Honor the Hub’s Irish-American culture at these famed sites
Boston Irish Famine Memorial: Adjacent to the Downtown portion of the Freedom Trail, this poignant monument was placed in 1998 and consists of two statues as well as several plaques that recount the tragic events that spurred about 100,000 Irish men, women and children to flee across the Atlantic to Boston from 1848 to 1849. This and many other memorials are part of the self-guided Irish Heritage Trail that winds from the waterfront to the Fenway.
Copley Square: This vibrant locale in the Back Bay, home to Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library, was named for John Singleton Copley—the son of Irish immigrants and one of America’s earliest and most prominent portrait artists—in 1883. A statute in his honor was erected here in 2002.
Dorchester Heights Monument (pictured): Located in the Irish-American enclave of South Boston, this marker commemorates the spot where George Washington and his troops set up fortifications with the goal of driving the occupying British forces from the city. The patriots—who dragged cannons to the top of the hill in secret and allegedly used the countersign “St. Patrick” to maintain security—accomplished this goal on March 17, 1776, which is celebrated in the city to this day as Evacuation Day.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: The I.M. Pei-designed marvel on Columbia Point in Dorchester is the place to learn about the history and legacy of the Boston and Irish-American icon. Current displays illuminate the World War II service of JFK and others, while upcoming events include an appearance by the Greene-O’Leary School of Irish Dance on March 16 at 10:30 a.m. in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Rose Kennedy Greenway: Named for JFK’s mother, this beautiful strip of greenery in the heart of the city stretches from the North End—the neighborhood where the Kennedy clan matriarch was born—to Chinatown, and is home to fountains, beautiful landscaping, public art, seasonal attractions like the carousel and beer garden, and special events throughout the year.
