State Street (Boston)

State Street, Boston, 2010, with view of Old State House

State Street in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest streets in the city. Located in the financial district, it is the site of some historic landmarks, such as Long Wharf, the Old State House and the Boston Custom House.

History

"South Market Street, Boston" stereoscopic photograph by Bierstadt Brothers

In 1630 the first Puritan settlers, led by John Winthrop, built their earliest houses along what is today "State Street." The Puritans also originally built the meeting house for the First Church in Boston on the street across from the marketplace, which was located where the Old State House stands today. By 1636 the thoroughfare was known as Market Street. From 1708 to 1784 it was renamed King Street. In 1770 the Boston Massacre took place in front of the Old State House.

During the Revolutionary War, it assumed its current, non-royalist name.^[1] In the 19th century State Street became known as Boston's primary location for banks and other financial institutions.^[2]

Transportation

The Blue Line of the MBTA runs below State Street. Two stations have entrances on State Street: Aquarium, and State. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace can also be found nearby. The east end of State Street is at Long Wharf, where ferries are available to several places, including the airport.

See also

Images

• 
  John Winthrop built his first house in Boston on what is today, State Street
• 
  1630 site of Winthrop's first home in Boston on State Street
• 
  The Boston Massacre took place on State Street (then "King Street") in front of the Old State House; the site is marked by a cobblestone circle in the square
• 
  Detail of 1775 map of Boston, showing King Street and vicinity
• 
  State Street, 1801, by J. Marston
• 
  Advertisement for Lemuel Gulliver "stationer, chart and nautical bookseller" c. 1826
• 
  State St., c. 19th century

References

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to State Street (Boston, Massachusetts).

• "State Street". Ballou's Pictorial. Boston, Mass. 8. 1855. 
• State Street: a brief account of a Boston way. Boston: State Street Trust Company, 1906

Coordinates: 42°21′31.96″N 71°3′24.95″W / 42.3588778°N 71.0569306°W / 42.3588778; -71.0569306

Streets and squares in Boston
Streets	Arborway Atlantic Avenue Beacon Street Bennington Street Blue Hills Parkway Bowdoin Street Boylston Street Brattle Street Brookline Avenue Charles Street Columbus Avenue Commonwealth Avenue Congress Street Court Street Day Boulevard Dorchester Avenue Federal Street Fenway Franklin Street Gallivan Boulevard Hanover Street Huntington Avenue Jamaicaway Massachusetts Avenue Melnea Cass Boulevard Memorial Drive Milk Street Morrissey Boulevard Morton Street Neptune Road New Chardon Street Newbury Street North Street Park Street Park Drive Riverway School Street Soldiers Field Road State Street Stony Brook Reservation Parkways Storrow Drive Summer Street Tremont Street Truman Parkway Union Street Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway Washington Street West Roxbury Parkway Winter Street Yawkey Way
Squares, circles, crossings and corners	Adams Square Andrew Square Blackstone Square Brigham Circle Central Square Chester Square City Square Cleveland Circle Codman Square Copley Square Day Square Dewey Square Dock Square Downtown Crossing Dudley Square Egleston Square Fields Corner Franklin Square Haymarket Square Hyde Square Jackson Square Kenmore Square Louisburg Square Maverick Square Packard's Corner Park Square Peabody Square Post Office Square Roxbury Crossing Scollay Square Sullivan Square Teele Square Thompson Square Union Square Uphams Corner
Italics denote streets and squares that no longer exist. See also Neighborhoods in Boston Transportation in Boston