Ambling around sun-kissed beaches, lazing in shacks, partying at nightclubs and trying one’s luck at casinos – that’s what a holiday in Miami usually entails. But if you’re an avid…
The capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States, Boston grabs the attention of travellers with its excellent museums, historical sites and live performances. Most visitors may be aware of the well-known tourist attractions here such as Chinatown, Boston’s Children Museum and Christian Science Plaza. However, the city also offers several unconventional attractions for travellers seeking an extraordinary experience.
Boston Athenæum
Founded in 1807, Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. It has a large book collection, maps, manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and decorative arts. The primary materials of American Civil War are available as well! This place has many documents that are not found elsewhere. Many prominent personalities such as Edward M. Kennedy, Francis Parkman and Louisa May Alcott have been members of the Boston Athenæum.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is well known for its two thousand artefacts collected by Isabella Stewart Gardner over a period of three decades. From her foreign visits, she brought back strange and beautiful paintings, sculptures, textiles, drawings and manuscripts to build a remarkable collection. There are several European, Asian and American masterpieces. Currently, the museum organises exhibitions of historic and contemporary art, along with concerts, lectures, family and community programs.
Ether Monument
Also termed as ‘The Good Samaritan’, The Ether Monument is a statue and fountain that commemorates the use of ether in anaesthesia. In the old days, this pleasant-smelling liquid in anaesthesia was utilised to significantly reduce deaths and pains during medical treatment. The 40-feet tall statue depicts a doctor in medieval Moorish-Spanish garb. The doctor is holding the body of a man over his knee, using ether on a cloth to get him into a slumped state.
Fort Independence
Fort Independence is a granite star fort that offered harbour defences for the city. This monument has been used as a main location for military operations since the early years of America’s history. Now, it hosts occasional ceremonies. Free tours of the fort are offered every Saturday and Sunday. Usually, these tours last around half-an-hour.
The Skinny House
The Skinny House is an extremely narrow four-story house! This unique monument is only 10.4 feet at its widest point and can be entered through a small alley. There’s no street facing entrance! According to the city’s folklore, in colonial times, there was a dispute between two brothers and ‘The Skinny House’ was built by one of them in front of the other’s to block the magnificent view of the harbour. This is the reason why it’s also called the ‘Spite House’.
