Currently, the West End consists of superblocks with high-rise residential towers. Although the West End may not offer the traditional Boston brownstone, they are full service buildings with special amenities. The West End is home to the premier Massachusetts General Hospital, and has a great location to Downtown. Residents are in walking distance to Thoreau Path, Esplanade, and the Hatch Shell. The West End offers special views of the Charles River, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Boston Harbor and Cambridge. There is a Whole Foods located in the West End for every day needs. The train stations within the West End are Charles/MGH, Bowdoin, North Station, and Science Park.
West End
History
The West End occupies the northwest portion of the Shawmut Peninsula. Most of the land in the West End, like most neighborhoods in Boston, was created using land reclamation. Starting in 1807, parts of Beacon Hill were used to fill in mill pond and a small bay that separated Beacon Hill and the West End from the North End. Between the late 18th century and the early 19th century, the North End was becoming overcrowded. During that time, the city’s well off residents chose to develop the area, which is now the West End.
Much credit is due to Charles Bulfinch whom was responsible for most of Boston’s architectural character during that period. He was known for the mansions he designed and many of which are in the West End. The most famous was “the First Harrison Gray Otis House” located at 141 Cambridge Street, which was designed for the affluent lawyer, Harrison Gray Otis. His home is one of the few that survived the upgrades within the West End. Bulfinch also designed another West End landmark, Massachusetts General Hospital’s domed granite building, also known as Bulfinch Pavilion.