East Boston is known to Bostonians as "Eastie" and is home to a potpourri of individuals and cultures. On a sunny afternoon, head over to Piers Park and its 600-foot promenade for one of the most breathtaking views of the city's skyline. East Boston is home to many mom-and-pop markets, restaurants, and bakeries, as well as the
Logan International Airport, one of the country's largest airports. The East Boston branch of the
Boston Public Library, established in 1869, was the first public library branch in the US. Recently, The Boston Redevelopment Authority has been working to make waterfront access even easier with the development of business districts, open spaces & historic resources as well as diverse neighborhoods. Eastie has traditionally been home to many Italian Americans, and as of late, it's Hispanic population has grown tremendously. East Boston offers an eclectic mix of establishments, including the immensely popular,
Santarpio's Pizza. It is also home to
Constitution Beach,
Piers Park Sailing Center, and the famous,
Suffolk Downs Racetrack.
East Boston is one of the oldest neighborhoods, separated from the rest of the city by the Harbor and surrounded by Winthrop, Revere, and the Chelsea Creek. It was first made up of five Islands - Noddle, Hog, Governor's, Bird and Apple. These islands were filled in and developed by the East Boston Company, then converted into three wards:
Jeffries Point (after Dr. John Jeffries),
Eagle Hill (representing the local streets named after birds), and
Orient Heights (in recognition of the China Trade). Many of the residential buildings from the early 1800's were constructed in the Greek Revival Style. One example of this style is the row of nine brick bow-front (outward curving front) houses at 177-193 Webster Street. Italian and French Revival Styles can be found throughout East Boston as well.
The East Boston Subway Tunnel was the first underwater tunnel of its kind in the United States. It was built by workers called 'sandhogs' using picks and shovels from both ends of the Harbor with the aid of a 'tunneling shield' at the rate of 4 feet per day. It connected the neighborhood to the rest of the city when it opened in 1904. Rows of houses were later demolished to make way for the Sumner Tunnel in 1934, and the Callahan Tunnel in 1961. A 1920's airfield eventually expanded to become today's colossal
Logan International Airport.
