About The Oldest Park In America
America's oldest public park
A park is a designated area of land, typically set aside for public or private use, intended for recreation, conservation, or aesthetic enjoyment. Parks often feature natural elements like trees, grass, and water bodies, as well as amenities such as paths, benches, playgrounds, or gardens.
Established in 1634, Boston Common Nestled in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, is widely recognized as America’s oldest public park. The U.S. National Park Service recognizes it as the oldest public park in the United States. The City of Boston defines it as America's oldest park. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum describes it as America's oldest park.
Boston Commona is a 50-acre green space bounded by Tremont, Park, Beacon, Charles, and Boylston Streets. For nearly four centuries, the Common has been a stage for community life, historical events, and cultural shifts, evolving from a utilitarian pasture to a vibrant urban oasis that attracts millions of visitors annually. Its story is one of resilience, adaptation, and enduring public spirit, reflecting both the triumphs and complexities of Boston’s past.
The origins of Boston Common trace back to William Blackstone (also spelled Blaxton), an Anglican minister and the first European settler on the Shawmut Peninsula. Arriving in 1623, Blackstone lived alone until 1630, when he invited a group of Puritans, led by Isaac Johnson, to settle in the area, drawn by its abundant natural springs.
In 1634, the townspeople of Boston voted to purchase 44 acres of Blackstone’s farm for 30 pounds, with each household contributing six shillings. This land was designated as “common land” by a vote in 1640, intended for shared use by the community. Initially, it served as a pasture for livestock, with a town shepherd managing up to 70 cows until grazing was banned in 1830 by Mayor Harrison Gray Otis.
In its early years, Boston Common was far more than a pastoral field. It was a multifunctional space where the colonial militia trained for battle, preparing for conflicts that would shape the nation. The park also bore witness to the darker aspects of Puritan society, serving as a site for public punishments.
The “Great Elm,” a towering tree that stood until a storm felled it in 1876, was used as a gallows for executions, including those of Quakers like Mary Dyer in 1660, as well as pirates and alleged witches. Public whippings and stocks were also common, reflecting the rigid social order of the time.
The Common’s role in American history deepened during the Revolutionary War. From 1768, British Redcoats encamped here for eight years, with as many as 1,700 soldiers stationed during the winter of 1775–1776. It was from this very ground that British troops marched to the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, igniting the war for independence.
After the Revolution, the park became a place of celebration, hosting figures like George Washington, John Adams, and General Lafayette, who gathered to mark the birth of the nation. The “Sons of Liberty” reportedly adorned the Great Elm with lanterns to symbolize unity just before the Revolution, a gesture that underscored the park’s role as a gathering place for dissent and solidarity.
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As Boston grew, so did the Common’s purpose. By the early 19th century, it began transitioning from a utilitarian space to a landscaped park. Grazing was phased out, and in 1836, the park was enclosed with an ornamental iron fence, signaling its shift toward recreation. That same year, on July 4, racial restrictions that had previously barred Black and Indigenous people from the park were lifted, a significant step forward driven by the efforts of Boston’s Black community.
The 19th century also saw the addition of tree-lined malls, paths, and, after the Civil War, monuments and fountains. The Brewer Fountain, which won top honors at the 1855 World’s Fair in Paris, became one of the park’s earliest public artworks, while later additions like the 1897 memorial to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, honored the sacrifices of the Civil War.
Boston Common’s historical and cultural importance is formally recognized through its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It is also a key stop on the Freedom Trail, a route that highlights pivotal sites from the American Revolution. The park’s Central Burying Ground, established in 1756, contains the graves of Revolutionary War veterans and other notable figures, adding to its historical depth.
In recent years, there has been a growing effort to acknowledge the Common’s indigenous history. The land is the unceded territory of the Massachusett Nation, who lived and thrived in the area for hundreds of generations before European settlement.
The arrival of European traders in the early 17th century brought devastating diseases that decimated indigenous populations, and the subsequent settlement by English colonists further displaced the Massachusetts people. This acknowledgment is part of a broader movement to recognize the painful history of forced removal and to honor the original inhabitants of the land.
Today, Boston Common remains a vibrant hub for both residents and visitors. It hosts a range of events, from the annual Boston Tree Lighting and First Night celebrations to live plays, musical performances, and political rallies. The park’s visitor information center, managed by the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, provides resources for exploring its history and attractions. The Friends of the Public Garden, a nonprofit formed in 1970, collaborates with the city to preserve and enhance the Common, ensuring its upkeep with the support of over 2,500 members and numerous volunteers.
Boston Common is more than just a park; it is a living chronicle of Boston’s past and present. From its role in the birth of a nation to its place as a modern gathering spot, it embodies the spirit of community and resilience. Whether visitors come to skate on the Frog Pond, admire historical monuments like “The Embrace,” or simply escape the hustle of the city, Boston Common continues to offer a space where history, culture, and nature converge.