Charlestown

Understand

Charlestown was first settled and laid out in 1629 by engineer Thomas Graves, making it Boston's oldest neighborhood. Initially quite large, at least 10 towns have peeled away from the King's original land grant over the last 400 years. Becoming a city in 1848, Charlestown was annexed by Boston in 1874. Located on a peninsula between Boston Harbor and the Charles and Mystic Rivers, Charlestown can sometimes feel cutoff from the rest of the city.

By far the most notable event to happen here is the Battle of Bunker Hill. On June 17, 1775, British forces stormed Minuteman positions, where they had dug in atop the hill overnight. While the redcoats would raise their flag above the hill that day, the Pyrrhic victory was a sobering experience for the British. The losses incurred that day would influence the Empire to use more cautious tactics for the rest of the war. Mostly destroyed after the fight, it wasn't until 1786 that the first bridge across the Charles River was built to connect Charlestown with the rest of Boston.

The Charlestown Navy Yard was established in 1800; providing industry and jobs for many residents. During the Civil War, over 26,000 men enlisted at the Navy Yard, where many ships pivotal to the Union campaign were constructed. In 1827 it was decided a memorial was needed to commemorate the battle, and The Bunker Hill Monument you see today was completed in 1843.

Throughout the mid-1800s an influx of Irish immigrants arrived in Charlestown, many forced from their homeland during the Great Irish Potato Famine. The area long remained an Irish and Catholic stronghold similar to South Boston, Somerville, and parts of Dorchester. Since the late 1980s the neighborhood has changed dramatically due to its easy access to downtown and its colonial architecture. As in many Boston neighborhoods, gentrification has greatly influenced the area but Charlestown still retains an Irish American influence.

Get in

By foot

Walking is the way to go, because the real meat of what you want to see here is often located a bit aways from the train stations. Only a few buses serve this small neighborhood, so you'll find walking is generally the fastest way to get from A to B. Careful not to overexert yourself! There just aren't the transit options here that you will find elsewhere in the city. It's all about pacing yourself. Many residents often walk to work downtown, which could be a 5 to 25 minute trip depending where you start from.

By public transit

The Orange line stations Community College and Sullivan Square both serve Charlestown, although somewhat poorly located on the far western edge of the neighborhood. Bus routes #92 and #93 run every 50-65 minutes throughout the area as well. No late evening or Sunday service for the buses. If you are coming from Cambridge, there is no direct transit route. You'll have to travel via Somerville towards Sullivan Station, or travel via Downtown Boston towards Haymarket station; and then connect from there. The F4 water taxi runs between Long Wharf and the Charlestown Navy Yard. The Navy Yard dock is very close to the U.S.S. Constitution.

By car

Not at all recommended. Traffic is horrendous getting in and out, and the area most visitors will want to see is compact and easily walkable. If you must, you can drive in from Exit 23 (Government center/North End) and Exit 28 (Charlestown/Sullivan Square) on Route I-93, the Charlestown/Somerville Exit on Route 1 after the Tobin Bridge, Storrow Drive in Boston or Memorial Drive in Cambridge.

By bike

Despite an increasing amount of bike lanes in Cambridge, Somerville, and Downtown Boston, there are hardly any dedicated cycling routes heading in or out of Charlestown. Most cycle routes going in or out of the neighborhood require navigating mixed traffic on major arterial roads.

Get around

Most of Charlestown is accessible by walking, which usually takes less than 30 minutes from end to end of the neighborhood. If driving or biking, keep in mind many streets are very narrow and run uphill and downhill. If cycling, you'll also need to contend with mixed traffic; due to the dearth of bike lanes compared to neighboring Cambridge or Downtown Boston.

Go next

• Walk over the Charlestown bridge which connects to the North End and visit the Old North Church.
• Get out into Boston's neighborhoods! You could certainly do worse than Union Square in Somerville.
• Holding tickets? TD Garden in the West End is where the Celtics and Bruins play.
• In nicer weather take a boat to South Boston and see the Institute of Contemporary Art.
• Prefer a little greenery? The Arnold Arboretum in Jamacia Plain is easily accessible from the nearby Orange line.