Walking Tour Surveys Boston’s West End, Old & New Boston, MA—People interested in the history of Boston often ask, “What was the old West End like? How did it look: the streets, the people, the buildings?” On Saturday, May 21 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., a presentation and walking tour—The West End Then & Now—aims…