Beacon Hill/ West End

In the shadow of Charles Bulfinch’s gold-domed State House and next door to the Brutalist architecture of Government Center, these two very different neighborhoods have been fundamentally shaped by similar government, academic, medical and community institutions. In 1955, the half-square-mile Beacon Hill was declared a Historic District, and tourists still wander its cobblestone streets and view its historic architecture. In contrast, the West End, once an ethnically diverse neighborhood, was largely destroyed and replaced by residential towers as a result of urban renewal policies. We talk with prominent civic associations, residents and institutions that continue to advocate for a more sustainable, equitable and inspired future for their neighborhoods.