Best of The Boston Literary District, Notable Literary Landmarks

Way back when I lived in Boston, the city had just established the Boston Literary Cultural District, a trail connecting 88 notable literary landmarks around the city, including a map to follow. I was determined to visit them all, but that goal was short-lived after we moved back to Ohio. Still, I thought it might be nice to share some of those landmarks. This information may be a little outdated as the trail is now defunct (I started this blog post ten years ago. Talk about procrastination…), but even so, it’s a small time capsule of Boston’s literary history.

Poe Returning to Boston Sculpture

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19th, 1809. In this sculpture by artist Stefanie Rocknak he returns to his home town, raven in tow, manuscripts spilling out of his briefcase with a human heart inside. If you look down, you’ll find several pages scattered behind him.

Corner of Charles and Boylston Streets

Brattle Book Shop

I adore Brattle Book Shop. Prices range from $1 bargain books to $100,000 collectible editions. New and out of print books can be found on the first two floors, with the third reserved for older and rare books. In good weather you can browse sidewalk racks with cheaper volumes in the lot next door.

9 West Street, Boston, MA

Make Way For Ducklings Sculpture

Created by Nancy Schön in 1987 as a tribute to Robert McCloskey’s Caldecott medal-winning children’s story of the same name. You will often find the ducklings dressed for the season, as you can see here when I saw it during the holidays.

Public garden near Charles and Beacon Streets

Boston Athenaeum

The Boston Athenaeum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. Access to all twelve floors is limited to members, though the first floor is open to the public. I’m a member of the New York Society Library, which I believe offers reciprocal access to other private libraries, including this one, so I may need to plan a Boston trip just for that. Photography isn’t allowed inside, but look how pretty:

10 ½ Beacon Street

Massachusetts State House

The Massachusetts State House is the oldest building on Beacon Hill, overlooking Boston Common and Back Bay. You can take a tour or peruse the small bookstore on the lobby level. It also gives easy viewing access to another landmark on the map, the Robert Gould Shaw & the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, just opposite the State House.

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

The memorial shows Colonel Robert Gould Shaw leading members of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as it marched down Beacon Street on May 28, 1863, to depart the city to fight in the South. It is the first civic monument to pay homage to the heroism of African American soldiers.

Beacon Street

Boston Public Library

Saving the best for last: my favorite place in Boston. The most beautiful library, on par with The New York Public Library. I know the two cities are mortal enemies, but both of our libraries are incredible.