GENERAL INFORMATION In 1630 The Massachusetts Bay Company, under John Winthrop (1588-1649), chartered this self-governing settlement on the banks of the Charles River. It soon became the capital of the colony of Massachusetts. Today the city is not only a major seaport and transportation hub but also a financial and business-service center. A great number of universities and hospitals make higher education and health services significant factors in Boston’s economic Life. Food processing, clothing manufacturing, printing and publishing are its other mainstays. In 1800 Boston was a homogeneous seaport of 4,000 citizens of English extraction but by 1900 the city had grown to more than 600,000 residents whose ancestries were Irish, Italian, French Canadian Germans and other European nationalities, plus a small population of African Americans. Today the city has a stable population. Popualtion: Boston, 574,283 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, 5,958,423 Over 250,000 students live in the Greater Boston Area. Flight times: Chicago-2.5 hrs., London-8 hrs., Los Angeles-6 hrs., Miami-2.5 hrs. CAMBRIDGE, originally called New Towne, was organized in 1636 when it became the site of Harvard College. It was renamed Cambridge in 1638 . The old part of Cambridge, Harvard Square, is considered by some to be the center of American intellectual and social culture. City land area: The city proper is of only 46 square miles (119 square kilometers), more than one-fourth of it water. Cambridge population: 94,700. WEATHER Boston's mild winter climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream and the summers are often considerably cooler than New York and Philadelphia. Average mean temperature: 53 F (13° C), Days of sunshine: 210 days, Annual precipitation: 39.5 inches. Average Daily High/Low Temperature: • March - May: 64°f / 43°f, 18°c / 9°c • June - Aug.: 81°f / 62°f, 27°c / 17°f • Sept. - Nov.: 61°f / 36°f, 16°c / 6°c • Dec. - Feb.: 40° / 22°f, 7°c / -2°c Click for a current weather forecast for Boston. VISITOR INFORMATION The Main visitor information center is at Park Street Subway. The Boston Visitors Center www.bostonusa.com Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more Information: 888 SEE BOSTON PASSES: The CityPass allows visitors to see six of Boston’s top attractions for $26.50 Valid for nine days. Purchased at Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Visitor Center on Boston Common and at the Prudential Center. (707) 253-1222, Fax: (707) 253 -8222 TRANSPORTATION Logan InterantionalAirport http:www.massport.com/logan/ One of the busiest airports on the east coast served by over 55 airlines including 8 major domestic carriers, 10 international carriers and 13 regional and commuter airlines. The Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority (MBTA) http://www.mbta.com operates Boston’s subway system (called the ‘T’), plus commuter rail and bus services throughout the city and suburbs. It also manages a ferry service. You can transfer easily between surface and underground transportation. (617) 222 5215 or (617) 222 3200 (recorded information). Fax: (617) 222 3340. Travel passes available: the MBTA Visitors’ Passport is aimed specifically at tourists and allows unlimited use of all subway lines. $5. for one day, $9. for three consecutive days and $18. for seven consecutive days. Amtrak: 800 USA-RAIL (371-5465). www.amtrak.com. ATTRACTIONS Boston Common 48-acre public park established in 1632; people watching, concerts, street musicians, religious and political speakers. Winter ice skating on Frog Pond. Between Charles, Beacon and Park Streets. FREEDOM TRAIL 3 mile walking tour. Posted signs and red line pavement markers help distinguish 16 historic points in Boston National Historical Park. Most notable: • Paul Revere, 19 North Square, 617 523-2338. Admission: $2.50. http://www.paulreverehouse.org • Old North Church, oldest church in Boston. 93 Salem St., North End, (617) 523-6676, Fax: (617) 720-0559. Free. http://www.oldnorth.com • Old State House, Boston’s Heritage/American Revolution Museum. 206 Washington St. 617 720-3290, Fax: (617) 720-3289. Admission: $3. http://www.bostonhistory.org • USS Constitution, ‘Old Iron Sides’ Charlestown Navy Shipyard (617) 4261812. Fax: (617) 242-0496. Free. http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org Bunker Hill Monument of the famous battlefield. (617) 242-5641 BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL Walking tour of the history of Boston’s African-American community (617) 742-5415 (trail information). Admission: Free. http://www.nps.gov/boas Faneuil Hall Square The heart of the political life of Boston, Massachusetts and, at one time, the United States. Boston, MA 02109, 617-242-5675 www.bostonian.com/faneuil/doc/history.htm or www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com John Hancock Observatory The highest observation point in New England offers visitors a birds-eye view of the city. Admission: $4. 200 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116 (617) 247-1977 MUSEUMS Boston Athenaeum http://www.bostonathenaeum.org Extensive library of books and some American art. 102 Beacon St. (617) 227-0270. Free. Boston University Art Gallery 855 Commonwealth Avenue, at Boston University (617) 353-3329. Free. The Children's Museum of Boston 300 Congress Street, downtown. (617) 426-5466). www.BostonKids.org Open daily 10am-5pm, Fridays until 9pm. John F Kennedy Library & Museum Columbia Point, at Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester. (617) 929-4500. $4-$8. The Museum of Fine Arts http://www.mfa.org Impressive collection of American and international art plus Egyptian art, Chinese/Japanese ceramics. World-class museum in every aspect. 465 Huntington Ave., (617) 267-9300. Fax: (617) 236-0362. $10. Harvard Museum of Natural History http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. Includes: the Comparative Zoology, Mineralogical and Geological, and Botanical Museums. $5. adults, $4. seniors, $3. Students & children 3-13. Free on Saturday before noon. (617) 495-3045. Harvard University Art Museums http://www.artmuseums.harvard.edu Includes these excellent museums: The Arthur M. Sackler Museum, 485 Broadway, (617) 495-9400. The Fogg Museum, European, Asian and American art from the Middle Ages to present. The Busch-Reisinger Museum (a section of the Fogg) focuses on the art of German-speaking Europe. One admission price covers all three museums: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students, free, children under age 18. 32 Quincy St., Cambridge, (617) 495-9400. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum http://www.boston.com/gardner In 1903 "Mrs. Jack" Gardner built this architectural jewel in the style of a 15th-century Italian palace that houses her extensive art collection. The flowering courtyard is another gem. $10 adults, $7. seniors, $5. students, $3. children ages 12-17, free for children under age 12. 280 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 (617) 566-1401 Museum Shop: (617) 278-5122 Gardner Café: (617) 566-1088 MIT Museum http://web.mit.edu/museum 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge (617) 253 4444. $1.-$3. MIT Museums Compton Gallery 77 Massachusetts Ave., at MIT Campus, Cambridge (617) 253 4444. Free. The Museum of Science http://www.mos.org Science Park. $8 . (617) 723-2500, Fax: (617) 589-0454. Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum Congress Street Bridge. $7. (617) 338-1773, Fax: (617) 338-1974. The Institute of Contemporary Art http://www.icaboston.org 955 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02115 617-266-5152 Tufts University Gallery http://www.tufts.edu/as/gallery Aidekman Arts Center, Talbot Ave., Somerville (617) 627 3518. Sun: free.