A Walking Tour of the Boston's North End

There is no better way to see America than on foot. And there is no better way to appreciate what you are looking at than with a walking tour. Whether you are preparing for a road trip or just out to look at your own town in a new way, a downloadable walking tour from walkthetown.com is ready to explore when you are.

Each walking tour describes historical and architectural landmarks and provides pictures to help out when those pesky street addresses are missing. Every tour also includes a quick primer on identifying architectural styles seen on American streets.

North End is Bostons’ oldest residential community, where people have lived continuously since it was settled in the 1630s. Those people have given the North End its unique character, although a different one every generation or so.

The North End was home to some of Boston’s wealthiest residents and later to the first community of black people created by freed and escaped slaves. In the early 19th century, the Irish began to migrate to the North End in huge numbers and dominated the neighborhood until approximately 1900.
The North End then became one of the centers of Jewish life in Boston; Hebrew inscriptions can still be found on several buildings. In the early 20th century, the North End became the center of the Italian community of Boston. It is still largely residential and well-known for its small, authentic Italian restaurants and for the first Italian cafe, Caffe Vittoria
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The construction of the elevated Central Artery (I-93) in the 1950s divided the North End from the rest of Boston. With the completion of the “Big Dig,” the old elevated highway has been completely removed and the North End has re-joined the rest of the city.

This walking tour will begin at water’s edge in the Wharf District on the North End...